Davante Adams Bio
Davante Lavell Adams is an American professional football wide receiver for the Los Angeles Rams of the National Football League (NFL). Born on December 24, 1992, in East Palo Alto, California, he played college football for the Fresno State Bulldogs from 2011 to 2013. Adams was drafted in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Green Bay Packers. He has established himself as one of the premier wide receivers in the league, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections and First-team All-Pro honors. Known for his excellent route running and catching ability, he has recorded impressive statistics, including leading the league in receiving touchdowns in 2020, 2022, and 2025. He is the only player in NFL history to lead the league in receiving touchdowns with three different teams.
Early Life and Background
Davante Lavell Adams was born to Douglas Adams and Pamela Brown on December 24, 1992. He grew up in East Palo Alto, California, alongside one brother and two sisters. From East Palo Alto, Adams attended Palo Alto High School in neighboring Palo Alto, California. As a senior two-way starter for the Vikings football team, he led the school to a CIF state championship. He had 64 receptions for 1,094 yards and 12 touchdowns, and as a cornerback on defense he totaled 44 tackles, including two for a loss, two forced fumbles, an interception, and four passes defended.
Beyond football, Adams excelled in basketball at Palo Alto High School. He lettering all four years in basketball and was considered a two-star recruit in that sport. As a senior, he averaged 9.0 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game. His athletic abilities attracted attention from multiple colleges, including California State University, Fresno, University of Hawaiʻi, and San Diego State. Adams ultimately committed to play college football at Fresno State, beginning his journey toward professional football.
Path to the NFL
Adams attended California State University, Fresno, where he played on the Fresno State Bulldogs football team from 2011 to 2013. In 2011, he redshirted as a true freshman at Fresno State in his only season with then-head coach Pat Hill. The following season brought a new head coach in Tim DeRuyter, and Adams became an instant contributor. In his collegiate debut on September 1, 2012, he had 118 receiving yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Weber State Wildcats. He continued his dominant freshman campaign, leading the Mountain West Conference with 102 receptions for 1,312 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was named the conference’s Freshman of the Year and was named MVP of the 2012 Hawaii Bowl.
The 2013 season marked Adams’ most prolific collegiate year. He led the nation with 131 receptions for 1,719 yards and 24 touchdowns. His 24 touchdown receptions set a Mountain West Conference record and ranked fourth in single-season FBS history at the time. He also set Fresno State career records for receptions (233) and touchdown receptions (38) despite playing just two seasons for the Bulldogs. Adams won the Paul Warfield Trophy, awarded to the nation’s top receiver, and was named second-team All-American by The Associated Press. On December 27, 2013, Adams announced that he would forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2014 NFL Draft.
Davante Adams Career
Green Bay Packers (2014-2021)
Adams was selected in the second round with the 53rd overall pick by the Green Bay Packers in the 2014 NFL Draft. He was the ninth wide receiver selected that year. After playing in the fourth receiver slot in his NFL debut against the Seattle Seahawks, Adams took on an expanded role in his second game against the New York Jets, where he had 5 catches for 50 yards. On October 2, Adams scored his first NFL touchdown on an 11-yard pass from Aaron Rodgers in a 42-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. He tallied his first 100-yard receiving game on November 30 with six receptions for 121 yards in a 26-21 win over the New England Patriots. In the divisional round of the playoffs, Adams set the Packers’ rookie record for receiving yards in a playoff game with 117 yards in the victory over the Dallas Cowboys, including a 46-yard touchdown.
The 2017 season marked Adams’ breakthrough year. He finished the season starting in 14 games, leading the team with 74 catches for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns despite missing the final two games due to a concussion. He was named to his first Pro Bowl and was ranked 45th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2018. On December 29, 2017, Adams signed a four-year, $58 million contract extension with the Packers. The following seasons saw Adams establish himself as the Packers’ top receiver, forming a close bond with quarterback Aaron Rodgers. In 2018, he recorded his first 1,000-yard season and was named to his second Pro Bowl.
Las Vegas Raiders (2022-2024)
On March 18, 2022, the Packers traded Adams to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for their 2022 first-round pick and second-round pick. Along with the trade, Adams signed a five-year, $141.25 million deal, making him the highest-paid wide receiver in the NFL at the time. The trade reunited Adams with his college quarterback Derek Carr, with whom he played at Fresno State. In his Raiders debut in Week 1 against the Chargers, Adams caught 10 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown in the 19-24 loss. He finished the 2022 season with 100 receptions for 1,516 receiving yards and a league-leading 14 touchdowns. His yardage set the Raiders franchise record for most receiving yards in a single season, and he earned First-team All-Pro honors for the third time.
During the 2023 season, Adams started in all 17 games and finished with 103 receptions for 1,144 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns. In Week 4, he reached 10,000 career receiving yards. During the 2024 season, reports surfaced that Adams had requested a trade from the Raiders. On October 15, 2024, the Raiders traded Adams to the New York Jets.
New York Jets (2024)
The trade to the Jets reunited Adams with Aaron Rodgers, whom he played with from 2014 to 2021 with the Green Bay Packers. With Adams healthy, he made his Jets debut on October 20 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, catching three passes for 30 yards in the first half, but the team lost 37-15. In Week 9 against the Houston Texans, Adams briefly left the game to be evaluated for a head injury but returned in the fourth quarter and caught a 37-yard touchdown pass to seal the Jets’ 21-13 victory. In Week 15 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Adams erupted for 198 yards and two touchdowns on nine receptions in the second half, highlighted by a career-long 71-yard score as the Jets won 32-25, snapping a four-game losing streak. He became the 12th receiver in NFL history to reach 100 career receiving touchdowns. He finished the 2024 season with 85 receptions for 1,063 yards and eight touchdowns. On March 4, 2025, Adams was released by the Jets.
Los Angeles Rams (2025-Present)
On March 9, 2025, Adams agreed to a two-year, $44 million deal with the Los Angeles Rams. In his second game for Los Angeles, Adams caught a season-high six passes for 106 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown reception in the Rams’ 33-19 win over the Tennessee Titans. In Week 8 against Jacksonville in London, Adams had five receptions for 35 yards, with three of those receptions going for touchdowns as the Rams won in a 35-7 rout. Adams reached the milestone of 1,000 career regular season receptions during the season, becoming the 17th NFL receiver to achieve this feat.
In a 41-34 win over Detroit in Week 15, Adams aggravated an injury to his left hamstring and was held out for the remainder of the regular season. Despite missing the Rams’ final three games, he finished the regular season with 60 receptions for 789 yards and an NFL-high 14 receiving touchdowns. He became the first player in league history to lead the NFL in touchdown receptions with three different teams (Packers in 2020, Raiders in 2022, Rams in 2025). In the playoffs, Adams contributed five receptions for 72 yards in the Rams’ 34-31 win over the Carolina Panthers in an NFC Wild Card Round game. In the Divisional Round against the Chicago Bears, Adams had two receptions for 24 yards, with one helping set up a fourth-quarter touchdown and the other coming on a game-winning field goal drive in the Rams’ 20-17 overtime victory.
Driving Style and Strengths
Adams has built his reputation as one of the NFL’s most reliable and productive receivers through his exceptional route-running precision and sure hands. His ability to create separation at the line of scrimmage and find soft spots in zone coverage has made him a favorite target for quarterbacks throughout his career. His chemistry with Aaron Rodgers became particularly lethal, as evidenced by multiple career-best performances during their years together in Green Bay. Adams excels at high-pointing the ball and making contested catches in traffic, making him a dangerous weapon in the red zone.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Adams has accumulated numerous signature performances and milestones. His 2020 season stands out as one of the most prolific in NFL history for a receiver, as he led the league with 18 receiving touchdowns, the most since Randy Moss had 23 in 2007, while also setting a Packers franchise record with 115 receptions. His 2022 season with the Raiders saw him become the first player to lead the NFL in receiving touchdowns while playing for his third different team. In 2025 with the Rams, he accomplished this feat again, cementing his place in NFL history as the only player to lead the league in receiving touchdowns with three different franchises.
Davante Adams Career Wins
Throughout his NFL career spanning from 2014 to 2025, Adams has accumulated impressive statistics across multiple teams. As of the 2025 season, he has recorded 1,017 career receptions for 12,633 receiving yards and 117 receiving touchdowns in regular season play.
NFL Highlights
Adams has established himself as one of the most consistent and dominant receivers in the NFL. His three First-team All-Pro selections came during the 2020, 2021, and 2022 seasons, during which he was also named to the Pro Bowl each year. He led the NFL in receiving touchdowns in 2020 with 18, in 2022 with 14, and in 2025 with 14 while playing for the Rams. His 1,516 receiving yards in 2022 set a Las Vegas Raiders franchise record for a single season. His 117 career receiving touchdowns place him among the top receivers in NFL history.
College Achievements
At Fresno State, Adams set multiple records during his two seasons of play. His 131 receptions in 2013 led the nation and his 24 receiving touchdowns also led the country while setting a Mountain West Conference record. He set Fresno State career records for receptions (233) and touchdown receptions (38) despite playing just two seasons. He won the Paul Warfield Trophy in 2013 as the nation’s top receiver and was named second-team All-American.
| Competition Level | Receptions | Receiving Yards | Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Regular Season (2014-2025) | 1,017 | 12,633 | 117 |
| College (Fresno State 2012-2013) | 233 | 3,031 | 38 |
Davante Adams Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Davante Lavell Adams was born to Douglas Adams and Pamela Brown on December 24, 1992, in East Palo Alto, California. He grew up alongside one brother and two sisters in the Bay Area. His athletic talent was evident from an early age, excelling in both football and basketball during his high school years at Palo Alto High School. While not from a family of professional athletes, Adams developed his competitive drive and work ethic in the East Palo Alto community before emerging as one of the nation’s top college receivers at Fresno State.
Personal Life
Adams married Devanne Villarreal on June 2, 2018. The couple has maintained a relatively private personal life away from the football field. In 2024, Adams expanded his presence in entertainment by starring in the Netflix original series Receiver, alongside Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, George Kittle, and Deebo Samuel. The docuseries covered Adams and other top NFL receivers during the 2023 NFL season, providing viewers with behind-the-scenes access to the lives of professional football players.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked a new chapter in Adams’ career as he joined the Los Angeles Rams in March. Despite joining the team mid-offseason, he quickly made an impact, recording his first 100-yard game as a Ram in just his second appearance with the team. His three-touchdown performance against Jacksonville in London showcased his continued ability to be a dynamic red-zone threat. Though a hamstring injury sidelined him for the final three regular season games, Adams still led the NFL with 14 receiving touchdowns, becoming the first player in league history to accomplish this feat with three different franchises.
Throughout the season, Adams demonstrated his value to the Rams’ offense, particularly in crucial moments. His milestone of reaching 1,000 career receptions placed him among an elite group of just 17 receivers in NFL history to achieve this feat. The Rams’ playoff run saw Adams contribute key receptions during their Wild Card and Divisional Round victories. While the season ended with a disappointing loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship Game, Adams’ inaugural season with the Rams proved he remains one of the league’s premier receivers. His two-year, $44 million contract runs through the 2026 season, with the Rams holding options for future years.