Adams admitted to the reporter’s responses emphasizing a primary goal as he acknowledged a history of animosity with the reporter citing ongoing comments and prior disagreements.

Despite social media criticism and disapproval from coach Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks safety Jamal Adams stands firm in defending the motivation behind his now-deleted post, in which he retaliated against an NFL reporter who commented on his performance.

The reporter, who covered Adams while he was with the New York Jets before being traded to the Seahawks in July 2020, shared a video on X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday night depicting Adams allowing a go-ahead touchdown pass in a 41-35 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The reporter’s accompanying comment was a simple “Yikes.”

Adams responded by posting a photo of the reporter’s wife on X with the same “Yikes” comment. When asked about crossing the line, Adams expressed frustration, saying, “Oh, it’s always the athlete who crossed the line when he responds,” and clarified that he intended to convey his displeasure and discourage further comments.

Adams acknowledged a history of hostility with the reporter, citing recent comments and prior disagreements. He admitted to being tired of the reporter’s responses, emphasizing that his main goal was to stop them.

When another New York reporter called him a bad person, Adams defended himself, saying, “When others went low, I went lower,” both on X and in the locker room.

Coach Carroll admitted to discussing the deleted post with Adams, expressing doubt about its appropriateness and emphasizing the team’s desire to avoid such incidents.

Adams described his conversation with Carroll as “a great conversation.” When asked about responding to criticism with a personal attack, Adams claimed that the reporter’s comments were also personal, and he hoped that the incident would discourage future interactions.

Adams expressed regret for involving the reporter’s wife in the situation, but reiterated that his ultimate goal was to make the reporter understand the importance of ceasing interference. Adams, who is in his seventh NFL season and fourth with the Seahawks, missed the majority of last season due to a torn quad tendon.