Rodney Adams was supposed to be starting a new career with the Ultimate Frisbee Association. Now, he's got his sights set on pro pickleball.
It's exceedingly rare to be a professional athlete.
When all is said and done, Rodney Adams could potentially say he had professional offers from three different leagues.
Adams is a former NFL wide receiver, drafted in the fifth round in 2017 by the Minnesota Vikings. He also played for Chicago, Indianapolis, and New York.
I've been training with some of the best.
Adams, inspired by clips he found on Instagram, became the first ex-NFL player to sign with the Ultimate Frisbee Association. He was on track to join the Colorado Summit as early as February of this year.
“I just saw a bunch of people running, jumping, catching frisbees, and thought, that’s kinda like football,” said Adams of his first exposure to the sport.
Now, it's rumored that Adams is forgoing his frisbee dreams for a new professional pursuit: pickleball.
(p.s if you're a current NFL or Frisbee pro also looking to get into pickleball, here is the beginner set we recommend on Amazon for $36.99 to start your new career as soon as tomorrow if you have access to prime)
To be clear, Adams has not signed a professional pickleball contract yet. He also doesn't appear to have a DUPR rating or much experience in a structured, competitive environment.
Yes pickleball, I aim to become the first NFL crossover athlete to become a pro pickleball player with success. I know what it takes to reach and compete at the highest level so I want to make a run for the pro level.
He confirmed to The Dink that pro pickleball is "the plan" and that he's "been training with some of the best getting me ready for my first tournament," citing names like the legendary Kyle Yates and the lesser known Eli Steiner.
If successful, Adams would be the first former NFL player to sign a contract with the Professional Pickleball Association.
This is a developing story; we'll update the article as more information becomes available.
