Bears DE Gaines Adams dies of apparent heart attack at 26

Bears defensive end Gaines Adams, 26, died Sunday morning after going into cardiac arrest because of an enlarged heart.

According to Greenwood County Coroner Jim Coursey, Adams was experiencing "health issues" Sunday at his parents home, so his girlfriend called for an ambulance. Adams arrived at Self Regional Hospital in his hometown of Greenwood, S.C., just after 7 a.m. (Chicago time) and was pronounced dead in the emergency room at 7:21 a.m.

Toxicology tests are being run by the State Law Enforcement Division, though drug use isn't suspected as a factor in Adams' death. Those results probably will not be available for "a few months," Coursey told NFL Network.

Coursey told WYFF-TV in Greenwood that Adams appeared to be in good health before his passing and his family was unaware of any pre-existing heart conditions.

"We are stunned and saddened by the news of Gaines' passing," the Bears said in a statement. "Our prayers are with his family during this difficult time."

The 6-foot-5, 256-pound Adams played at Clemson, near Greenwood, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2007. The Bears traded a second-round draft choice to acquire Adams from the Bucs last Oct. 16, confident he could fulfill the potential he only flashed in Tampa.

"Gaines is a good football player," Bears coach Lovie Smith said at the time. "He has a lot of talent. Sometimes talented players need a change of scenery. We're excited." In 47 games over four seasons with the Bucs and Bears, Adams had 67 tackles, including 131/2 sacks. After the trade, Adams expressed no animosity toward his old team and was excited about getting a new start with the Bears.

"They gave me my first opportunity to be able to play in this league," Adams said of the Bucs. "But now I move on to another phase in my life. Things happen in this league, and you just have to roll with it. I'm here with the Bears and hopefully I can make a difference. I think it will be a great start for me with (defensive line) coach (Rod) Marinelli and the staff here," Adams said. "He does a tremendous job. It will be a great fit for me."

Playing a limited number of snaps in 10 games with the Bears this season, Adams had 5 tackles.

Monday Night Football analyst Jon Gruden, who was the Bucs' head coach in 2007, when they drafted Adams said: "Today is a tragic day. Gaines was an impressive kid with such a tremendous future in front of him. He was a great teammate and well-liked by our coaches and all those who had the opportunity to be around him in Tampa. My prayers and condolences go out to his family."

At Clemson, Adams tied the school record for career sacks with 28 and, as a senior had 121/2 sacks and was fourth in the nation with 0.96 sacks per game. He set a school record with sacks in eight straight games.

"I remember him at the 2007 draft as a fine young man," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement to ESPN. "Our condolences to Gaines' family, his teammates on the Bears and Buccaneers, and their organizations on their loss."

Just over 19 years ago, Bears rookie defensive tackle Fred Washington and a female companion died in a one-car accident off Waukegan Road near Lake Forest in the early-morning hours of Dec. 21, 1990. In 1964, during training camp at Rensselear, Ind., Willie Gallimore and John "Bo" Farrington died in a one-car crash; and in 1982, Hall of Fame linebacker Bill George died at 52 when his car was hit by a tractor-trailer on Ill. Rte. 72.