It's been a long five years since Jamal Adams' messy divorce with the Jets.
If the free-agent safety had his way, he'd return to New York to redeem himself.
"I would love to be back with the Jets and, obviously, finish it the right way," Adams said Wednesday on The Jets Lounge, via ESPN. "Man, that would be a dream come true, just to patch up that relationship and kind of make it right."
Adams' relationship with Gang Green famously soured back in 2020, three years into a career that appeared to be on the ascent.
The No. 6 overall pick by the team in the 2017 draft, Adams manned the Jets defensive backfield with smarts and tenacity. He made a Pro Bowl and was a second-team All-Pro in his sophomore campaign, then upped his game again for a second straight Pro Bowl bid and recognition as a first-team All-Pro in 2019.
But that offseason he requested a trade. He later criticized then-general manager Joe Douglas and questioned if then-head coach Adam Gase was the right leader for the club. The tension culminated in the Jets agreeing to trade him to the Seahawks in a mega deal that netted two first-round picks.
Adams seemed primed to make good on Seattle's investment in him during his first year there, as he made a third consecutive Pro Bowl and posted a career-high 9.5 sacks. Then, the wheels fell off. His 2021 season was cut short after 12 games by a torn labrum; in the 2022 opener, he suffered a season-ending torn quad.
At the time of his release from Seattle last offseason, he had played in just 34 games out of a possible 67 from 2020-2023.
Adams signed with the Titans but missed Tennessee's first regular-season game due to a hip injury. He asked for a release in October, which was granted, and then signed with the Lions, whom he played two games for before a January release.
Still looking for his next squad in mid-May, Adams appears keen on returning to his first NFL home, and he's spent time reflecting on his role in things going awry the first time around.
"My biggest regret is me and Joe Douglas never speaking," Adams said. "We never spoke on the phone one time. We never spoke in person one time before this trade happened. And that's where I wish we could have that back, because I can't speak for him but I didn't go about it the right way at that time."
New York, of course, has likewise been through the ringer the past half decade, without a winning season to show for it. Gase was fired following the 2020 season, while Douglas was fired in-season last year.
Some fences in need of mending would therefore be located outside the Jets building.
But Adams could still look to make things right with fans in a return, and the new brass wouldn't be completely unfamiliar to him. Although Adams' stint with Detroit was short-lived, his defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn is the Jets' newest head coach.
The Jets secondary appears to be in a good spot. Tony Adams and free-agent signee Andre Cisco provide starting experience at both safety spots, and New York also added Malachi Moore in the fourth round on April's draft to round out a position group that should be further buoyed playing in tandem with some rock-solid cornerbacks.
Adams nonetheless feels he could be a fit due to his experience, and at 29 years old still believes in his talent when healthy.
"[I would] just come in as a seasoned vet, give game to the young cats and help in any way, shape or form I can," he said. "I know I can still play football. I'm healthy and I know I can impact the game in a lot of ways. I just need that fair opportunity to come in and show what I can do."