Former Carolina Panthers vice president of player personnel and Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson was arrested on three domestic violence-related charges in Scottsdale, Ariz., during the early morning hours of June 1, according to a police report obtained by The Athletic.
Per the report, police were called to Wilson’s residence by his daughter Aubrei. The report states Wilson is accused of pushing his wife, Alicia, and holding her down on the bed during an argument. He allegedly threw items around the house, took a gun from the family safe and threatened to kill himself.
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Alicia told police the incident occurred after Adrian never showed up at dinner reservations. Later that night, Alicia — who said she had hired a private investigator and discovered Adrian was having an affair — stated she went online and started the process of authorizing a legal separation. Alicia said she printed the paperwork and placed it in a guest house where Adrian was staying.
When Adrian returned home and found the divorce paperwork, he “just lost it from there,” Alicia told police.
Per the report, Adrian was physical with Alicia, pushing and restraining her. She told police she was not scared, despite Adrian choking her, until Adrian removed the handgun from the safe, even though she did not think it was loaded. She also said she did not see her husband point the gun at anyone. Alicia told police she eventually left and drove to a friend’s house.
Adrian admitted to police that he had thrown things around the room, per the report, but denied getting physical with his wife.
He told police that after grabbing the gun he left the house and drove around, ending up at a local park. There, he said he called his mother and told her he was thinking of killing himself. He told police that he “felt the urge because he felt like nobody cared.” He also said he had been depressed since leaving his family to work in North Carolina and that he “ended up having a mental break.”
Adrian said he fell asleep at the park. Upon returning to his residence, he said he placed the gun in the garage. At 6:33 a.m, police placed Wilson under arrest and transported him to Scottsdale City Jail.
On Sunday, the Panthers confirmed Wilson, 44, was no longer employed by the team, but would not comment further.
Wilson’s next court date is a case management conference on July 16, according to online court records.
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Wilson did not respond to voice messages left on his phone Tuesday and Wednesday.
Wilson spent his entire 12-year NFL playing career with the Cardinals. He made five Pro Bowls and was a 2009 All-Pro selection. In 2015, he became the 15th member of the Cardinals Ring of Honor. He joined the Panthers in February 2023 after eight seasons in a variety of roles with Arizona’s scouting department. He served as the Cardinals’ co-interim general manager at the end of the 2022 season after Steve Keim took an indefinite leave of absence.
Wilson was born in High Point, N.C., where he played high school football before going on to star at N.C. State. He was the Cardinals’ third-round pick in 2001.
Asked whether the Panthers knew about the arrest, a spokesperson referred The Athletic to the team’s initial statement, released Sunday: “Adrian Wilson will not continue in his position as Vice President of Player Personnel for the Carolina Panthers. Consistent with our organizational policy on employee matters, we will have no further comment.”
(Photo: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)