Ex-NFL Star Adrian Wilson Threatened Suicide in Dispute with Wife

Former NFL safety-turned-exec’ Adrian Wilson reportedly told Arizona police that he threatened to kill himself amid a dispute with his wife over suspicions that he was having an affair. 

According to a Scottsdale Police Department incident report obtained by TMZ this week, Wilson’s family members accused the former Arizona Cardinals star of losing control of his emotions at around 5 am on June 1 at their Scottsdale residence. 

Police said Wilson’s wife, Alicia, told them that everything got out of hand after she found out that he was seeing another woman. She stated that she got all of the legal separation paperwork in order and left it in the guest house where the five-time Pro Bowler was staying in. 

Officers then state in their report that Alicia told them that Wilson, 44, confronted her in the bedroom after he found the papers and ‘just lost it from there.’ 

She claimed Wilson threw a lamp and an incense holder among other items that also broke after being in his possession. She said Wilson then became violent, allegedly laying both hands on his wife before choking her, at one point. 

Alicia further revealed that Wilson called her a ‘liar,’ ‘bitch’ and ‘whore’ amid the dispute. 

Police also stated in their report that Alicia told them Wilson eventually got a hold of a handgun from a safe, leading her to be afraid of him. She said she reminded her husband of the presence of their children in the household, but he replied: ‘F*** those kids.’

Police said Alicia told them she was unable to leave the home and get away from Wilson.

According to the report, Adrian left the residence, at one point, and called multiple people close to him to let them know of his plan to kill himself. 

However, moments later, he returned to the residence, where police officers were able to convince him to come out. He was placed into custody and later told police that he did grab a gun from a safe but left the home almost immediately after. Adrian also owned up to breaking things in Alicia’s bedroom after discovering separation papers.

‘My mind just got super screwy at that point,’ police officers reported of what Wilson told them. ‘So I proceeded to leave the house.’ 

Authorities said that Wilson admitted to telling his mother of his ploy to kill himself while out of the home. The former football player also told police officers that he recently felt depressed after being far away from his family while working on the Carolina Panthers as the team’s Vice President of Player Personnel. 

Wilson was ultimately taken into custody and charged with assault, property damage and disorderly conduct. In the weeks following his arrest, the Panthers and Wilson parted ways although it’s unclear if the incident played a role in his departure. 

Wilson starred for the Cardinals for over a decade from 2001 to 2012. In 2015, after retiring, he joined the team’s front office. He left Arizona for the Panthers in 2023.