Even off the field, Adrian Wilson continues to make an impact for Cardinals
Mar 19, 2016, 10:00 AM | Updated: 10:55 pm
Arizona Cardinals' Adrian Wilson announces his retirement, Monday, April 20, 2015, at the Cardinals team facility in Tempe, Ariz. The five-time pro bowler played 12 seasons for the Cardinals. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
The impact Adrian Wilson made on the field during his 12 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals was undeniable.
Now, the Ring of Honor member is still making an impact off it.
In a role Wilson called a scout of both college and pro personnel, the former Cardinal safety has already helped the team improve this offseason.
His role in the Evan Mathis signing was something Mathis spoke of in his press conference.
“I’ve been trying to get Evan here for a couple of years now,” Wilson said on Off The Edge on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM. “Even last year.
“I’ve known him since 2005 when he was coming out of Alabama,” Wilson added. “He knows that we’re going to win, he knows that we have the type of players in the locker room that can help him be successful as well and he brings something to the table as far as helping us on the offensive side of the ball.”
That winning culture is something that Wilson sees as a direct factor in the team’s recent acquisitions.
“A lot of the guys that are coming in now, they see those 35 wins over three years and that’s enticing to a lot of players,” Wilson said. “At the end of the day, players just want to win.”
Another factor in that has been general manager Steve Keim, who Wilson called a top-3 GM in the NFL.
Cardinals fans were quick to be reminded of Wilson’s presence around the team back in January, when the man they call A-Dub was the first person to get to Larry Fitzgerald and celebrate after the receiver’s game-winning touchdown against the Green Bay Packers.
