New details surface in former Panthers executive Adrian Wilson's domestic violence case

Following former Panthers VP of player personnel Adrian Wilson’s arrest and subsequent firing, more details have surfaced regarding the domestic violence case against him. According to police documents, Wilson broke multiple objects and even threatened to kill himself during a heated argument with his wife leading to his arrest last month in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Scottsdale Police responded to a disturbance around 5 a.m. on June 1 where Wilson’s family members told them he had “lost it.” His wife, Alice, recently found out he was having an affair and filled out forms for legal separation. When Wilson found the documents, she says he got physical, and at one point choked her. She added that he called her a “liar,” a “b***h” and a “wh**e” amid the dispute.

The argument escalated and the former Cardinals player allegedly went for his handgun in the safe, further scaring his wife. When Alice reminded him of the children in the house, he said, “F*** those kids.” His wife eventually fled the house, as did Wilson. After the incident, he called several people and indicated that he was suicidal. Upon his return to the house, the police arrested him and took him into custody.

“My mind just got super screwy at that point,” Wilson told the police, according to documents obtained by TMZ, “so I proceeded to leave the house.”

He is now facing three charges of intentional assault causing physical injury, damage to property ranging from $250-$2,000 and disorderly conduct, disruptive behavior or fighting.

Wilson fired after 18 months with Panthers

Wilson played in the NFL from 2001 into the 2014 season. The majority of that career was spent with the Arizona Cardinals, where he’s remembered as one of the best defensive players in franchise history and is in the franchise’s Ring of Honor.

As a player, he was a First-Team All-Pro selection in 2009 and went to five Pro Bowls. Wilson was also a key figure on the Cardinals team that won the NFC and played for a Super Bowl. He’s the Cardinals franchise record holder for passes defended with 95.

In 2015, Wilson began his executive career as a scout for the Arizona Cardinals. By 2019, he had been promoted to be the director of pro scouting and later he was named the VP of pro scouting.

Adrian Wilson left Arizona for Carolina in 2023 to become the team’s VP of player personnel. He was seen as a major up-and-coming figure in NFL front offices, and was even linked to the Jacksonville Jaguars GM role at one point.

Wilson’s exit after 18 months is disappointing and makes him yet another employee of the Carolina organization to have a short tenure since David Tepper bought the team in May 2018. Since then the team has had four head coaches, not including the team’s three interim head coaches. On top of that, Carolina has also had three general managers.

On3’s Dan Morrison contributed to this report.