{{Short description|American football executive (born 1979)}} {{Distinguish|Adam Peters (rugby league)|Adam Peters (composer)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox gridiron football biography | name = Adam Peters | image = Adam Peters 2025 2.jpg | alt = Photo of a man speaking to a microphone at a press conference. | caption = Peters as Washington Commanders general manager, 2025 | current_team = Washington Commanders | title = General manager | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|5|24}} | birth_place = Mountain View, California, U.S. | high_school = Monta Vista {{nowrap|(Cupertino, California)}} | college = {{ubl|West Valley (1997–1998)|UCLA (1999–2001)}} | career_position = {{hlist|Tight end|defensive end}} | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lbs = 226 | pastexecutive = * UCLA Bruins (2002) ** Football operations assistant * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2003|2008}}) ** Scouting assistant ({{NFL Year|2003|2004}}) ** Pro scout ({{NFL Year|2005}}) ** Area scout ({{NFL Year|2006|2008}}) * Denver Broncos ({{NFL Year|2009|2016}}) ** Regional scout ({{NFL Year|2009|2010}}) ** National scout ({{NFL Year|2011|2013}}) ** Assistant director of college scouting ({{NFL Year|2014|2015}}) ** Director of college scouting ({{NFL Year|2016}}) * San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2017|2023}}) ** Vice president of player personnel ({{NFL Year|2017|2020}}) ** Assistant general manager ({{NFL Year|2021|2023}}) * Washington Commanders ({{NFL Year|2024|present}}) ** General manager | highlights = * 3× Super Bowl champion (XXXVIII, XXXIX, 50) | pfrexec = PeteAd0 }} '''Frederick Adam Peters''' (born May 24, 1979) is an American professional football executive who is the general manager (GM) for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). His NFL career began as a scout with the New England Patriots in 2003, spending six seasons with them before joining the Denver Broncos in 2009.
Peters served as the Broncos' college scouting director for three seasons before joining the San Francisco 49ers in 2017. He worked closely with general manager John Lynch, initially as vice president of player personnel and later as assistant general manager being named Commanders GM in 2024. Peters has been a part of three Super Bowl-winning teams, two with the Patriots and one with the Broncos.
==Early life== Frederick Adam Peters was born on May 24, 1979, in Mountain View, California, and raised in nearby Cupertino.<ref name="UCLA">{{cite web |title=Player Bio: Adam Peters |url=https://uclabruins.com/sports/2013/4/17/208195218 |website=uclabruins.com |publisher=UCLA Bruins |access-date=January 9, 2024 |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109104609/https://uclabruins.com/sports/2013/4/17/208195218 |url-status=live }}</ref> He attended Monta Vista High School, earning all-conference honors in football as a tight end and in baseball as a left fielder and first baseman. He enrolled at West Valley College, a junior college in Saratoga, California, in 1997.<ref name="UCLA"/> Peters was a tight end and team captain for their football team, earning two All-Coast Conference honors. He transferred to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in 1999 to play as a reserve defensive end for the Bruins.<ref name="UCLA"/><ref name="WestValley">{{cite journal |title=Former Viking Adam Peters heads to Miami with 49ers for Super Bowl LIV |url=https://athletics.westvalley.edu/general/2019-20/releases/20200122pcu7y2 |website=athletics.westvalley.edu |publisher=West Valley College |access-date=January 8, 2024 |date=January 22, 2020 |archive-date=January 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240120144751/https://athletics.westvalley.edu/general/2019-20/releases/20200122pcu7y2 |url-status=live }}</ref> Peters decided to stop playing football midway through his time at UCLA, believing that he had no future as a player as teammates like DeShaun Foster were "bigger, stronger, faster, and better" than him.<ref name="Athletic2018">{{cite web |last1=Lombardi |first1=David |title=Fast-rising Adam Peters, a key John Lynch lieutenant, is right in his element with the 49ers |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/261077/2018/03/05/fast-rising-adam-peters-a-key-john-lynch-lieutenant-is-right-in-his-element-with-the-49ers/ |work=The Athletic |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 8, 2024 |date=March 5, 2018 |archive-date=January 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108221844/https://theathletic.com/261077/2018/03/05/fast-rising-adam-peters-a-key-john-lynch-lieutenant-is-right-in-his-element-with-the-49ers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He graduated with a psychology degree in 2002, working with the Bruins as a graduate assistant in football operations that season as a way to remain in the sport.<ref name="UCLA"/><ref name="Athletic2018"/>
==Career== ===Early scouting and executive roles=== Peters' career began following a visit by New England Patriots executives Scott Pioli and Jason Licht to UCLA in 2002. Peters, substituting for his boss who was out of town, provided film and other information on the school's NFL draft prospects.<ref name="Athletic2018"/> Pioli hired him as a scouting assistant for the 2003 NFL Combine after being impressed by his football acumen, with Peters temporarily moving to live with scout Nick Caserio.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Manning |first1=Bryan |title=Former NFL GM Scott Pioli excited for Commanders, Adam Peters |url=https://commanderswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/13/scott-pioli-patriots-belichick-washington-commanders-adam-peters/ |work=Commanders Wire |publisher=USA Today |access-date=January 15, 2024 |date=January 13, 2024 |archive-date=January 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115065638/https://commanderswire.usatoday.com/2024/01/13/scott-pioli-patriots-belichick-washington-commanders-adam-peters/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="FieldTalk">{{cite web |last1=Lambert |first1=Ivan |title=Commanders GM Adam Peters opens up about his career and why he chose Washington |url=https://commanderswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/commanders/2025/04/12/adam-peters-washington-commanders-belichick-jayden-daniels/83054157007/ |website=Commanders Wire |publisher=USA Today |access-date=April 15, 2025 |date=April 12, 2025}}</ref> As an assistant, he put together film of prospects, drove players to doctors and hospitals, and performed data entry until becoming an area scout in 2005.<ref name="FieldTalk"/>
The Patriots made four AFC Championship Game appearances and won Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX during his tenure, with Peters leaving to join the Denver Broncos in January 2009 as he felt unable to rise further in a department that included future general managers in Licht, Caserio, Thomas Dimitroff, Bob Quinn, Jon Robinson, and Monti Ossenfort.<ref name="FieldTalk"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Reiss |first1=Mike |title=Eye on the process |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/new-england-patriots/2006/04/28/eye_on_the_proc_1/ |website=Boston.com |access-date=January 14, 2024 |date=April 28, 2006 |archive-date=January 14, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114120450/https://www.boston.com/sports/extra-points/2006/04/28/eye_on_the_proc_1/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Paige |first1=Woody |author1-link=Woody Paige |title=Nolan right guy, unjust end |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2010/01/19/paige-nolan-right-guy-unjust-end/ |work=The Denver Post |access-date=January 15, 2024 |date=January 19, 2010 |quote=And McDaniels won’t be blaming his brother Ben, who will have a bigger role with the team, or his assistant Mark Thewes (a high school teammate) or assistant coach Roman Phifer (who played for the Patriots) or video director Steve Scarnecchia (who was with the Patriots and is the son of the Patriots’ offensive coordinator) or '''college scout Adam Peters (who worked in the Patriots’ personnel department)''' or former Patriots’ players Jabar Gaffney, Daniel Graham, Lonnie Paxton, Brandon Gorin and LaMont Jordan, or the other players from New England who will come this offseason. |archive-date=January 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115163836/https://www.denverpost.com/2010/01/19/paige-nolan-right-guy-unjust-end/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Peters worked as a regional and national scout with the Broncos before being promoted to assistant director of college scouting in July 2014.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Klis |first1=Mike |title=Prominent Bronco players may start training camp on physically unable to perform list |url=https://www.denverpost.com/2014/07/20/prominent-bronco-players-may-start-training-camp-on-physically-unable-to-perform-list/ |work=The Denver Post |access-date=January 8, 2024 |date=July 20, 2014 |quote=National scout Adam Peters received the title of assistant director of college scouting. |archive-date=January 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108215213/https://www.denverpost.com/2014/07/20/prominent-bronco-players-may-start-training-camp-on-physically-unable-to-perform-list/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He was promoted to director of college scouting in 2016, with Denver appearing in Super Bowl XLVIII and winning Super Bowl 50 during his tenure.
===San Francisco 49ers=== Peters was named vice president of player personnel for the San Francisco 49ers on January 31, 2017.<ref name="CommandersHire">{{cite web |last1=Selby |first1=Zach |title=Commanders hire Adam Peters as general manager |url=https://www.commanders.com/news/commanders-hire-adam-peters-as-general-manager |website=Commanders.com |access-date=January 15, 2024 |date=January 15, 2024 |archive-date=January 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115225218/https://www.commanders.com/news/commanders-hire-adam-peters-as-general-manager |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=49ers Hire Adam Peters as VP of Player Personnel |url=https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-hire-adam-peters-as-vp-of-player-personnel-18522077 |website=49ers.com |date=January 31, 2017 |access-date=January 8, 2024 |archive-date=January 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108215213/https://www.49ers.com/news/49ers-hire-adam-peters-as-vp-of-player-personnel-18522077 |url-status=live }}</ref> He was the first hire made by 49ers general manager (GM) John Lynch, who had no prior front office experience; they had met after Lynch attended Broncos draft meetings as a guest the previous year.<ref name="LynchCommanders">{{cite web |last1=Selby |first1=Zach |title='A tireless worker': John Lynch explains why Adam Peters is ready to succeed as Commanders GM |url=https://www.commanders.com/news/a-tireless-worker-john-lynch-explains-why-adam-peters-is-ready-to-succeed-as-commanders-gm |website=Commanders.com |access-date=January 18, 2024 |date=January 17, 2024 |archive-date=January 18, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118000601/https://www.commanders.com/news/a-tireless-worker-john-lynch-explains-why-adam-peters-is-ready-to-succeed-as-commanders-gm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Branch |first1=Eric |title=Bond with Elway led to Lynch's first hire with 49ers |url=https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Bond-with-Elway-led-to-Lynch-s-first-hire-with-10920340.php |work=SFGate |access-date=January 15, 2024 |date=February 9, 2017 |archive-date=January 15, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240115175630/https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Bond-with-Elway-led-to-Lynch-s-first-hire-with-10920340.php |url-status=live }}</ref> Peters was promoted to assistant GM on February 19, 2021.<ref>{{cite web |last1=DaSilva |first1=Cameron |title=49ers promote Adam Peters to assistant general manager |url=https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-promote-adam-peters-assistant-171735476.html |work=Yahoo Sports |access-date=January 8, 2024 |date=February 19, 2021 |archive-date=January 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240108215213/https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-promote-adam-peters-assistant-171735476.html |url-status=live }}</ref> During his tenure, he assisted in the scouting of later-round draft selections such as George Kittle, Fred Warner, Dre Greenlaw, Talanoa Hufanga, and Brock Purdy who helped the 49ers appear in four NFC Championship Games and Super Bowls LIV and LVIII.<ref name="LynchCommanders"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Kawakami |first1=Tim |authorlink=Tim Kawakami |title=John Lynch on Adam Peters, the most surprising thing about Brock Purdy and the 49ers' stability |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4083378/2023/01/12/49ers-john-lynch-adam-peters/ |work=The Athletic |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 9, 2024 |date=January 12, 2023 |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109144524/https://theathletic.com/4083378/2023/01/12/49ers-john-lynch-adam-peters/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Josh |title=2024 Super Bowl: How NFC champion San Francisco 49ers helped build their team through the draft |url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-super-bowl-how-nfc-champion-san-francisco-49ers-helped-build-their-team-through-the-draft/ |work=CBS Sports |access-date=February 26, 2024 |date=February 6, 2024 |archive-date=February 8, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208013312/https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2024-super-bowl-how-nfc-champion-san-francisco-49ers-helped-build-their-team-through-the-draft/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Washington Commanders=== [[File:JG9 6770 (54841261163).jpg|thumb|right|Peters during a Washington Commanders game, 2025]] Peters was named general manager of the Washington Commanders on January 15, 2024.<ref name="CommandersHire"/> He hired Dan Quinn as head coach and selected quarterback Jayden Daniels second overall in the 2024 NFL draft.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vacchiano |first1=Ralph |title=Taking Command: How Adam Peters is reshaping football in Washington |url=https://www.foxsports.com/stories/nfl/adam-peters-reshaping-football-in-washington |work=FOX Sports |access-date=July 20, 2024 |date=May 8, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Keim |first1=John |title=Why Commanders selected Jayden Daniels No. 2 in NFL draft |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/40057487/why-commanders-drafted-jayden-daniels-no-2-overall |website=ESPN |access-date=May 3, 2024 |date=May 3, 2024}}</ref> In Peters' first season, the Commanders recorded their highest win total ({{Win-loss record|w=12|l=5}}) and reached their first NFC Championship Game appearance since 1991.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Whyno |first1=Stephen |title=Washington Commanders complete a turnaround from 4-13 to making the playoffs behind Jayden Daniels |url=https://apnews.com/article/washington-commanders-20e399be74a98cf1eb204ea4c819a25d2023 |website=APNews.com |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=January 7, 2025 |date=December 31, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Standig |first1=Ben |title=GM Adam Peters does things ‘the right way,’ and his Commanders are reaping the benefits |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6045538/2025/01/08/commanders-adam-peters-dan-quinn-playoffs/ |website=The Athletic |access-date=January 8, 2025 |date=January 8, 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== Peters is married to Jennifer Peters; the couple have two daughters.<ref name="CommandersHire"/> Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, he was inspired by former 49ers tight end Brent Jones to play the position.<ref name="SFGate">{{cite web |last1=Branch |first1=Eric |title=Die-hard fan in 49ers front office grew up in the dynasty days |url=https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Die-hard-fan-in-49ers-front-office-grew-up-in-the-11178557.php |work=SFGate |access-date=January 9, 2024 |date=May 27, 2017 |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109132348/https://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/Die-hard-fan-in-49ers-front-office-grew-up-in-the-11178557.php |url-status=live }}</ref> In late 2025, Peters was part of a UCLA search committee that assisted with selecting Bob Chesney as the team's head football coach.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bolch |first1=Ben |title=UCLA Unlocked: The backstory on the search that made Bob Chesney a Bruin |url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/ucla/newsletter/2025-12-08/bob-chesney-bruins-football |website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=January 12, 2026 |date=December 8, 2025}}</ref>
==References== {{Notelist}} {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons}} * [https://www.commanders.com/team/front-office-roster/adam-peters Washington Commanders profile] * [https://uclabruins.com/sports/2013/4/17/208195218 UCLA Bruins profile]
{{Washington Commanders}} {{Washington Commanders general managers}} {{NFL general managers}} {{Authority control}} {{Portal bar|American football|Biography|College football|San Francisco Bay Area|United States|border=n}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Peters, Adam}} Category:1979 births Category:20th-century American sportsmen Category:American football defensive ends Category:American football tight ends Category:Denver Broncos executives Category:Denver Broncos scouts Category:Living people Category:NFL general managers Category:New England Patriots scouts Category:Players of American football from Santa Clara County, California Category:San Francisco 49ers executives Category:San Francisco 49ers scouts Category:Sportspeople from Cupertino, California Category:Sportspeople from Mountain View, California Category:UCLA Bruins football players Category:Washington Commanders executives Category:Washington Commanders scouts Category:West Valley Vikings football players