Bears defensive end Adams dead at age 26

Gaines Adams, a 26-year-old defensive end for the National Football League's Chicago Bears, died on Sunday morning in a South Carolina hospital, reportedly from cardiac arrest caused by an enlarged heart.

Adams was selected fourth overall in the 2007 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who traded him to the Bears last October.

The former college star at Clemson was pronounced dead at Self Regional Hospital in Greenwood, South Carolina.

ESPN reported Greenwood County coroner James Coursey as saying a preliminary autopsy indicated Adams died from a heart attack due to an enlarged heart.

Coursey also told television station WYFF that Adams appeared to be in good health before his death.

"I remember him at the 2007 Draft as a fine young man," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Our condolences to Gaines' family, his teammates on the Bears and Buccaneers and their organizations on their loss."

Adams made 67 tackles, including 13 sacks, in 47 NFL games. He had one sack in 15 games with the Bucs and Bears in the just-completed NFL season.