For the first 13 years of his life, young Tyler lived with his mom, without a dad or any siblings. This upbringing made him more mature than most kids his age. This article tells the story of a dedicated footballer who proudly goes by the nickname “The Grinder.” Tyler is known for his discipline and unique philosophy of not swapping shirts with other players.
Not many football fans know that at just 16 years old, Tyler got a rare opportunity to play his first senior match against Chelsea Football Club. In that game, he surprised everyone by not only taking on the defensive midfield role against stars like Eden Hazard and Diego Costa but also scoring a rare header goal.
This detailed article also shares a personal story about Tyler Adams, a boy who faced an embarrassing moment in his technology class. Tasked with building a bridge, perfectionist Tyler was focused on making it the best. While he was working, a classmate approached him and asked,
“Are you Tyler Adams?”
Tyler responded, “Yes, and who the hell are you?” The classmate then replied, “I think your mom is dating my dad.”
Now, let’s dive deeper into the story of Tyler Adams.
Growing Up Without a Dad: How Tyler Adams Became Fearless
Our Tyler Adams Biography tells you Facts about his Childhood Story, Early Life, Parents – Melissa Russo (Mother), Darryl Sullivan (Stepdad), Brothers (Dylan, Donovan, and Darryl Jnr,), Family Background, Girlfriend (Sarah Schmidt), etc.
This memoir also unveils Tyler Adams’ Family Origin, hometown, Education (high school, college), etc. Not forgetting the Soccer midfielder’s Ethnicity, Lifestyle, Net Worth, and Salary Breakdown.
Preamble:
Our version of Tyler Adams begins by telling you notable info on his boyhood years.
Next, we break down the events that span his career, from the moment he scored his first senior goal.
Finally, we will tell you about the rise of the youngster who possesses a great mentality.
We hope to whet your autobiography appetite as you read Tyler Adams’ Biography. To begin doing that, let’s unveil this gallery of early life and formidable.
From Adams’ cute boyhood years to the moment of becoming a USMNT star, Tyler has indeed come a long way.
The Biography of Tyler Adams – From his humble beginnings to becoming a USMNT star. We’ll explain the growth of a soccer prodigy who has an unbreakable spirit.
This superstar doesn’t care about the limelight — but he’s earning it anyway with his midfield bravery.
Tyler Adams is one of the most influential figures on the U.S. men’s national team. He is also a key midfielder for Leeds United, one of the English Premier League’s sleeping giants.
Yes, many soccer fans appreciate the soccer player’s mentality on the pitch. But not everyone has read a detailed version of Tyler Adams’ Biography, which is exciting.
So without further ado, let’s begin with the story of his amazing boyhood years.
Tyler Adams Childhood Story:
To begin with, Tyler Adams is known by the nicknames “Ty” and “The Grinder.” His full name is Tyler Shaan Adams. He was born on February 14, 1999, to his mother, Melissa Russo, and his biological father, whose identity is unknown.
Here is a photo of Tyler and his mother, Melissa Russo, when he was a toddler.
A rare childhood photo of Tyler and his Mum, Melissa Russo.
Tyler Adams was born in Wappingers Falls, New York. To this day, his biological father remains unknown, but he has a stepfather named Darryl.
Tyler is the only child born to his mother, Melissa Russo. Here are the individuals Tyler Adams calls his parents.
Melissa Russo is Tyler Adams’ Mother. Darryl is his Stepfather.
Growing Up Years:
As the only child of his mother, Melissa Russo, Tyler Adams wasn’t only seen as the baby of the family.
In fact, he, as a child, considered himself the man of the house. From the onset, the members of Tyle Adams’ family consist of just him and his Mum, Melissa.
Young Tyler Adams grew up at his family home at Wappinger Falls, New York, a 90-minute drive to Manhattan.
In the beginning, Melissa Russo raised her boy, Tyler, on her own. She was a single mother who did a lot to make ends meet.
With Melissa Russo being a single parent for a while, Tyler recognized the need to support her (early on) and to be the man of the house.
Giving his Mum a helping hand:
In those days, whenever it snowed, Tyler Adams won’t allow his Mum to do all the snow packing.
The brave boy would request for his own snow shovel to assist his Mum clear the driveway. In fact, young Adams was deemed too mature for his young age.
On other days, Tyler would always ask his Mum what she needed help with. Put simply, he was a hardworking boy who grew up quickly to become a man – in the absence of his Dad.
As a young boy, TY ensured he was the one who did most of the house chores. Here, the USMNT star speaks about his childhood years.
Tyler Adams Family Background:
In getting to know his first encounter with the larger members of his household (stepdad and brothers), let’s tell you what once transpired.
One day, while Tyler Adams was in a technology class at school, he was told to build a bridge. The Perfectionist, as many called him, wanted to make his bridge to be the best.
While he focused on increasing the strength of the bridge, a big white kid came over and walked to Tyler saying;
‘Are you Tyler Adams?’
The bridge builder responded; yes,… and Tyler was like… ‘and who the hell are you?‘ Then the kid said;
I think your mum is dating my dad.
Upon hearing that, Tyler Adam thought … what the f—?” In fact, a fight with the white kid almost started – on a lesser note. Then, Adams quickly checked with his mom to confirm if it was true.
The youngster found she was actually in a relationship with Darryl Sr, and it was going really well. Soon, Melissa Russo, Tyler, and Darryl Sr’s family began living together.
From a family of two to six:
When Tyler Adams was 13 years old, his life changed dramatically with the arrival of his stepfather, Darryl. Before then, he had been an only child.
With Darryl’s arrival, Tyler’s family expanded significantly, growing from a two-person unit to a family of six. He embraced this change wholeheartedly and enjoyed being part of a larger family.
After Darryl joined the family, Tyler became the eldest of four stepbrothers: Darryl Junior, Dylan, and Donovan. Interestingly, Tyler doesn’t use the “step” prefix when referring to his family members, showing the strong bond they share.
Meet Tyler Adams’ extended family in this photo taken during his RB Leipzig presentation.
From left to right, we have Dylan Sullivan, Donovan, Darryl Snr, Tyler, Darryl Jnr, and Melissa Russo.
As you already know, the USMNT star was born and raised by Melissa Russo, a single mother.
The other of Tyler Adams’ parents (his Dad) was absent during his upbringing. We have yet to ascertain why Melissa Russo separated from her son’s biological Dad.
Tyler Adams Family Origins:
The first thing to know about the 5 foot 9 Athlete is; that he possesses US nationality. Tyler Adams’ parents are US citizens. Because of his dark skin color, it is suggestive that Tyler might have African ancestry through his Dad.
Wappingers Falls in New York, United States, is where the USMNT star comes from. Here is a map to aid your understanding of Tyler Adams’ Family origins and the neighborhood he spent his childhood years.
Wappinger, New York, is where Tyler Adams’ Mum raised him and where his family comes from.
Just a little note, the Town of Wappinger is home to the Wappinger Native Americans.
As stated by Wikipedia, Adams is the most notable soccer player from the town of Wappinger. This short clip tells you a bit about the hometown of the American soccer star.
Tyler Adams Ethnicity:
Melissa Russo, his Mum, is a White American. And Tyler Adams’ dark skin suggests his real Dad is likely to belong to the African American ethnic group.
Owing to the above premise, it is also a fact that Tyler Adams is part of a multicultural American ethnicity. Put simply, the USMNT star (through his parents) has mixed ancestry of more than one ethnic group.
Tyler Adams Education:
When TY was a freshman in high school, the future USMNT star played for Red Bull Academy.
As confirmed by his StepDad, Tyler Adams was an intelligent student at school. He never had issues reading his books and playing soccer as well as basketball. Here are words from Darryl Sullivan.
We have a photo below, which proves that Adams is a School Graduate. On the day Tyler made his graduation photo public, he wished his stepdad (Darryl) a happy Father’s Day.
The photo below confirms that Tyler Adams is an educated soccer player – a certified high school graduate.
This is Tyler Adams, alongside his parents, during his high school graduation.
Tyler Adams College:
Just a couple of weeks after TY graduated from high school, he began working on a college degree, even as his soccer career blossomed.
In the summer of 2017, Tyler Adams enrolled at Southern New Hampshire University to take online classes. Do you know?… his education at the university was part of a clause in his Red Bull contract.
Back in 2015, Tyler Adams’ mother negotiated a clause with the New York Red Bulls. It says that her son’s tuition would be reimbursed each time he passes his college exams.
Career Buildup:
The journey to becoming a soccer pro began when Tyler was six. It started in a neighborhood team, where he began honing his skills.
From a young age, Adams was driven by a passion for doing the extraordinary with the soccer ball. Back in the day, the difference between Tyler and any other player was his competitiveness.
The box-to-box midfielder was pictured taking on an opponent – in his early career years.
Tyler Adams Biography – Soccer Story:
The year 2011 opened a new chapter in the life of the Wappinger native. Tyler Adams, at the age of 12, joined the Red Bulls Academy.
At first, he had no idea that a prestigious soccer academy like Redbull existed some miles away from his parent’s home.
He learned about RedBull when a family friend sent Tyler Adams’ Mum an email. The email reads that there was a Red Bull soccer academy that would be an ideal fit for her son.
The academy was 40 minutes from Tyler Adams’ house. This video tells you about his first experience at New York Red Bulls Academy.
Melissa Russo ensured her son never lacked soccer items like cleats and others. In addition, Tyler Adams’ Mum constantly pushed him to be brave on the field and have the necessary work ethic.
Early career experience:
Early on, Tyler Adams had a steely determination to become a professional and was better than the players in his age group.
From the start, young Tyler made his mom proud as he began collecting honors.
The teenage Superstar began collecting honors not long after he joined the New York Red Bulls academy.
At the time he joined this Red Bull academy, he wasn’t eligible to drive. Tyler Adams’ Dad and Mum pledged their support on the grinding 70-mile drive.
This is the distance between his family home in Wappingers Falls and the New York Red Bulls training facility.
When Tyler Adams reached the driving age of 16, he began making the grueling 70-mile drive to the Red Bull training facility by himself. This long commute defined the strong work ethic he is still known for today.
Adams joined the Red Bulls Academy in 2011 and played with the under-13, under-14, and under-16 sides before turning professional.
To show how good he was for Red Bull, young Tyler got called by the United States U17 national team.
Tyler Adams Biography – Rise to Fame Story:
Progressing from the club’s academy into its senior squad wasn’t straightforward. Adams joined the club’s senior reserve team, The New York Red Bulls II. His biggest highlight while at the reserves was helping his team win the 2016 USL Cup Final.
An unstoppable Adams helped his club to a 5–1 victory over Swope Park Rangers. That earned his team the 2016 USL Cup.
Tyler Adams experienced a meteoric rise in his early club career. Within his first year of signing with the New York Red Bulls senior team, he became a regular with the USA junior national team.
Here are the praises he received from Bob Montgomery, the former New York Red Bull academy director.
A big milestone in his career came when U.S. Under-20 National Team head coach, Tab Ramos, selected Adams for the 2017 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.
Tyler knew that competition was his opportunity to get to the US men’s national team.
The youngster made his country proud by helping the USA win the CONCACAF U-20 trophy for the first time.
With double wins from both his club and national youth team sides, the boy from Wappinger earned his promotion from Red Bull reserves to the senior team.
The Midfielder had an excellent youth career both at Red Bull and the US junior teams.
Senior Career Life:
Being the keyman in USA’s CONCACAF U-20 Championship victory was the biggest turning point of Tyler Adams’ young career.
From the moment he held this great trophy, one thing became certain in his mind. Tyler expected a call to join the US Men’s national team.
The heroics he displayed on winning the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship earned him a USMNT call.
To the joy of Tyler Adams’ family members, he earned his first cap for the USMNT on the 14th of November, 2017.
The youngster played alongside Weston McKennie, who scored the goal against Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in a 1–1 draw.
Adams’ success on the national level was replicated from the club side of things. In 2018, he helped the New York Red Bulls win the MLS Supporters Shield. That was followed by a January 2019 transfer to the German Bundesliga team, RB Leipzig.
When he joined the German outfit, Gregg Berhalter had taken command of the USMNT. Although Adams wasn’t yet a starter, he, alongside Yunus Musah, Gio Reyna, Captain Cristian Pulisic, centre-forward Josh Sargent, left-back Antonee Robinson, etc, helped the USMNT to the CONCACAF Nations League title.
RB Leipzig Success:
Some few injuries (which he sustained) couldn’t stop his progress with the German team. Adams’ gigantic return saw him become RB Leipzig’s unlikeliest hero.
Did you know?… Adams scored the crucial goal that guided Leipzig into their first-ever Champions League semifinal. The German club achieved that just 11 years after it was officially formed.
More importantly, Adams, along with (Nkunku, Silva, Szoboszlai, Angelino, Poulsen, Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol, etc.) helped RB Leipzig to win the 2021–22 DFB-Pokal trophy.
Here is the American holding the greatest trophy in Germany’s knockout football.
The RB Leipzig star takes a photo with the DFB-Pokal.
At the time of writing Tyler Adams’ Biography, he has just reunited with Jesse Marsch at Leeds United.
In case you didn’t know, Marsch was the coach who handed Tyler a senior career debut with New York Red Bulls. Jesse Marsch also coached Adams while he was at RB Leipzig.
Making a statement in Qatar:
More importantly, Tyler Adams hopes to make a big statement at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
The Wappinger native hopes that the greatest soccer tournament will earn him a deserved transfer to one of the biggest clubs in Europe. This video tells you everything about Tyler’s World Cup dreams.
The rest of Tyler Adams’ Bio, as we say, is now history. Having taken you through the journey of his career, we’ll use the next section to unveil factual details of his love life.
Who is Sarah Schmidt?
To begin with, Sarah is Tyler Adams’ girlfriend and very likely his future wife.
Their relationship became public in April 2019 when photos of Tyler and Sarah first appeared. At that time, Adams was playing soccer with RB Leipzig.
Meet Sarah Schmidt. She is Tyler Adams’ Girlfriend.
Based on her surname, it’s likely that one or both of Sarah Schmidt’s parents are German. Her Instagram posts indicating that she calls New Hampshire home suggest her family might be based in the US.
However, Sarah loves Germany and is a big fan of Oktoberfest, as shown below.
In case you didn’t know, Oktoberfest is the world’s largest beer festival, held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.
Tyler Adams’ Girlfriend, Sarah, and her bestie, Riley Taylor, were once in an Oktoberfest mood.
Sarah Schmidt is one reason Tyler found it less difficult to settle in Germany.
She is super-supportive, one who is willing to put her life on hold in other to follow Tyler anywhere his career leads him. Sarah Schmidt was there when her boyfriend celebrated the DFB-Pokal trophy.
For Tyler, the DFB-Pokal celebration got even better with Sarah’s presence.
In this video, Tyler Adams told the world about persons he is grateful to, including Sarah Schmidt.
Personal Life:
Who is Tyler Adams?
This section of Tyler Adams’ Biography explains his off-pitch personality. First things first, the Leeds United and USMNT star wants you to know this.
Asides from soccer, Tyler does find time to watch other sports like ice hockey. Adams also attends NBA games and launch events.
The USMNT star joins 34 percent of Americans who watch the NFL. Speaking about his favorite NFL Star, the name Odell Cornelious Beckham Jr rings a bell.
The American soccer midfielder takes a photo with OBJ.
Regarding the hockey team Tyler Adams supports, our research show he is a huge fan of the New York Rangers.
Here, Tyler Adams and Darryl Sullivan (his kid brother) just attended one of the Rangers games at Madison Square Garden.
In March 2016, Tyler and his younger brother had a great moment at the Maddison Square Garden.
To this day, Tyler Adams’ favorite Food is still unknown. But in recent times, the USMNT star once gave fans something to think about. This Giant meat pie was cooked up for Tyler’s consumption at an open German restaurant.
For the midfielder, this meal was just about to go down.
Hates to Swap shirts:
Adams doesn’t like the whole swapping shirts thing – especially after matches.
Whenever TY steps out on the pitch and looks at his opponents, his mind whirrs about how he can take advantage of his opponent. The truth is, the names and reputations of Tyler’s opponents mean little to him.
The empty walls of Tyler Adams’ house are a testament to his ideology. The wall in his home bears no signed shirts of other soccer players.
He isn’t proud about being one of the most influential figures on the USMNT and a key midfielder for Leeds United.
Tyler Adams Lifestyle:
In this Biographical section, you’ll get to know some of the things the USMNT star spends his money on.
First, let’s explore what holidays mean for Tyler Adams. He and his girlfriend love visiting Interlaken, a charming resort town in central Switzerland.
Sarah Schmidt and her Soccer boyfriend had a great time at Interlaken, Switzerland.
Tyler Adams Car:
Sometime in 2021, the 5 ft 9 midfielder took a photo pose with his Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. Tyler Adams’ turbocharged 4-cylinder car has a Sporty-looking bodywork, spacious inside, and a generous cargo room.
The Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport costs around $53,000.
Tyler Adams Family Life:
The bond that links his girlfriend (Sarah), stepdad, and brothers is definitely not one of blood. But one that shows deep respect and love for each other.
Members of Tyler Adams’ family, including his friends and girlfriend (Sarah Schmidt) at the front. Initially, there were just two members in his family. But as time progressed, Tyler Adams got a new parent (his stepdad) and siblings.
Now, let’s discuss the close relationship between Tyler Adams’ family members. We’ll start with Darryl.
Tyler Adams Father:
As the USMNT star once said, Darryl is the man who changed his life forever.
You see these two best friends in the photo below, it never gets to a point where they (Tyler and Darrly) grow tired of each other’s company. Here is a photo showing both Stepdad and son acting like best friends.
Judging by Tyler Adams’ gestures, you could tell he enjoys a great relationship with Darryl.
Adams always has time for a chat with his Stepdad, who never stops giving him career advice.
Also, to note, he does find time to vacation with his stepdad and biological mum. Both Tyler, Darryl, and Melissa love this experience of having nature’s peace flowing into them.
Darryl is a great addition to the lives of Tyler and Melissa.
Tyler Adams Mother:
No one knows the Soccer star more than Melissa Russo, the woman he first loved. For more than a decade, Tyler Adams and his Mum lived alone.
Many people say that being a single parent is twice the work and twice the stress. From the beginning, Tyler Adams vowed to make life easier for his mom.
Young Tyler and his Mum, Melissa Russo.
Melissa Russo once revealed the moments that make her most emotional. It wasn’t when her son (Tyler) got all the awards for being the best player for his age group and senior team.
Rather, she cries when she sees her son singing the USA national anthem with his hands on his chest. Here are Melissa Russo’s words.
Tyler Adams’ Mum is the type who always tells her son not to forget where he comes from. Similar to Neco Williams, it doesn’t matter how rich and famous he has become. Melissa Russo would always text Tyler saying,
‘Hey son, you’re still that punk-ass kid that I remember, who I gave nuggies to.’
This is Melissa saying that when Tyler gets too high, his family (especially her) would be there to humble her quickly.
And whenever he is low or down, she and Darryl will be there to get him back to the middle ground.
Melissa Russo’s constant love and support has helped him become who he is today.
Tyler Adams Siblings (Brothers):
From what it seems, the USMNT midfielder has no sister. And from left to right, we have the following members of Tyler Adams’ family.
They are; Darryl, Tyler himself, Donovan, Dylan, Darryl, and Melissa Russo, his Mum. Now, let’s provide factual details about Tyler Adams’ Siblings.
The entire family takes a photo in front of Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse.
Darryl Sullivan:
To start with, he is the firstborn child to Darryl and a stepson to Melissa Russo. Darryl Junior was born in Wappingers Falls, NY. From childhood, Darryl Sullivan (a 6 foot 3 American) is a versatile Athlete.
Tyler Adams’s stepbrother started as a soccer player. Then, he ventured into basketball before finally settling with his favorite sport, American football.
A gallery showing Darryl Sullivan at different sporting stages of his life.
At the moment, Darryl Sullivan plays as an Offensive Lineman for the Robert Morris Colonials football team. This is a football team for Robert Morris University, located in Pennsylvania.
Donovan Sullivan:
Being a staunch Chelsea fan and having Didier Drogba as his Idol is the first thing to know about him. From what we’ve also gathered, Donovan Sullivan is a professional footballer. He once had an unforgettable meeting with his Blues Idol in 2016.
Donovan Sullivan, holding a baby and taking a photograph with Didier Drogba.
Dylan Sullivan:
Just like Donovan and his stepbrother, he is also a professional footballer. Dylan Sullivan is a Defender who (as of 2022) plays for Clemson Tigers men’s soccer team – from Clemson University.
Tyler Adams’ brother (Dylan) was among those who won the AAC Men’s Soccer and NCAA Division Championships (in 2020 and 2021).
Dylan Sullivan takes a photo with his soccer trophies.
Tyler Adams Uncle:
On the 28th of February, the year 2014, TY published this photo of his relative. The caption on his Instagram reveals the person (pictured below) is Tyler Adams’ Uncle, a brother to his biological father.
Both family members appear to be quite close, and it seems his uncle had a wedding on this day.
Young Tyler at his uncle’s wedding.
Untold Facts:
In the concluding phase of Tyler Adams’ Biography, we’ll provide more information about him. Without further ado, let’s begin.
How rich is the USMNT Midfielder:
Where Tyler Adams’ family comes from (Wappinger), the average person makes around $91,000 annually. Such a person would need 22 years and nine months to earn his salary at Leeds United.
Tyler Adams FIFA:
There is a reason he bears the nickname “The Grinder.” It is because Tyler does the dirty job and his work rate, tenacity, and positioning are incredible.
Adams, like Joao Neves and Swiss footballer Denis Zakaria, is a modern-day Defensive midfielder – both in real life and at FIFA. His greatest soccer assets remain his stamina, acceleration, agility, jumping, and balance. By examining his FIFA stats and strengths, you can see that he resembles Pierre-Emile Højbjerg in many ways.
His FIFA Stats shows way above-average points in his movement, mentality, and defending.
Tyler Adams Religion:
Melissa Russo, his Mum, raised him in adherence to Christianity practices. Put simply, Tyler Adams’ religion is Christianity. As part of his personality, the US soccer midfielder keeps his religious practice private.
Born on a special day:
Adams joins the likes of top footballers whose parents had them on St Valentine’s day. A few of these names are; Angel Di Maria, Christian Eriksen, Edinson Cavani, and Lucas Hernandes.
EndNote:
“Ty” as he is nicknamed, was born on Saint Valentine’s day in 1999 to his Mum, Melissa Russo, and an unknown biological father.
Tyler Adams’ birthplace is Wappingers Falls, New York, United States. The American soccer star is the only child of his single mother, Melissa Russo.
In the absence of a biological Dad, Young Adams matured quickly to be the man of the house. He spent his childhood years in Wappinger Falls, New York.
At the age of 13, Tyler Adams met his Stepfather, Darryl Sullivan. At that time, he became the oldest of four stepbrothers – Donovan, Dylan, and Darryl Junior.
Judging by his skin color, Tyler Adams appears to have a trace of African ancestry. And the American soccer player is part of the African American ethnic group.
Young Adams (who set a good example for his brothers) rose through the age groups of the New York Red Bulls academy.
Adams’ early career success involves him winning the CONCACAF U-20 Championship. This feat earned TY a call to join the US Men’s national team.
In 2019, Adams decided to move abroad. He played alongside Ilaix Moriba and Hee-chan Hwang in an RB Leipzig team that won the 2021–22 DFB-Pokal.
While with RB Leipzig, the youngster was known to have sparked a relationship with Sarah Schmidt. She is Tyler Adams’ girlfriend and, possibly, his wife-to-be.
As I conclude on writing his life story, the midfielder and fellow USMNT star, Brenden Aaronson are part of a Jesse Marsch Leeds setup. Tyler is also a key member of the USA national team side, captained by Walker Zimmerman. He hopes to make a big statement at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Appreciation Note:
Thank you for taking the time to read our version of Tyler Adams’ Biography.
Our team strives for accuracy and fairness in our quest to deliver you the North American soccer stories. Tyler Adams Bio is a product of our American soccer players collection.
For errors, commissions, or corrections in this memoir, please reach us via comment. On another note, please tell us what you think about the youngster who grew to become his team’s captain at a young age.
Aside from Tyler’s Life story, we’ve got other interesting soccer stories for you. The story of Jesus Ferreira and Folarin Balogun will surely excite your autobiography appetite.
