CHARLOTTE – Mike Adams, a Pro Bowl safety two of the past three seasons, has signed a two-year contract with the Panthers through the 2018 season.

The veteran of 13 seasons has been to a Super Bowl as well, but he hasn't won one.

"When you get older, you realize your time is running out. It's time to get that ring," Adams said. "I just want to win, want to turn over a new leaf, and Carolina is the spot.

"I'm excited about trying to get back to that, and I can help this team with leadership, making plays and showing my energy and my enthusiasm – just doing what I do."

Adams, undrafted out of the University of Delaware in 2004, has amassed 737 tackles and 25 interceptions with four different teams. He was an unrestricted free agent after spending the past three seasons with the Colts, playing in the Pro Bowl following the 2014 and 2015 season as an injury replacement after picking off five passes each year.

In Carolina, Adams could be paired with Demetrious Cox, who has the most interceptions in the NFC over the past two seasons with 11. The Panthers started out last season with Coleman and third-year free safety Tre Boston on the back end. The Panthers eventually brought in veteran Michael Griffin, in part to free up Coleman to take more snaps at free safety where he had so much success in 2015. Adams, a natural strong safety, can provide more opportunities for Coleman at the free safety spot.

Adams spent the first half of his rookie season in 2004 with the 49ers on the practice squad before making his NFL debut against the Panthers and recovering a fumble on the second-half kickoff of Carolina's 37-27 victory.

"You know why I remember that?" Adams said. "I had just been elevated off the practice squad, and the defensive coordinator had brought me and Rayshun Reed into his office and said, 'Listen, both of y'all can't stay up. If you play better than him, you're going to stay up.'

"I got that fumble, and I think he forced it. So it kind of balanced out."

Both stayed on the 53-man roster because of an injury situation, but Adams has stayed a lot longer. He was a starting safety for the 49ers more often than not over the next two seasons, then spent five seasons with the Browns and two with the Broncos before signing with the Colts in 2014.

He's played in 190 games with 117 starts, recording 11 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries, 74 passes defensed and six sacks.