Adrian Peterson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Adrian Peterson

Peterson in 2019
No. 28, 23, 26, 8, 21
Position:	Running back
Personal information
Born:	(1985-03-21) March 21, 1985 (age 40) Palestine, Texas, U.S.
Height:	6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:	220 lb (100 kg)
Career information
High school:	Palestine
College:	Oklahoma (2004–2006)
NFL Draft:	2007 / Round: 1 / Pick: 7
Career history
Minnesota Vikings (2007) New Orleans Saints (2017) Arizona Cardinals (2017) Washington Redskins (2018) Detroit Lions (2020) Tennessee Titans (2021) Seattle Seahawks (2021)
Career highlights and awards
NFL Most Valuable Player (2012) NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2012) NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2007) 4× First-team All-Pro (2008, 2009, 2012, 2015) 3× Second-team All-Pro (2007, 2010, 2013) 7× Pro Bowl (2007–2010, 2012, 2013, 2015) 3× NFL rushing yards leader (2008, 2012, 2015) 2× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (2009, 2015) NFL 2010s All-Decade Team 2× Bert Bell Award (2008, 2012) Art Rooney Award (2019) PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team (2007) 50 Greatest Vikings Minnesota Vikings All-Mall of America Field Team Jim Brown Trophy (2004) Unanimous All-American (2004) Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2004) Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year (2004) 3× First-team All-Big 12 (2004–2006) Most rushing yards in a game: 296
Career NFL statistics
Rushing yards: 14,918 Rushing average: 4.6 Rushing touchdowns: 120 Receptions: 305 Receiving yards: 2,474 Receiving touchdowns: 6
Player stats at PFR

Adrian Lewis Peterson (born March 21, 1985) is a former professional football running back who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League (NFL). Many people think he is one of the best running backs ever. He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners. There, he set a freshman rushing record with 1,925 yards in 2004. He was the first freshman to nearly win the Heisman Trophy. Peterson ended his college career as the Sooners' third all-time leading rusher.

The Minnesota Vikings picked him seventh overall in the 2007 NFL draft. As a rookie, he set an NFL record for the most rushing yards in one game (296). He was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He also became the MVP of the Pro Bowl. Peterson was only the fifth player in NFL history to gain over 3,000 yards in his first two seasons. In 2010, he became the fifth-fastest player to run for 5,000 yards. He did this in his 51st game.

In late 2011, Peterson tore both his ACL and MCL in a game. Even with this injury, he returned by the start of the 2012 season. He finished that season with 2,097 rushing yards. This was just nine yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's record for a single season. For his amazing effort, he won the NFL MVP Award. This was the most recent time a non-quarterback won this award. In 2013, Peterson became the third-fastest player to reach 10,000 rushing yards in NFL history.

In 2014, Peterson faced a difficult situation that led to him being suspended for the rest of the season. As a free agent in 2017, Peterson signed with the New Orleans Saints. He was later traded to the Arizona Cardinals during the season. After that, Peterson played for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, Tennessee Titans, and Seattle Seahawks.

Early Life and Football Dreams

Peterson was born in Palestine, Texas. His parents, Bonita Brown and Nelson Peterson, were great college athletes. His father played basketball for Idaho State. His mother was a three-time Texas state champion in track and field. She went to the University of Houston on a scholarship. Peterson's older brother, Brian, was his best friend. His father nicknamed him "All Day" because he could play all day.

When Peterson was 7, he became very interested in football. His father, Nelson, helped coach him. Peterson played in a popular youth football program in East Texas.

High School Highlights

Peterson was a star in football, basketball, and track at Palestine High School. He was most famous for football, which he played in his junior and senior years. In his junior year, he rushed for 2,051 yards and 22 touchdowns. College recruiters started to notice him then.

As a senior in 2003, he rushed for 2,960 yards and 32 touchdowns. After one game, players from the other team even asked for his autograph. Many people wondered if he could go straight from high school to the pros.

Track and Field Skills

Peterson also excelled in track & field, just like his mother. He won many medals in events like the 100 meters, 200 meters, and long jump. His coach believed he could have been an Olympic sprinter if he hadn't chosen football. He ran the 100-meter dash in 10.26 seconds in 2002.

Choosing a College Team

Top recruiting networks saw Peterson as the best running back in 2004. He thought about schools like Texas and UCLA. He wanted to go to a school where he could help win a national championship. He narrowed his choices to USC and Oklahoma.

He played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. There, he announced he would attend the University of Oklahoma. He was named the top high school player by College Football News.

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes

Name	Hometown	High school / college	Height	Weight	40‡	Commit date
Adrian Peterson RB	Palestine, Texas	Palestine High School	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)	210 lb (95 kg)	4.4	Jan 3, 2004
	Recruiting star ratings: Scout:   Rivals:   247Sports: N/A    ESPN grade: 5
Overall recruiting rankings: Scout: 1 (RB)   Rivals: 1 (RB), 1 (Texas), 1 National
‡ Refers to 40 yard dash Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height, weight and 40 time. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources:

College Football Journey

Peterson played for the Oklahoma Sooners football team from 2004 to 2006.

2004 Season: Breaking Records

Peterson before a game against the Washington Huskies

In his freshman year, Peterson broke several NCAA rushing records. He led the conference with 1,925 rushing yards. He rushed for over 100 yards in his first nine games. This was a freshman record. He had 249 yards against Oklahoma State.

He ran for 101 yards against Texas A&M, even with a dislocated shoulder. He set the NCAA record for most 100-yard games by a freshman. Oklahoma went from a poor rushing team to one of the best.

He finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting. He was the first Oklahoma freshman to be named a first-team All-American. Oklahoma had a perfect regular season. They played in the 2005 BCS National Championship Game against USC. USC limited him to 82 yards, and they lost the game. After the season, he had shoulder surgery.

2005 Season: Injury Challenges

In 2005, Peterson's playing time was limited by a broken foot. He started with 63 yards and a touchdown against TCU. In the next game, he had 220 rushing yards and three touchdowns against Tulsa. He injured his ankle later in the season.

Despite missing games, he rushed for 1,208 yards and 14 touchdowns. He had a career-long 84-yard touchdown run against Oklahoma State. Oklahoma finished with an 8–4 record. He was named to the All-Big 12 Conference team.

2006 Season: Collarbone Injury

Peterson runs against Boise State in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl

Peterson started the 2006 season strong. He averaged over 150 yards per game and scored nine touchdowns in five games. His father, Nelson, was released from prison. He watched Peterson play for the first time on October 14.

Peterson broke his collar bone in that game. Doctors said he would be out for 4–6 weeks. He needed 150 yards to pass Billy Sims as Oklahoma's all-time leading rusher. He missed seven games. He returned for the 2007 Fiesta Bowl. He rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown in the loss. He finished his college career with 4,045 rushing yards. He was third in school history.

College Statistics

Professional Football Career

On January 15, 2007, Peterson decided to enter the 2007 NFL draft. He was known as a tall, fast, and strong runner. People compared him to legends like Eric Dickerson and Jim Brown. Some teams worried about his college injuries. He had a dislocated shoulder, an ankle sprain, and a broken collarbone.

Minnesota Vikings: A Star is Born

2007: Rookie Sensation

Peterson had high hopes for his rookie year. He wanted to be NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. In his first game, he ran for 103 yards. He scored his first touchdown on a 60-yard pass. He set a team record with 431 yards in his first three games. He won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month twice.

His big game was on October 14, 2007. He rushed for 224 yards and three touchdowns against the Chicago Bears. He set new team records for a rookie. He also set an NFL rookie record with 361 all-purpose yards. His 607 rushing yards in five games were second in NFL history.

Peterson splitting defenders in the 2008 Pro Bowl

On November 4, 2007, Peterson broke the NFL single-game rushing record. He ran for 296 yards and three touchdowns against the San Diego Chargers. This was his second game with over 200 rushing yards. He passed 1,000 rushing yards for the year in just eight games. His jersey from that game was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

A week later, he injured his right knee. He returned on December 2, rushing for 116 yards and two touchdowns. He was named the starting running back for the 2008 NFC Pro Bowl team. On January 2, he was named NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

On February 10, 2008, Peterson won the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl MVP award. He rushed for 129 yards and two touchdowns. He was the first rookie since 1994 to win this award. He finished second in rushing yards in 2007 with 1,341 yards.

2008: Leading the League

Peterson in a 2008 NFC Wild Card game against the Philadelphia Eagles

Peterson played all 16 games in his second season. He had ten games with over 100 rushing yards. He finished leading the league in rushing with 1,760 yards. This was the third-most yards in a second season ever. He became the fourth running back to lead the league in yards per game in his first two seasons. He won the Bert Bell Award. He was named to his second All-Pro team.

The Vikings made the playoffs with a 10–6 record. In his first playoff game, Peterson had 83 rushing yards and two touchdowns. They lost to the Philadelphia Eagles.

2009: More Touchdowns

Before the 2009 season, experts called Peterson the best running back in the NFL. Quarterback Brett Favre joined the team. Peterson continued to be a key player. He rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns in the first game. He had 143 yards against the Baltimore Ravens.

He finished the season with 1,383 rushing yards. He led the league with 18 rushing touchdowns. He also had a career-high 43 receptions for 436 yards.

In the playoffs, Peterson helped the Vikings beat the Dallas Cowboys. They lost to the New Orleans Saints in overtime. Peterson rushed for 122 yards and three touchdowns in that game. He was voted to his third Pro Bowl. He was named a first-team All-Pro again.

2010: Fumbling Less

Peterson started 2010 strong with 392 yards and three touchdowns in three weeks. He had 160 rushing yards and two touchdowns against the Detroit Lions. He went over 5,000 career rushing yards in Week 6. He was the sixth fastest to reach this mark.

He had only one fumble during the regular season. This was a big improvement. He finished with 1,267 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns. He played in the Pro Bowl. He was ranked as the third-best player in the NFL by his peers.

2011: ACL Injury

Peterson playing against the Green Bay Packers in 2011

On September 10, 2011, the Vikings signed Peterson to a $96 million contract. This made him the highest-paid running back ever. He reached 6,000 career rushing yards on September 18. On October 9, he scored three touchdowns in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals.

On December 24, Peterson was injured in a game. He suffered a torn ACL and MCL. He was placed on injured reserve. In 2011, Peterson had 970 rushing yards and 12 rushing touchdowns. He was ranked eighth among NFL players.

2012: MVP Season and Record Chase

Peterson started Week 1 of 2012 after his ACL and MCL tear. He rushed for 84 yards and two touchdowns. He passed Robert Smith for most rushing yards in Vikings history. He had 153 rushing yards against the Arizona Cardinals. He had 182 yards and two touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks.

On December 2, he had 210 rushing yards against the Green Bay Packers. In Week 15, he had 212 rushing yards against the St. Louis Rams. By Week 16, Peterson led the NFL with 1,898 yards.

He needed 208 yards in Week 17 to break Eric Dickerson's single-season record (2,105). The Vikings played the Green Bay Packers. Peterson ran for 26 yards, setting up a game-winning field goal. He finished nine yards short of the record. He rushed for 861 yards in December, an NFL record for a single month.

Peterson finished the 2012 season with 2,097 rushing yards. This was the second-most ever in a single season. He became only the seventh player to rush for over 2,000 yards. The Vikings improved from 3–13 to 10–6. Peterson won the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Most Valuable Player awards. He was named to his fifth Pro Bowl. He was ranked as the best player in the NFL by his peers.

2013: 10,000 Yards Milestone

Peterson in 2013 against the Cleveland Browns

Peterson started 2013 with a 78-yard touchdown run. He finished with 93 rushing yards and two touchdowns. He struggled early but rushed for 140 yards when his fullback returned. On October 10, Peterson missed practice for a personal reason. He later played against the Carolina Panthers.

On December 1, he had 211 rushing yards against the Chicago Bears. He reached 10,000 career rushing yards in that game. He was the third-fastest player to reach this milestone. He finished the season with 1,266 yards and 10 touchdowns in 14 games. He was named to his sixth Pro Bowl.

2014: Season Suspension

Peterson started the 2014 season with 75 rushing yards. He was later deactivated for a game. On September 17, Peterson was placed on the NFL's Exempt/Commissioner's Permission list. This meant he had to stay away from team activities. On November 18, the NFL suspended Peterson for the rest of the 2014 season. He was ranked 62nd by his fellow players.

2015: Rushing Title

On February 26, 2015, Peterson was allowed to return to the league. He struggled in his first game back. But in Week 2, he rushed for 134 yards. The Vikings started 8–3, with Peterson averaging 106 rushing yards per game. He had 203 yards against the Oakland Raiders. This was his sixth career 200+ yard game, tying an NFL record.

He scored his 100th career touchdown in Week 14. In Week 17, the Vikings won the NFC North Division Championship. Peterson led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,485. He became the first player since Barry Sanders to win three rushing titles. He was named a first-team All-Pro for the fourth time. He was chosen for his seventh Pro Bowl.

2016: Another Injury

Peterson started 2016 with 31 rushing yards. In Week 2, he left the game with a right knee injury. He had surgery to repair a torn meniscus. He was placed on injured reserve. He returned in Week 15. Despite playing only three games, he was ranked 98th by his peers.

On February 28, 2017, the Vikings decided not to keep Peterson. His time with the Vikings ended with him leading the NFL in rushing yards and touchdowns during his time there.

New Orleans Saints

On April 25, 2017, Peterson signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. He played his first game against his old team, the Minnesota Vikings. He had only 18 rushing yards. In four games with the Saints, he rushed for 81 total yards.

Arizona Cardinals

On October 10, 2017, Peterson was traded to the Arizona Cardinals. In his first game, he rushed for 134 yards and two touchdowns. He earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week. In Week 9, he had a career-high 37 carries for 159 rushing yards. He was later placed on injured reserve due to a neck injury. He finished 2017 with 529 rushing yards. On March 13, 2018, the Cardinals released him.

Washington Redskins

Peterson during his time with the Redskins

2018: Still Going Strong

Peterson signed with the Washington Redskins on August 20, 2018. In his first game, he rushed for 96 yards. He passed Jim Brown to enter the top 10 on the career rushing yards list. He scored his 100th career rushing touchdown. In Week 3, he had 120 rushing yards and two touchdowns. In Week 8, he rushed for 149 yards and a 64-yard touchdown.

In Week 13, he had a 90-yard rushing touchdown. In Week 16, Peterson ran for 119 yards. He passed 1,000 yards for the season. He became one of five NFL players aged 33 or older to rush for 1,000 yards. He finished with 1,042 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.

2019: All-Decade Team

Peterson running against the Buffalo Bills in 2019

On March 13, 2019, Peterson signed a new contract with the Redskins. He became the starter after an injury to another player. In Week 2, he scored his 107th career touchdown. This passed Jim Brown for fifth all-time.

In Week 8, he passed Jerome Bettis and LaDainian Tomlinson for sixth all-time in career rushing yards. On December 15, he passed Curtis Martin for fifth all-time in rushing yards. He also tied Walter Payton for fourth all-time in rushing touchdowns with 110. Peterson finished the season with 898 rushing yards and five touchdowns. He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-Decade Team for the 2010s.

Detroit Lions

On September 6, 2020, Peterson signed with the Detroit Lions. In his first game, he had 114 yards from scrimmage. In Week 12, he had two rushing touchdowns. In Week 13, he had two touchdowns, including the game winner. He finished the season with 604 yards and seven rushing touchdowns.

Tennessee Titans

The Tennessee Titans signed Peterson to their practice squad on November 2, 2021. He scored his first rushing touchdown as a Titan in Week 9. On November 23, 2021, the Titans released Peterson.

Seattle Seahawks

On December 1, 2021, Peterson signed with the Seattle Seahawks. He scored a rushing touchdown in Week 13. He tied Jim Brown for tenth on the all-time rushing touchdowns list with 126. Peterson became the first player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown with six different teams. He became a free agent on January 17, 2022.

Peterson has said he has not retired from football. He was willing to play one more season. However, he did not play in the 2023 season.

NFL Career Statistics

Regular season

Postseason

Records and Other Accomplishments

• 9 × NFC Offensive Player of the Week
• 2 × NFC Offensive Player of the Month
• Most rushing yards in a single game (296; vs. San Diego Chargers, November 4, 2007)
• Most rushing yards in any eight-game period (1,322)
• Most 60+ yard touchdown runs in a career (13)
• Tied-most 50+ yard runs in a single season (7, with Barry Sanders)
• Tied-most 200+ rushing yard games in career (6, with O. J. Simpson and Derrick Henry)
• NFL MVP (2012)
• 3-time NFL rushing yards leader (2008, 2012, 2015)
• First player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown with six different teams

Vikings Franchise Records

• Most career rushing touchdowns (97)
• Most rushing yards in a single season: 2,097 (2012)
• Most rushing touchdowns in a single season: 18 (2009)
• Most career rushing yards (11,747)
• Most career carries (2,418)

Pro Bowl Records

• Most career rushing touchdowns (4)

Awards and Honors

NFL

• NFL Most Valuable Player (2012)
• NFL Offensive Player of the Year (2012)
• NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2007)
• 4× First-team All-Pro (2008, 2009, 2012, 2015)
• 3× Second-team All-Pro (2007, 2010, 2013)
• 7× Pro Bowl (2007–2010, 2012, 2013, 2015)
• 3× NFL rushing yards leader (2008, 2012, 2015)
• 2× NFL rushing touchdowns leader (2009, 2015)
• NFL 2010s All-Decade Team
• PFWA All-Rookie Team (2007)
• 50 Greatest Vikings
• Minnesota Vikings All-Mall of America Field Team
• 2× Bert Bell Award (2008, 2012)
• Art Rooney Award (2019)

College

• Unanimous All-American (2004)
• Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year (2004)
• Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year (2004)
• 3× First-team All-Big 12 (2004–2006)

Personal Life

Peterson's half-brother was sadly murdered the night before the NFL Combine. When Peterson was a teenager, his father was in prison. Peterson has six children. His two-year-old son died on October 11, 2013, due to injuries. Peterson had only learned about his son a few weeks before.

Peterson is a Christian. He spoke about his faith after his injuries. He said, "This is a blessing in disguise. I'll come back stronger and better than I was before."

Peterson is the nephew of former NFL running back Ivory Lee Brown. He is friends with offensive tackle Trent Williams. They were teammates in college and with the Washington Redskins. In 2016, they opened a gym in Houston.

In 2017, a video of Peterson went viral. He gave advice on handling road rage in a street interview. The interviewer didn't know who he was until the end.

Peterson appeared in the TV show The League. His daughter, Ari Peterson, plays basketball. She received college offers even as an eighth grader.

See also

In Spanish: Adrian Peterson para niños