Adrian Peterson is a former American football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He was born on March 21, 1985, in Palestine, Texas, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners.
Peterson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft, and he quickly established himself as one of the league's most dominant running backs. In his rookie season, he rushed for 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns, earning him the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year award.
Over the course of his career, Peterson became known for his powerful running style and his ability to break tackles and gain yards after contact. He led the league in rushing yards three times (2008, 2012, and 2015) and was named the NFL Most Valuable Player in 2012 after rushing for 2,097 yards, the second-highest total in NFL history.
Peterson played for the Vikings for 10 seasons before being traded to the New Orleans Saints in 2017. He played one season with the Saints before signing with the Washington Redskins (now the Washington Football Team) in 2018. He played two seasons with Washington before signing with the Detroit Lions in 2020.
Throughout his career, Peterson was known for his durability and his ability to play through injuries. He suffered a torn ACL in 2011 but returned the following season to rush for over 2,000 yards. He also played through a torn meniscus in 2016 and a high ankle sprain in 2017.
Off the field, Peterson has been involved in several controversies. In 2014, he was indicted on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child after disciplining his son with a switch. He pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of misdemeanor reckless assault and was sentenced to probation and community service.
Despite his off-field issues, Peterson is widely regarded as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. He ranks fifth on the all-time rushing yards list with 14,820 yards and is tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns with 118. He was named to the Pro Bowl eight times and was a first-team All-Pro four times.
In 2021, Peterson announced his retirement from the NFL after 14 seasons. He leaves behind a legacy as one of the most dominant and durable running backs in league history.
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