History of Adrian Peterson in Timeline

Adrian Peterson is a former NFL running back, widely regarded as one of the greatest in football history. He excelled in college at Oklahoma, setting a freshman rushing record in 2004 and becoming the first freshman Heisman Trophy runner-up. He concluded his college career as the Sooners' third all-time leading rusher before embarking on a successful fifteen-season NFL career.

Sections (6)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles Controversies & Scandals

1984: Oldest player to reach 1,000 rushing yards in a season since John Riggins

In 2018 Adrian Peterson became the oldest player to reach the 1,000-yard mark since John Riggins in 1984.

March 21, 1985: Adrian Peterson Born

On March 21, 1985, Adrian Lewis Peterson (né Brown) was born. He is considered to be one of the greatest running backs in football history.

Others born on this day/year

1999: Oklahoma's Worst Season

Oklahoma finished the 2005 season with an 8–4 record, its worst season since 1999.

2002: District 15-4A Championships

At the 2002 District 15-4A Championships, Adrian Peterson recorded a wind-legal time of 10.26 seconds in the 100-meter dash, securing first place.

2003: UIL State Track Meet

At the 2003 UIL State Track Meet, Adrian Peterson posted a wind-assisted time of 10.33 seconds in the 100 meters, finishing second.

2003: High School Senior Season

In 2003, during his senior year of high school, Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,960 yards and 32 touchdowns, averaging 11.7 yards per carry.

2004: District 14-4A Championships

At the 2004 District 14-4A Championships, Adrian Peterson ran the second leg on the Palestine 4 × 100 m relay squad, helping them to victory with a time of 41.50 seconds.

2004: Debate Over NFL Age Limit

Following Maurice Clarett's unsuccessful attempt to sue the NFL over its age limit in 2004, there was considerable debate over whether any high school football player might be able to make the leap from the preps to the pro game. Adrian Peterson was the player most frequently mentioned.

2004: College Choice and Awards

In 2004, Adrian Peterson chose to attend the University of Oklahoma. He played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and was awarded the Hall Trophy as the U.S. Army National Player of the Year and was named the top high school player by College Football News and Rivals.com.

2004: Freshman Rushing Record

In 2004, Adrian Peterson set the freshman rushing record with 1,925 yards and was named a unanimous All-American. He also became the first freshman to finish as a runner-up in the Heisman Trophy balloting.

2004: Freshman Season at Oklahoma

In 2004, during his freshman season at Oklahoma, Adrian Peterson broke several NCAA freshman rushing records, rushing for 1,925 yards and leading the nation in carries with 339.

2005: Limited Playing Time Due to Injury

During the 2005 season, Adrian Peterson's playing time was limited by a broken foot. He rushed for 1,208 yards and 14 touchdowns despite missing time in four games.

2005: Heisman Trophy Runner-Up and National Championship Game

In 2005, Adrian Peterson finished second in the Heisman Trophy voting and participated in the 2005 BCS National Championship Game with a berth to the 2005 Orange Bowl against USC.

2006: Oklahoma Football

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

2006: Collar Bone Injury

During the 2006 college football season, Adrian Peterson broke his collar bone when he dove into the end zone on a 53-yard touchdown run against Iowa State on October 14. He missed seven games due to the injury.

January 15, 2007: Declared for NFL Draft

On January 15, 2007, Adrian Peterson declared that he would forego his senior year of college and enter the 2007 NFL draft.

April 28, 2007: Drafted by Minnesota Vikings

On April 28, 2007, Adrian Peterson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round with the seventh overall pick of the 2007 NFL draft.

July 29, 2007: Signed with the Vikings

Nearly three months after being drafted, on July 29, 2007, Adrian Peterson signed with the Vikings for $40.5 million over five years, with $17 million guaranteed.

September 9, 2007: First NFL Regular Season Game

On September 9, 2007, Adrian Peterson ran for 103 yards and scored his first professional touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons.

October 14, 2007: Breakout Game Against Chicago Bears

On October 14, 2007, Adrian Peterson had a breakout game against the Chicago Bears, with 224 rushing yards and three touchdowns, setting a franchise record.

October 2007: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month

For his performance in the first three regular season games of his career, Adrian Peterson received the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month award for both September and October 2007.

November 4, 2007: Breaks NFL Single Game Rushing Yard Record

On November 4, 2007, Adrian Peterson broke his own franchise record, as well as the NFL single game rushing yard record with 296 yards on 30 carries and three rushing touchdowns against the San Diego Chargers. This was his second game with over 200 rushing yards, a feat no other rookie has ever accomplished in a season. He also had a 19-yard reception, giving him 315 scrimmage yards. This performance earned him his second Offensive Player of the Week title in his rookie season. Additionally, this performance took him past 1,000 rushing yards for the year after just eight games.

November 11, 2007: Injures LCL Against Packers

On November 11, 2007, Adrian Peterson injured the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee in a game against the Green Bay Packers. The injury occurred in the third quarter of a 34–0 defeat at Lambeau Field on a low tackle by Packers cornerback Al Harris.

December 2, 2007: Returns from Injury Against Lions

On December 2, 2007, Adrian Peterson returned to action after an injury against the Detroit Lions, scoring two touchdowns and rushing for 116 yards.

2007: Tenure start

From the 2007 season Adrian Peterson lead the NFL in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns.

2007: Finished Second in Rushing Yards

In 2007, Adrian Peterson finished in second place in rushing yards (1,341) behind LaDainian Tomlinson, who finished with 1,474 rushing yards. He also caught 19 passes for 268 yards and returned 16 kickoffs for 412, giving him 2,021 all-purpose yards.

2007: Fiesta Bowl and College Career Conclusion

In 2007, Adrian Peterson returned for the Fiesta Bowl against Boise State, rushing for 77 yards and a touchdown, concluding his college career with 4,045 rushing yards.

2007: Named to Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team

In 2007, Adrian Peterson was named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie Team.

2007: Drafted by Minnesota Vikings

In 2007, Adrian Peterson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings seventh overall in the NFL draft.

February 10, 2008: Wins 2008 NFL Pro Bowl MVP Award

On February 10, 2008, Adrian Peterson won the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl MVP award with 16 carries for 129 rushing yards along with two touchdowns. He was the first rookie since Marshall Faulk in 1994 to win the Pro Bowl MVP award.

2008: Led League in Rushing and Received Bert Bell Award

In 2008, Adrian Peterson finished leading the league in rushing with 1,760 yards. In recognition of his 2008 season, he was named the recipient of the Bert Bell Award.

January 14, 2009: Named to Second AP All-Pro Team

On January 14, 2009, Adrian Peterson was named to his second AP All-Pro team in two years.

2010: 5,000 Rushing Yards

In 2010, Adrian Peterson became the fifth-fastest player to run for 5,000 yards, achieving this in his 51st game.

September 10, 2011: Signed 7-Year Contract

On September 10, 2011, the Vikings signed Peterson for $96 million over the course of seven seasons, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

September 18, 2011: Reached 6,000-Yard Milestone

On September 18, 2011, Adrian Peterson reached the 6,000-yard milestone in a loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

2011: ACL and MCL Injury

In late 2011, Adrian Peterson tore both his ACL and MCL in a game.

2012: NFC Offensive Player of the Week

Adrian Peterson earned the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the first time since Week 14 of the 2012 season, when he played his first game with the Cardinals on October 15th.

2012: Finished Season with 2,097 Rushing Yards and won NFL MVP Award

Adrian Peterson finished the 2012 season with 348 carries for 2,097 rushing yards, the second-most ever for a running back in a single season. The Vikings improved from 3–13 in 2011 to 10–6, qualifying as the NFC's sixth seed in the playoffs. He also earned the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and the NFL Most Valuable Player awards. In addition, he earned the Bert Bell Award for the second time in his career.

2012: NFL MVP Award

In 2012, Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards, narrowly missing the single-season record, and received the NFL MVP Award.

October 11, 2013: Death of Two-Year-Old Son

On October 11, 2013, Adrian Peterson's two-year-old son died at a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, due to injuries sustained during an alleged assault.

2013: 10,000 Rushing Yards

In 2013, Adrian Peterson became the third-fastest player to reach 10,000 rushing yards in NFL history.

September 12, 2014: Indicted on Child Abuse Charges

On September 12, 2014, Adrian Peterson was indicted on child abuse charges and subsequently deactivated for Minnesota's Week 2 game against the New England Patriots.

November 4, 2014: Pleaded No Contest to Misdemeanor Assault

On November 4, 2014, Adrian Peterson pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of recklessly assaulting his son, avoiding jail time but receiving probation, a $4,000 fine, and an order to complete 80 hours of community service.

November 18, 2014: Suspension Upheld by Arbitrator

On November 18, 2014, arbitrator Shyam Das ruled in favor of the NFL, upholding Adrian Peterson's suspension, effectively ending his 2014 season with the Minnesota Vikings.

December 2014: Peterson's Suspension Affirmed

In December 2014, NFL-appointed arbitrator Harold Henderson affirmed Adrian Peterson's unpaid suspension until at least spring 2015.

2014: Indictment and Suspension

In 2014, Adrian Peterson was indicted by a grand jury in Texas on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child and was suspended for the rest of the season.

February 6, 2015: Federal Court Appeal Hearing Scheduled

In December, Adrian Peterson's league appeal was upheld, and he was scheduled for a federal court appeal hearing on February 6, 2015.

February 26, 2015: Reinstated to the NFL

On February 26, 2015, Adrian Peterson was reinstated to the league after a U.S. District Court Judge ruled in favor of the NFL Players Association's lawsuit against the NFL on Peterson's behalf.

August 4, 2016: NFL Wins Appeal in Peterson Suspension Case

On August 4, 2016, ESPN reported that the NFL won an appeal against Adrian Peterson, reversing a previous ruling that had overturned his suspension and fine.

September 23, 2016: Placed on Injured Reserve

On September 23, 2016, Adrian Peterson was placed on injured reserve after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus and address a mild LCL sprain in his right knee.

2016: Tenure end

Adrian Peterson's tenure with the Vikings ended in the 2016 season.

2016: Opened a gym with Trent Williams

In 2016, Adrian Peterson and Trent Williams opened a gym in Houston that includes a soccer field, an MMA training area and an incline running hill.

2016: Peterson Defaults on Loan from Vehicle Sales LLC

In 2016, Adrian Peterson defaulted on a loan from DeAngelo Vehicle Sales LLC.

2016: Peterson Defaults on Loan

In 2016, Adrian Peterson defaulted on a loan from a Minnesota bank, leading to a court order in 2018 to repay the debt.

2016: Ranked in NFL Top 100

In 2016, Adrian Peterson was ranked as the best running back and the fifth best player on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2016 players' list.

February 28, 2017: Vikings Decline Contract Option

On February 28, 2017, the Vikings announced they would not exercise Adrian Peterson's 2017 contract option, making him a free agent.

March 1, 2017: Peterson Fails to Fully Repay Loan

By March 1, 2017, Adrian Peterson had failed to make the full payment of $5.2 million on a 2016 loan from DeAngelo Vehicle Sales LLC.

April 25, 2017: Signed with New Orleans Saints

On April 25, 2017, Adrian Peterson signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the New Orleans Saints, which included a $2.5 million signing bonus.

September 11, 2017: First Game with the Saints

On September 11, 2017, Adrian Peterson played his first game with the Saints against his former team, the Minnesota Vikings, and was limited to 18 rushing yards in a 29-19 loss on Monday Night Football.

October 10, 2017: Traded to Arizona Cardinals

On October 10, 2017, Adrian Peterson was traded to the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional sixth-round draft pick.

December 15, 2017: Placed on Injured Reserve

On December 15, 2017, Adrian Peterson was placed on injured reserve due to a neck injury.

2017: Signed with New Orleans Saints, Traded to Arizona Cardinals

In 2017, Adrian Peterson signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints but was traded to the Arizona Cardinals mid-season before being released.

2017: Viral Street Interview

In 2017, a video clip of Adrian Peterson went viral after he gave a random street interview about how to handle road rage situations without the interviewer knowing who he was until the end.

2017: Ranked in NFL Top 100

In 2017, despite only playing three games, Adrian Peterson was still ranked 98th by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2017.

March 13, 2018: Released by Cardinals

On March 13, 2018, Adrian Peterson was released by the Arizona Cardinals.

August 20, 2018: Signed with Washington Redskins

On August 20, 2018, Adrian Peterson signed a one-year contract with the Washington Redskins.

September 9, 2018: Moved into Top 10 for Career Rushing Yards

On September 9, 2018, in the regular-season opener against the Arizona Cardinals, Adrian Peterson rushed for 96 yards, moving past Jim Brown into the top 10 on the career rushing yards list with 12,372 yards and scored his 100th career rushing touchdown.

2018: Peterson Admits to Using Belt on Son

In 2018, Adrian Peterson admitted that he was still using a belt to discipline his son.

2018: Peterson Ordered to Repay Minnesota Bank

In 2018, Adrian Peterson was ordered to repay a Minnesota bank for defaulting on a 2016 loan.

2018: Peterson Sued by Loan Company

In 2018, DeAngelo Vehicle Sales LLC sued Adrian Peterson after he defaulted on a 2016 loan.

March 13, 2019: Signed Contract to Stay with Redskins

On March 13, 2019, Adrian Peterson signed a two-year contract to stay with the Washington Redskins.

July 2019: Peterson Ordered to Pay Creditor $2.4 Million

In July 2019, a Maryland state judge ordered Adrian Peterson to pay another creditor $2.4 million.

2019: Peterson Reaches Settlement Agreement

In 2019, Adrian Peterson reached a settlement agreement with DeAngelo Vehicle Sales LLC.

September 4, 2020: Released by Washington Redskins

On September 4, 2020, Adrian Peterson was released by the Washington Redskins.

September 6, 2020: Signed with Detroit Lions

On September 6, 2020, Adrian Peterson signed a one-year contract with the Detroit Lions.

January 2021: Peterson Ordered to Pay $8.3 Million

In January 2021, Adrian Peterson was ordered by a New York State Supreme Court judge to pay DeAngelo Vehicle Sales LLC $8.3 million after defaulting on a settlement.

November 2, 2021: Signed with Tennessee Titans Practice Squad

On November 2, 2021, Adrian Peterson signed with the Tennessee Titans practice squad after an injury to Derrick Henry.

November 5, 2021: Promoted to Active Roster

On November 5, 2021, Adrian Peterson was promoted to the active roster of the Tennessee Titans.

November 23, 2021: Waived by Tennessee Titans

On November 23, 2021, Adrian Peterson was waived by the Tennessee Titans.

December 1, 2021: Signed to Seattle Seahawks Practice Squad

On December 1, 2021, Adrian Peterson was signed to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad.

December 4, 2021: Activated off Practice Squad

On December 4, 2021, Adrian Peterson was activated off the practice squad for the Seahawks' game against the San Francisco 49ers, where he scored a rushing touchdown.

February 13, 2022: Peterson Arrested for Domestic Violence

On February 13, 2022, Adrian Peterson was arrested by the Los Angeles Airport Police for a domestic violence incident with his wife, Ashley, on a Los Angeles International Airport flight to Houston, Texas. He was later released on a $50,000 bond, and the charges were eventually dropped.

July 2022: Peterson to Face Le'Veon Bell in Boxing Match

In July 2022, it was announced that Adrian Peterson would face fellow NFL veteran Le'Veon Bell in an exhibition boxing match, originally scheduled for July 31 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, but was postponed due to medical issues with another fighter.

2022: Unsigned Throughout the Season

Adrian Peterson remained unsigned through the entirety of the 2022 season.

2023: Not Signed by Any Team

Adrian Peterson was not signed by any team and did not play in the 2023 season.

2023: Peterson Participates in Dancing with the Stars

In 2023, Adrian Peterson participated in the ABC reality competition series Dancing with the Stars. Peterson and his dance partner Britt Stewart finished in 11th place.

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February 2024: Peterson's Assets Seized for Unpaid Debt

In February 2024, court records revealed that Adrian Peterson had not paid any of the $8.3 million owed to DeAngelo Vehicle Sales LLC, leading to the forced seizure of some of his personal assets, including his NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year and NFL MVP trophies.