History of Adrian Peterson in Timeline

Adrian Peterson is a former NFL running back, widely regarded as one of the greatest in history. He played college football at Oklahoma, setting a freshman rushing record and becoming the first freshman to finish as a Heisman Trophy runner-up. Peterson ended his college career as Oklahoma's third all-time leading rusher before embarking on a successful 15-season NFL career.

Sections (6)

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

March 21, 1985: Adrian Peterson Born

On March 21, 1985, Adrian Lewis Peterson, was born. He later became a prominent American football running back.

Others born on this day/year

1999: Worst Season Since 1999

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

2002: Track and Field Achievements

In 2002, Adrian Peterson won the 100-meter dash at the District 15-4A Championships with a wind-legal time of 10.26 seconds.

2003: UIL State Track Meet

In 2003, Adrian Peterson earned a second-place finish at the UIL state track meet, recording a wind-assisted time of 10.33 seconds in the 100-meter dash.

2003: Rushed for 2,960 Yards

In 2003, as a senior, Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,960 yards and 32 touchdowns, averaging 11.7 yards per carry.

2004: Debate Over Leap to NFL

Following Maurice Clarett's lawsuit against the NFL's age limit in 2004, Adrian Peterson was frequently mentioned as a high-school player who could potentially make the leap to the professional game.

2004: U.S. Army All-American Bowl and College Choice

In 2004, Adrian Peterson led the West squad with 95 yards and two touchdowns at the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and announced he would attend the University of Oklahoma, later being awarded the Hall Trophy as the U.S. Army National Player of the Year.

2004: District 14-4A Championships Victory

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

2004: Freshman Rushing Record

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

2004: Freshman Season at Oklahoma

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

2005: BCS National Championship Game

In 2005, Adrian Peterson participated in the 2005 BCS National Championship Game with Oklahoma against USC, where he was limited to 82 yards in a 55–19 loss, and had surgery on his left shoulder after the season.

2005: Limited Playing Time Due to Injury

In the 2005 season, Adrian Peterson's playing time was limited by a broken foot, but he still rushed for 1,208 yards and 14 touchdowns, including a career-long 84-yard touchdown run against Oklahoma State.

2006: Oklahoma Sooners Football

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

2006: Collarbone Injury

In 2006, Adrian Peterson broke his collar bone when he dove into the end zone on a 53-yard touchdown run and missed seven games.

January 15, 2007: Declared for NFL Draft

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

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 by Vikings

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

September 9, 2007: First NFL Game

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

October 14, 2007: Breakout Game Against the Bears

On October 14, 2007, Adrian Peterson had a breakout game against the Chicago Bears with a three-touchdown performance and a then-franchise record of 224 rushing yards, earning him Offensive Player of the Week honors.

October 2007: NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month

In October 2007, Adrian Peterson received the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month award for both September and October after amassing 431 yards from scrimmage over his first three games.

November 4, 2007: Record-Breaking Performance

On November 4, 2007, Adrian Peterson broke his own franchise record and the NFL single-game rushing yard record with 296 yards and three touchdowns against the San Diego Chargers. This was his second 200+ rushing yard game as a rookie, and he also recorded 315 scrimmage yards. This performance earned him his second Offensive Player of the Week title and took him past 1,000 rushing yards for the year in just eight games.

November 11, 2007: Knee Injury

On November 11, 2007, Adrian Peterson injured the lateral collateral ligament in his right knee during a game against the Green Bay Packers.

December 2, 2007: Return from Injury

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

2007: Fiesta Bowl

In 2007, Adrian Peterson returned for their last game against Boise State in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl, where he rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown in the 43–42 overtime loss.

2007: All-Rookie Team Selection

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

2007: Drafted by the Vikings

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

February 10, 2008: 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 and two touchdowns, becoming the first rookie since Marshall Faulk in 1994 to win the award.

2008: Leading League in Rushing

In 2008, Adrian Peterson led the league in rushing with 1,760 yards.

2008: Pro Bowl Selection

In 2008, Adrian Peterson was named as the starting running back for the NFC Pro Bowl team.

January 14, 2009: AP All-Pro Team Selection

On January 14, 2009, Adrian Peterson was named to his second AP All-Pro team in two years, recognizing his performance in the 2008 season.

2010: Fifth-Soonest to 5,000 Rushing Yards

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

September 10, 2011: Contract Extension

On September 10, 2011, Adrian Peterson signed a $96 million contract over seven seasons with the Vikings, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.

September 18, 2011: 6,000-Yard Milestone

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

2011: Tore ACL and MCL

In late 2011, Adrian Peterson tore both his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in a game.

2012: Near Record-Breaking Season

In 2012, Adrian Peterson finished the season with 2,097 rushing yards, the second-most ever for a running back in a single season. He also became the seventh player in NFL history to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards and earned the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and NFL Most Valuable Player awards.

2012: NFL MVP Award

In 2012, Adrian Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards after recovering from a severe injury and received the NFL MVP Award.

October 11, 2013: Peterson's Two-Year-Old Son Dies

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 by Joseph Robert Patterson, the boyfriend of the child's mother.

2013: Third-Soonest to 10,000 Rushing Yards

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

September 12, 2014: Indictment 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.

November 4, 2014: Peterson Pleads No Contest to Misdemeanor Assault Charge

On November 4, 2014, Adrian Peterson pleaded no contest to the misdemeanor charge of recklessly assaulting his son. He avoided jail time by reaching a plea agreement, was put on probation, fined $4,000, and ordered to do 80 hours of community service.

November 18, 2014: Peterson's 2014 Season Ends After Arbitrator Ruling

On November 18, 2014, arbitrator Shyam Das ruled in favor of the NFL, allowing the league to keep Adrian Peterson on the commissioner's exempt list. This decision effectively ended any possibility of Peterson playing for the Minnesota Vikings again during the 2014 season.

December 2014: Peterson's Suspension Affirmed

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

2014: Indictment and Suspension

In 2014, Adrian Peterson was indicted 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

Following his suspension in 2014, Adrian Peterson was scheduled for a federal court appeal hearing on February 6, 2015.

February 26, 2015: Peterson Reinstated to the League

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

August 4, 2016: NFL wins appeal against Peterson

On August 4, 2016, ESPN reported that the NFL won an appeal in a case against Adrian Peterson, reversing a ruling which had overturned Peterson's suspension and fine.

2016: Peterson takes out loan

In 2016, Peterson took out a loan with DeAngelo Vehicle Sales LLC which he defaulted on.

April 25, 2017: Peterson Signs with the 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: Peterson's First Game with the Saints

On September 11, 2017, Adrian Peterson played his first game with the New Orleans Saints against his former team, the Minnesota Vikings. He was limited to 18 rushing yards on six carries as the Saints lost 29–19 on Monday Night Football.

October 10, 2017: Peterson Traded to the Arizona Cardinals

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

December 15, 2017: Peterson Placed on Injured Reserve

On December 15, 2017, Adrian Peterson was placed on injured reserve due to a neck injury, after being sidelined for Weeks 13 and 14.

2017: Signed with the Saints

In 2017, Adrian Peterson signed a two-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, later being traded to the Arizona Cardinals.

March 13, 2018: Peterson Released by Cardinals

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

August 20, 2018: Peterson Signs with Washington Redskins

On August 20, 2018, Adrian Peterson signed a one-year, veteran minimum contract with the Washington Redskins after injuries to their running backs.

September 9, 2018: Peterson's Debut with the Redskins

On September 9, 2018, Adrian Peterson debuted with the Washington Redskins against the Arizona Cardinals, rushing for 96 yards and moved into the top 10 on the career rushing yards list.

2018: Peterson Admits to Using Belt for Discipline

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

2018: Peterson Defaults on Loan

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

2018: Peterson Sued for Loan Default

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

March 13, 2019: Peterson Signs with Washington Redskins for Two More Years

On March 13, 2019, Adrian Peterson signed a two-year, $8 million contract to stay with the Washington Redskins.

July 2019: Peterson Ordered to Pay $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: Peterson Released by Washington Redskins

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

September 6, 2020: Peterson Signs with Detroit Lions

On September 6, 2020, Adrian Peterson signed a one-year $1.05 million 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 the settlement.

November 2, 2021: Peterson Joins Tennessee Titans' Practice Squad

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

November 5, 2021: Peterson Promoted to Titans' Active Roster

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

November 23, 2021: Peterson Waived by the Titans

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

December 1, 2021: Peterson Signs with Seattle Seahawks Practice Squad

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

December 4, 2021: Peterson Activated and Scores Touchdown for Seahawks

On December 4, 2021, Adrian Peterson was activated off the practice squad for the Seahawks' game against the San Francisco 49ers. Peterson scored a rushing touchdown, tying Jim Brown for tenth on the all-time rushing touchdowns list, and becoming the first player in NFL history to score a rushing touchdown with six different teams.

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 flight to Houston, Texas. He was later released on bond, and the charges were eventually dropped.

July 2022: Peterson to Face Bell in Boxing Match

In July 2022, it was announced that Adrian Peterson would face 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.

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

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

April 25, 2025: Peterson Arrested for DWI

On April 25, 2025, Adrian Peterson was arrested for a fourth-degree driving while intoxicated charge after being caught speeding and allegedly having a blood-alcohol content of .14. He had been at the Minnesota Vikings draft party.