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AP
American Football Biography

Adrian Peterson

“The Greatest”

American · Palestine, Texas · Born 1 January 1985

Running Back
14820
rushing yards
120
touchdowns
0
superbowls
1
mvp

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All Day — holder of the NFL single-game rushing record and one of the most powerful runners in history.

Adrian Lewis Peterson was born in Palestine, Texas in 1985. Minnesota Vikings selected him seventh overall in the 2007 NFL Draft after two seasons at Oklahoma. His 15-season career produced 14,820 rushing yards — the second-highest total in NFL history behind Emmitt Smith — and 120 rushing touchdowns. He set the NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards against the San Diego Chargers in November 2007 — his seventh NFL game. He won the NFL MVP in 2012 after rushing for 2,097 yards — the second-highest single-season total in NFL history — just 9 yards short of Eric Dickerson's 1984 record, doing so after reconstructive knee surgery just over nine months earlier. He was selected to seven Pro Bowls and named All-Pro six times. His combination of power — he ran over defenders rather than around them — with elite speed and exceptional vision made him the most dominant single-season rusher of his generation. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2023, his first year of eligibility. He holds the Minnesota Vikings all-time rushing record by a vast margin.

Best Known For

NFL MVP (2012)

Honours & Achievements

Career Honours

  • NFL MVP (2012)
  • Rushing title 6x
  • Pro Bowl 7x
  • Hall of Fame (2023)
Career Journey

Timeline

1985 👶 Born in Palestine, Texas
2023 🏁 Retired from professional sport
🏟️ Minnesota Vikings
🏟️ Minnesota Vikings
🏟️ Washington Redskins
🏆 NFL MVP (2012)
🏆 Rushing title 6x
🏆 Pro Bowl 7x
🏆 Hall of Fame (2023)
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

4 common questions about Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson was born in 1985 in Palestine.

Adrian Peterson is American.

Adrian Peterson played for: Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Football Team, Detroit Lions.

Adrian Peterson played as a Running Back.

Career Timeline — Adrian Peterson
1985
Born in Palestine, Texas
2023
Retired from professional sport
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings
Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
NFL MVP (2012)
Rushing title 6x
Pro Bowl 7x
Hall of Fame (2023)