Adrian Lewis Peterson is a professional American football player in the National Football League. He began his college football career at Oklahoma University, where he quickly became the first freshman to ever place second in the ‘Heinsman Trophy.’ Adrian, who had a difficult childhood, focused all of his attention on football and used it as a battleground to release the grief and rage of his horrific past. In fact, in his first season with the Minnesota Vikings, he won the ‘NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year’ award. It wasn’t long before he was crowned the fifth fastest 5,000-yard runner in history. However, he met with disaster in the prime of his career when he sustained a serious leg injury. Against all odds, he fought his way back to fitness and was even named the sixth fastest athlete in history to carry for 8000 yards. Since his injury, he has been on a tear, and he is now the third player in American NFL history to surpass 10,000 running yards. He was suspended in 2014 for causing a negligent injury to his son, although he was re-instated with the Vikings the following year. He signed a two-year contract with the ‘New Orleans Saints’ in early 2017 after a decade with the ‘Minnesota Vikings.’
Childhood and Adolescence
Adrian Lewis was born in Palestine, Texas on March 21, 1985 to Nelson Peterson and Bonita Brown. His father was a professional basketball player, and he hoped to follow in his footsteps. He was raised in a Christian household. Brian, his older brother, was also a confidant of his. At the age of seven, his younger brother was tragically killed by a drunken truck driver.
He was heartbroken by the tragic incident, and he turned to sports to cope with the death of his best friend. He excelled in three sports: basketball, track and field, and football while attending ‘Palestine High School.’ Football, on the other hand, became his primary interest in his latter years.
He continued to win races such as the 200 and 100 meters, and even finished second to Ivory Williams in the ‘2004 World Junior Championship’ 100 meter sprint.He applied to Oklahoma University after graduating from high school. In his freshman year, he was a member of the ‘Oklahoma Sooners’ football team, which was coached by Bob Stoops.
He set his first NCAA freshman record with a total of 1,925 yards, including a 100-yard mark in each game. Despite a mild shoulder dislocation, he finished the season with the most 100-yard running records by a freshman in NCAA history.
Football Career in the Beginning
Adrian decided to forego his senior year and pursue the NFL Draft in 2007. When he first joined the league, he was likened to legends like Eric Dickerson and Gale Sayers. A few organizations were concerned about his early collegiate injuries. Despite this, the Minnesota Vikings selected him as their first running back that season. For the next five years, he signed a contract worth $40.5 million.
In 2007, he made his NFL debut against the St. Louis Rams. His performance was exceptional, and he later stated in a news conference that he intended to win the ‘Offensive Rookie of the Year’ award.He wasn’t far from realizing his dream, as he won the ‘NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month’ award and set the season record for most 100-yard rushing attempts.
On November 4, 2007, he bolstered his national football career with a 296-yard rush and three touchdowns against the ‘San Diego Chargers.’ For the second time in NFL history, he became the only rookie to cross 200 yards.
He made two touchdowns with 78 yards rushing in his debut ‘Monday Night Football’ game on December 17th of that year, and was clearly selected as the starting running back for the NFC’Pro Bowl Team’.
He won the ‘NFL Pro Bowl MVP’ award for his remarkable performance at the 2008 NFL Pro Bowl, which featured 129 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Career of Adrian Peterson
Peterson had a successful career with the Minnesota Vikings. His team started the 2008 season with a loss to the Indianapolis Colts, but won the next two games against the Carolina Panthers. His squad went on to win the following two games against the New Orleans Saints and the Detroit Lions. He had the leading rushing yardage record of 13,11 yards by week 16 and concluded the season with 1760 yards.
He was named to the ‘AP All-Pro’ team for the second time in 2009. When Coach Brad Childress gave Peterson a big number of carries, he gave him a lot of responsibilities. In 2009, he did not disappoint his coach, rushing for 917 yards by week 10. Against the Cleveland Browns, he had 25 carries for 180 yards and three touchdowns. He led his team to victory over the Dallas Cowboys, but they were defeated in the ‘NFL Championship’ by the New Orleans Saints.
Adrian had a great year in 2010 with a lot of accomplishments. He set a career-high rushing record of 5000 yards by the sixth week of the season and went on to represent his team in the ‘Pro Bowl.’ In the ‘NFL Top 100 Players of 2011,’ he was ranked the third best player overall. Peterson’s deal with the Vikings was renewed in 2011, and he was paid a whopping 96 million dollars, making him the highest-paid running back in the NFL.
Achievements & Awards
‘College Football News’ and ‘Rivals.com’ ranked him the best high school athlete in 2005. He had the highest rushing yards in a single game with 296 against the ‘San Diego Chargers’ in 2007. Among his many accomplishments, he holds the record for most running yards in an eight-game period with 1322 and is the only player after Eric Dickerson to be named NFL MVP and NFL Rushing Champion in the same year in 2012.
In the first 30 games of his professional career, he set a record of 3,101 rushing yards. After Eric Dickerson’s 3,600 yards and Jim Brown’s 3,144 yards, it was the third best running backs record. After Jim Brown, Earl Campbell, and Erick Dickerson, he became the fourth running back to lead the league in yards per game in his first two seasons.
Personal History and Legacy
For laundering narcotics money, Peterson’s father was captured and sentenced to ten years in jail. Jaylon Brown, his half-brother, was slain the night before he participated in the NFL Combine.
He had six children, one of whom died at the age of two as a result of a violent assault by his son’s mother’s lover.
Estimated Net Worth
He is well-known for his role in the television show ‘Entourage.’ He owns the production business ‘Reckless Productions,’ which focuses on socially conscious films. Adrian Grenier’s net worth is expected to be at $12 million in 2022.