Adrian Peterson Bio: Early Life, Career & Net Worth

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Have you ever wondered how a person can be so flawsome yet look flawlessly inspiring? Ever seen someone who puts no single effort but motivates you with every single situation they enter or are seen with?

Well, of course, you may have and now, let me add another such person to your list: the American professional footballer, Adrian Peterson, who gives off a solid yet pleasable aura.

At present, the athlete is a running back for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL), who first commenced his career in a college team.

Adrian Peterson age
Adrian Peterson (Source: The Boston Globe)

Additionally, Peterson is widely considered as one of the greatest running back in NFL history.

To date, the athlete has played for teams as Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, Washington Redskins, and Detroit Lions.

Despite his various injuries and setbacks of health issues, the footballer continues his play as if nothing had ever happened.

“I take football as an avenue to different opportunities. Football is not using me; I”m using football.”
-Adrian Peterson

Quick Facts

Full Name Adrian Lewis Peterson
Date of Birth March 21, 1985
Birth Place Palestine, Texas
Nick Name All Day
Religion Christianity
Nationality American
Ethnicity Black
Zodiac Sign Aries
Age 29 Years Old
Height 1.85 m (6 feet 1 inch)
Weight 100 Kg (220.5 lb)
Skin Type Dark Brown
Eye Color Dark Brown
Build Athletic
Father’s Name Nelson Peterson
Mother’s Name Bonita Jackson
Siblings Four brothers, Brian Peterson, Derrick Peterson, Eldon Peterson, and Jaylon Peterson
Education Palestine High School
University of Oklahoma
Marital Status Married
Wife Ashley Brown (m. 2014)
Kids A daughter, Adeja Peterson, and three sons, Axyl Euguene Peterson, Adrian Peterson Jr.
Profession Football player
Position Running back
Affiliations Minnesota Vikings (2007–2016)
New Orleans Saints (2017)
Arizona Cardinals (2017)
Washington Redskins (2018–2019)
Detroit Lions (2020–present)
Active Years 2007-present
Net Worth $4 million ($1 million annual salaries)
Social Media Instagram, Twitter
Merch Autographed Items, Jersey
Last Update March, 2024

Body Measurements & Fitness Routine

As we look at Peterson physically, he is an athletic man with ripped muscles and a huge body form. The player stands firm at 1.85 m (6 feet 1 inch) while weighing 100 Kg (220.5 lb).

Furthermore, he has chocolaty brown skin to enhance his muscles and large black eyes with an oval-shaped face.

Thanks to his intense workout routine! Peterson is an avid worker who follows a strict diet that has helped him stand as the ace he is today.

To illustrate, the player hits the gym five days a week, which includes a workout targeted at individual parts of the body.

According to Peterson, his first-day routine includes chest and triceps workout, which has 3-4 sets with six repetitions.

Altogether, he focuses on dumbbell flyers, flat bench press, triceps dip, and so on, with each one composed of a minute rest.

Similarly, his second day is for a leg workout with three sets and 6-8 repetitions such as leg press, seated leg curl, seated calf raise, etc.

Advancing to his third-day routine is a back and biceps workout of 3 sets, 6-8 repetitions, which composed of a Rear barbell row, dumbbell curl, seated cable row, etc.

Additionally, the fourth day is the abs workout with weighted crunch, hanging leg raise, and so on. For the last day, Peterson focuses on a shoulder workout to incline reverse fly, Arnold press, Hang clean pull, etc.

Adrian Peterson | Early Life

Adrian Lewis Peterson was born under Aries’ star sign on March 21, 1985, to Bonita Jackson and Nelson Peterson. Peterson was born and grew up in Palestine, Texas, alongside his siblings.

As we move on to his childhood days, it was rather harsh on him as he experienced pain at a very young age.

Being a child, he was nicknamed “All Day” by his father, and back to that time, Peterson had his older brother Brian who meant the world to him.

However, their relationship was short-lived at just the young age of nine; a drunk driver killed Brian.

Back then, Peterson was a seven-year-old witnessing the accident while riding a bicycle, and of course, this very incident made him feel the real pain as a child, even leaving a trauma by the side.

Additionally, if we look into the parents, they too didn’t have a healthy relationship as they were divorced.

Peterson was born into a Christian family, and hence, the rules were always strict, like when he was beaten with a belt by his dad in front of twenty students in total.

Childhood

As he grew up, at the age of 13, Peterson’s father was arrested for money laundering in a crack cocaine ring. As a result, he was with his mother; thankfully, she was strong and managed to ensure his good times.

All in all, like Peterson, when he recalls his childhood, he only has positivity filled in him, looking back to the days as the foundation that made him stand where he is today.

“We are human, so we do go through the pain, and we struggle with things, but it’s all about how you respond to a situation. My whole life, I have been responding positively and keeping a positive mind, keeping God first in my heart, in my mind. No matter what wrong I’ve done, I know who sees the heart.”
– Adrian Peterson

Adrian Peterson | Early Career & Education

Peterson comes from an athletic family as his father and mother both are star athletes. Adrian’s father, Nelson, was a shooting guard for Idaho State, who was doing well until he got shot accidentally in his foot by his brother.

Furthermore, his father also stood as an assistant coach in the Anderson County Youth Football Program.

Likewise, Peterson’s mother, Bonita, was a three-time Texas state champion at Westwood High School. Back then, she used to be a sprinter and long jumper and even got an athletic scholarship for the University of Houston.

Hence, we can imagine how he chose his path primarily, and apart from it, his brother’s accident also served as a fire to focus on a specific path to not get disrupted by the trauma.

High School

Herewith, Adrian started early in his high school days, where he excelled in basketball, track races, and football. Peterson was enrolled in the Palestine High School, where he starred as a footballer the most.

Going on deeper for the sophomore year in high school, he wasn’t eligible for their varsity team and focused on his tracks as he bagged several medals.

During that time, he was immersed with 100 meters, 200 meters, triple jump, and long jump, and by the end, his best records were 10.19 seconds in the 100 meters, 21.23 seconds in the 200 meters, and 47.6 seconds in the 400 meters.

As Peterson played football in his junior and senior years, he attracted every single individual towards him.

Let’s have a quick glance at his statistics during those years. Peterson recorded 2,051 yards on 246 carries for his junior years, an average of 8.3 yards per carrying, and 22 touchdowns.

Following it, for his senior years, he had maintained 2,960 yards on 252 attempts, an average of 11.7 yards per carrying, and 32 touchdowns.

Peterson's jersey retires with him from Palestine High School in 2004
Peterson’s jersey retires with him from Palestine High School in 2004

College

With the high school coming to an end in 2004, Peterson partook in the annual U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

He posted 95 yards on nine carries and two touchdowns during the match, as he bagged the Hall Trophy as the U.S. Army National Player of the Year. In the meantime, he also announced his college choice to be the University of Oklahoma.

Prior to this, Rivals.com and Scout.com had named him the top five-star recruit, and he was titled the best running back the prospect of 2004. Therefore, during the choice-making process, he was confused between USC and Oklahoma.

University of Oklahoma

Peterson commenced his years in Oklahoma with Oklahoma Sooners Football under the coach Bob Stoops as he commenced the freshman years with 1,925 yards throughout the season.

Despite his injuries in the mid-way, Peterson led the team to become one of the nation’s best as he bagged several NCAA first-year students’ records.

All in all, Peterson was titled First-Team Associated Press All-American and even stood second in the Heisman Trophy voting behind USC quarterback Matt Leinart.

As he advanced to sophomore years, he got a limited time due to his injuries since the first year. During the Big 12 Conference, Peterson faced an injury; however, by the end of the season, he managed to be a member of the All-Big 12 Conference team.

Overall, this year too, he posted his career-long 84-yard touchdown as the Sooners stood third in the Big 12 behind the Texas Longhorns.

Advancing to the next year, for the first time in his early career, Peterson had his father as the spectator in his game on October 14, 2006.

His father was released from jail, and he was able to win over Iowa State in that same game but injuring his collarbone.

With this, he was unable to start in any further games of the season; hence, he closed the year’s chapter with 1,112 rushing yards.

Adrian Peterson | Professional Career

Afterward, as he finished the year 2006, he went on for the 2007 NFL Draft, and for his immense power and talent, he was always compared with Eric Dickerson, Walter Payton, and Gale Sayers.

Later, on June 29, 2007, Minnesota Vikings signed Peterson with a five-year $40.5 million contract as they had $17 million guaranteed.

Minnesota Vikings (2007-2016)

With the Viking’s commencement in 2007, he spent nine years with them until the year 2016. In the meantime, Peterson had an outstanding rookie year as he made his game debut against St.

Louis Rams and had his career breakthrough against the Chicago Bears. During the match, he posted a then-franchise record of 224 rushing yards on 20 carries; thus, as he ended the season with 1,341 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Overall, he was also named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Simultaneously, in the 2008 Pro Bowl, Peterson became the first-ever rookie to win the Pro Bowl MVP Award. Following it in his sophomore years, he also led the league for the most passing ever since Eric Dickerson and Chris Johnson.

Along the journey, he had established his mark in the Vikings, and among all those years with them, the year 2012 is titled the best. Later, on February 28, 2017, Peterson was announced as a free agent, and the Vikings released him.

Minnesota Vikings
Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints (2017)

Right after his release, the New Orleans Saints dealt a two-year $7 million contract with Peterson, which included another $2.5 million as a signing bonus.

However, Peterson was only playing a few games in 2017 as he moved from the Saints with 81 yards.

Arizona Cardinals (2017)

Following it, the Saints traded Peterson to The Arizona Cardinals, where he made his debut for the team on October 17.

During his interval in the Cardinals until March, Peterson had posted 529 rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns, 11 receptions, and 70 receiving yards.

Washington Redskins (2018-2019)

On August 20, 2018, Washington Redskins signed a year contract with Peterson as he also starred in the season opener of Redskins at Arizona Cardinals.

In the bargain, Peterson became one of the five players of 33 or above to have 1,000 yards in a season.

Art Rooney Award
Art Rooney Award

Likewise, in 2019, Peterson had extended his contract for two years with $8 million. During the timeframe, he had his 107th career touchdowns as he bagged the Art Rooney Award.

Detroit Lions (2020-present)

After Peterson was released on September 4, he signed a contract with the Detroit Lions two days later.

Adrian Peterson | Awards and Highlights

  • NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (2007)
  • Offensive Player of the Week (2007, 2008, 2011, 2012)
  • NFL Offensive Rookie of the Month (September & October 2007)
  • NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year (by Associated Press, in 2012)
  • Pro Bowl MVP (2007)
  • Best running back in the NFL (ESPN and NFL Network in 2009)
  • FedEx Ground Player of the Week (once in 2009)
  • NFC Offensive Player of the Week
  • NFL Most Valuable Player (2012)
  • Art Rooney Award (2019)

Adrian Peterson | Injury

When it comes to intense gameplay and competition, injuries are frequent, and in the case of Peterson, he too had a torn ACL.

In 2012, he had an anterior cruciate ligament torn, the ligaments connecting the femur’s bottom end and the tibia’s top end.

Therewith, within six days of injury, Dr. James Andrews performed surgery on Peterson’s ankle as he had his patellar tendon as the graft.

Right then, with nine months of rest after surgery, Peterson was back in the field with the Vikings.

“I came back from my ACL injury and won MVP. So, what’s a groin? What’s an adductor? That’s how I look at things. I feel like if you just continue to take care of your body, working out, making sure you’re in shape, and you stay on top of your game, you can play as long as you want.”
– Adrian Peterson

Net Worth

As of 2020, the running back, Adrian Peterson, is reported to have a net worth of $4 million with an annual salary of $1 million. All in all, the athlete has also opened his own gym, O “Athletik,” in summer 2016.

Peterson's Texas Mansion
Peterson’s Texas Mansion

Luxury Items

Under Peterson’s name, he owns a Texas mansion worth $4.7 million and covers 10,582-square-foot. The villa is located in the Houston Suburbs of Texas, at the Woodland, which is the most expensive in ZIP code.

Besides, his 2004 built mansion consists of a private gateway drive while his inside consists of seven bedrooms and eight full bathrooms, along with another five half-baths.

Furthermore, it has a big swimming pool, a European-style design kitchen, fireplaces, wine cellar, and libraries. Moving into his four-wheelers, Peterson owns BMW 750i, a black-colored BMW M6, Ford F-150, and a white-colored Cadillac Escalade.

Not to mention, Peterson is one of the world-class athletes who earn through several brands’ endorsements. As for his bands, to date, Peterson has endorsed Nike, Verizon Wireless, and Adidas.

Charity and Decrease in Net Worth

When it comes to giving for others, Peterson is never behind. For example, Peterson first founded the All Day Foundation in 2008 to build a better future for at-risk children.

In the same manner, He is also enrolled and working with Tim Tebow Foundation and Starkey Hearing Foundation.

Being a star in the field, the salary and net worth of the player is quite low. If you are wondering the reason behind it, then it’s all spent on his to pay loans, cases, and charges. At the same time, he also pays for his recurring injuries and treatments.

You might be interested in Rich Gannon Bio: Early Life, NFL, Personal Life & Net Worth >>> 

Adrian Peterson | Private Life

As a player is always seen on the field; however, many are going on in the off-field and their personal life. Therefore, let me take you on a short trip in his such days.

Love Life & Family

At present, the NFL player is married to Ashley Brown and lives happily with his children. The duo had been in a relationship for four years before getting engaged on July 9, followed by their marriage on July 19.

Ashley was a model by profession who later quit after she had a baby. The duo tied their knot in a private ceremony with 30 to 40 people in their own house.

Before their marriage, the couple had a child (a two-year-old son) who died on October 11, 2013.

The reason behind this was the alleged assault by Joseph Robert (former boyfriend of Ashley), which gave injured the child and, the child had his last breath at a hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

However, all these incidents were unknown to Adrian Peterson. Overall, the duo currently shares a daughter, Adeja Peterson, and three sons, Axyl Euguene Peterson, Adrian Peterson Jr.

Instagram handle @adrianpeterson
Twitter handle @AdrianPeterson

 

Criminal Charges

The foremost legal charge came to him in 2014, when he had implemented some injury to his son in order to discipline him.

Back then, Peterson had beaten his son with a tree branch in Spring, Texas, in May. As a result, Adrian was suspended from a game by the Vikings.

Likewise, he also had another case for child abuse as he pleaded for “no contest”; hence, he was to pay a $4,000 fine in November 2014.

Hereby, the NFL Player’s Association suspended him until 2015’s spring but was later overturned. Besides the criminal charges, Peterson also had to pay the bank loan as the Maryland state judge ordered him to pay $2.4 million.

Adrian Peterson | Common Questions

Is Adrian Peterson retired?

Despite being in the mid-thirties, Peterson is yet not retired, and as per the news, he has no intention for retirement.

How fast is Adrian Peterson? What is his career and season statistic like?

According to the recorded time, Adrian Peterson has a 40 yard dash time, 4.4 seconds.

At present, Adrian Peterson maintains a career statistic of 14,820 rushing yards with 4.6 yards per carrying. Likewise, he has 118 rushing touchdowns, 301 receptions, 2,466 receiving yards, and six receiving touchdowns. 

As for his season statistic, Adrian maintains 156 rushing attempts, 604 rushing yards, and seven touchdowns. Furthermore, he has 12 receptions and 101 receiving yards. 

Why is Adrian Peterson called “AD”?

“AD” stands for “All Day,” which is a nickname for Adrian Peterson, named by his father when he was a toddler.

What is the jersey number of Adrian Peterson?

Adrian Peterson features in jersey number 28 for the Detroit Lions as a running back. 

Is Adrian Peterson in the Hall of Fame?

Although Adrian Peterson is the second person in yards, he is not yet in the Hall of Fame. Also, the season 2012 is often taken as his best season for his rushing yards. 

What is Adrian Peterson’s autograph valued at?

Adrian Peterson’s autographed is valued at $10 for the 3×5/AP, $15 for the gum card, and $150 for the SSF. 

Rajani Gurung
Rajani Gurung
Hey, I'm Rajani! As a digital content writer, I write for several websites on a wide range of topics. At Playersbio, I cover to write about hot trending celebrities and news. My professional experience makes me write the hard topics in a simplified manner for easiness.

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