One of the NFL’s greatest running backs of all time, Adrian Peterson has not given up his football career, even at the age of 38. Peterson ranked fifth all-time in rushing yards (14,918) and fourth all-time in rushing touchdowns (120) during the 2021 season, and played three games for the Tennessee Titans and one game for the Seattle Seahawks. He totaled 98 rushing yards and two rushing scores on 98 carries. Though contemporary Frank Gore, the third-leading rusher of all time (16,000 yards), retired after his season at age 37 in which he rushed for 653 yards and two quick touchdowns on 187 carries with the New York Jets, is holding on Peterson by hoping he can get another one last season before making a career move in 2024.
“In my mind, I haven’t officially given up yet,” Peterson said over the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. “We’ll see what happens. My attitude is, God willing, maybe an opportunity will come along, and maybe this season it will happen. From there I will continue. But.” [if] In any case, nothing will happen this season, I will give it up.
The four-time first-team All-Pro doesn’t need to play a 16th season to cement his spot as a future first-round Hall of Famer. Peterson was named the 2012 NFL MVP and Offensive Player of the Year when he became the seventh player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards (2,097). He led the NFL in rushing yards twice more (2008, 2015).
The Texan and Oklahoma Sooners All-American was drafted seventh overall by the Minnesota Vikings in 2007. In ten seasons as a Viking (2007–2016), he set franchise records for rushing yards (11,747) and rushing touchdowns (97). He then became a journeyman and played for six other teams: the Saints, Cardinals, Commanders, Lions, Titans and Seahawks. The childhood Dallas Cowboys fan, who now lives in Houston, has resigned himself to not beating Emmitt Smith’s all-time rushing yards record of 18,355.
Peterson needs 352 rushing yards to pass Hall of Famer Barry Sanders for the fourth time all-time, and he needs four rushing touchdowns to pass Hall of Famer Marcus Allen for third all-time in that division.
[Emmitt Smith] “We set standards there,” said Peterson. “You see why it’s been there for so long.” I feel like I had a great opportunity to do so. Unfortunately, I’ve had some hiccups, injuries and things like that throughout my career, but I just didn’t make it to get there. So I think it will last a long time. Maybe someone will fail at this at some point, but if you look at how the NFL is doing now, maybe it won’t happen. The way things are going in the NFL, it’s going to be hard for anyone to actually break a record. But I can tell you one thing: there is no other person who holds that seat. Emmitt is a great guy. He inspired so many people, me as a kid and as a Cowboys fan. That’s why I felt so much love for him.
After the Cowboys unleashed former top-five pick Ezekiel Elliott, Dallas could use a close-range battering ram alongside Tony Pollard, Malik Davis and Deuce Vaughn. Perhaps Peterson could be invited to a veteran wage training camp? He just wants a team to take him one last time.