Cornerback Patrick Peterson announced Wednesday on All Things Covered, the podcast he co-hosts with Bryant McFadden, that he will sign a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings.
“I’m staying in Minnesota and running back with the boys. Keep it north,” he said while donning a Viking hat.
He said other teams his agent spoke to were the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He said Tampa Bay’s interest depended on whether they re-signed Carlton Davis, which they eventually did.
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He said the addition of new head coach Kevin O’Connell and his choice for defensive coordinator Ed Donatell made him look forward to the return.
“I just felt like it was right to just be there and grind with these guys and try to get everyone together for that common goal. The team is in good shape,” he said. “As I always said last year, we just didn’t pull it off in certain situations, but I think we got even better this year in the off-season, bringing Kevin up with a great offensive spirit and pass-rusher (Za’Darius Smith ) to help Danielle [Hunter]with Ed coming from his defensive background…these guys are definitely trying to get the pieces in place and now it’s just up to us, the coaching staff and the players, to go out there and put together the best possible game plan to get some dubs.”
He said he would like to play three more seasons, including the 2022 season.
“I feel great, it just all depends on what the body is feeling,” he said.
After 10 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, during which he earned three All-Pro honors and was named to eight straight Pro Bowls, Peterson signed a one-year proof-it contract with the Vikings in 2021.
Peterson, 31, brought a wealth of experience to the Vikings’ secondary school when he transitioned into a role that didn’t rely on shadowing opponents’ top receivers like he did during the heyday of his career in Arizona . In Minnesota, Peterson played an important role in developing young cornerbacks such as Cameron Dantzler, Kris Boyd and Harrison Hand.
Still a stellar running defenseman, Peterson could decide to make a move to safety at this point in his career, a move he discussed at the end of the 2020 season while he was still with the Cardinals.
The cornerback exited the 2021 season with a pick-six in the Vikings’ Week 18 Finals against the Chicago Bears to continue a streak of interceptions in all 11 seasons he has played in the NFL. He appeared in 13 games for the Vikings after a hamstring injury forced him on injured reserve from Weeks 7-10 and a COVID-19 diagnosis caused him to miss a Week 13 loss in Detroit.
Peterson said his goal is to play 15 seasons before considering retirement, which could include a move to broadcasting. His podcast, which he co-hosts with Bryant McFadden, his cousin and seven-year NFL veteran, is a weekly commitment for the cornerback.
The Cardinals selected Peterson fifth overall in the 2011 draft. He has 29 interceptions in his 11 NFL seasons.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin contributed to this report.