Adrian Peterson (American football, born 1979)
Current position | |
---|---|
Title | Director of student-athlete development |
Team | Georgia Southern |
Conference | SBC |
Biographical details | |
Born | Gainesville, Florida, U.S. | July 1, 1979
Alma mater | Georgia Southern University |
Playing career | |
1998–2001 | Georgia Southern |
2002–2009 | Chicago Bears |
2010 | Seattle Seahawks[a] |
2011 | Virginia Destroyers |
Position(s) | Running back |
Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
2018–present | Georgia Southern (DS-AD) |
Accomplishments and honors | |
Championships | |
| |
Awards | |
| |
College Football Hall of Fame Inducted in 2017[b] (profile) |
Adrian Nicholas Peterson (born July 1, 1979)
Early years
Peterson was born to Porter R. and Reatha M. Peterson; his father works at a plant that makes
College career
Peterson played for
College statistics
Rushing | Receiving | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Team | GP | Att | Yards | Avg | TDs | Rec | Yards | TDs |
1998 | Ga. Southern | 11 | 257 | 1,932 | 7.5 | 25 | 5 | 33 | 1 |
1999 | Ga. Southern | 11 | 248 | 1,807 | 7.2 | 28 | 9 | 163 | 1 |
2000 | Ga. Southern | 13 | 338 | 2,056 | 6.0 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2001 | Ga. Southern | 14 | 322 | 1,795 | 5.5 | 21 | 5 | 4 | 0 |
College Totals | 49 | 1,165 | 7,590 | 6.5 | 93 | 19 | 200 | 2 |
Professional career
Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle |
Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
219 lb (99 kg) |
31+3⁄4 in (0.81 m) |
9+3⁄4 in (0.25 m) |
4.55 s | 1.68 s | 2.73 s | 4.60 s | 7.59 s | 34.0 in (0.86 m) |
9 ft 11 in (3.02 m) |
14 reps | |
All values from NFL Combine[6][7] |
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears selected Peterson in the sixth round of the
Peterson saw more action as a running back during the 2005 Chicago Bears season, after the Bears' top two running backs, Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson, suffered injuries. On November 13, in the first game that both were injured, a game against the San Francisco 49ers, Peterson eclipsed the 100 yard mark in a game for the first time in his career. He rushed for 120 yards on 24 attempts and scored a touchdown.[9] On the season, Peterson rushed for 391 yards on 76 attempts, and scored two touchdowns. Peterson was the team's second leading rusher during the season, and even went on to score a touchdown during the NFC Divisional game against the Carolina Panthers.[2]
During the
After the Bears traded Jones prior to the 2007 season, Peterson was promoted to second string running back.[12] However, first string running back Cedric Benson sustained a season-ending injury on November 25, against the Denver Broncos.[13] During the same game, Peterson scored his second rushing touchdown of the season, when he powered into the endzone despite being enveloped by several Bronco defenders. With this news, Peterson moved to first string, with rookie Garrett Wolfe moved to second string. Peterson had his second 100-yard rushing game on December 23, 2007, against the Green Bay Packers.[14] Peterson had another productive performance the next week, during the Bears’ season finale against the New Orleans Saints. He rushed for 91 yards, and even threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Bernard Berrian.[15]
When the Bears drafted Matt Forte and brought in Kevin Jones, Peterson saw little to no action at running back. He was cut from the team after the Bears signed Chester Taylor before the 2010 season.
Peterson signed with the Seattle Seahawks on August 12, 2010, but was released by the team just five days later.
Virginia Destroyers
Peterson was drafted by the
Coaching career
On February 13, 2018, Peterson returned to Georgia Southern as director of student-athlete development for the football team under Chad Lunsford. He took over for Andrew Dodge, who moved to an on-field coaching assignment toward the end of the 2016 season.[16]
Personal life
Peterson is the younger brother of former Atlanta Falcons linebacker Mike Peterson. He is also related to Freddie Solomon, who played for the Miami Dolphins and San Francisco 49ers. He performs community work and hosts an annual free youth football camp.[17] Additionally, Peterson, who has a speech impediment, volunteers to help children who also face the same challenge.[18]
Peterson released his autobiography Don't Dis My Abilities in 2013.[19]
On February 17, 2015, Peterson's 7-year-old son died of brain cancer.[20]
Notes and references
- The Atlanta Journal and Constitution. p. 1F.
- ^ a b c d e "Roster - Chicago Bears - 29 Adrian Peterson". chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
- ^ Mark Woods (March 14, 2003). "Zook deserves credit for every Peterson tackle". The Florida Times-Union.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (January 16, 2014). "College award named for former Bear". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on January 18, 2014. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
- ^ Mayer, Larry (December 6, 2017). "Urlacher, Peterson enter College HOF". Chicago Bears. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved December 8, 2017.
- ^ "2002 Draft Scout Adrian Peterson, Georgia Southern NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "Adrian Peterson, Combine Results, RB - Georgia Southern". nflcombineresults.com. Retrieved November 5, 2022.
- ^ "2002 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
- NFL.com. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ Andrew Seligman (January 1, 2007). "Green Bay 26, Chicago 7".
- ^ "NFL Scores: 2007 - Week 15". nfl.com. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007.
- ^ Larry Mayer (July 9, 2007). "Is Peterson the most underrated Bears player?". chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved August 13, 2007.
- ^ Larry Mayer (November 26, 2007). "Benson to miss rest of season with ankle injury". chicagobears.com. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved November 27, 2007.
- ^ "Green Bay at Chicago - 2007-12-23 - National Football League - Yahoo! Sports". Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ "New Orleans at Chicago - 2007-12-30 - National Football League - Yahoo! Sports". Retrieved July 29, 2016.
- ^ "Adrian Peterson Named to Lunsford's Staff". Georgia Southern Eagles. February 13, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2020.
- ^ Ken Payne. "Bearing Down with Bears Running Back Adrian Peterson". BuzzNEWS Online. Archived from the original on March 23, 2012.
- ^ "Bears player talks about speech impediment". abc7chicago.com. January 1, 2006. Archived from the original on November 9, 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2007.
- ^ Burbridge, John (October 25, 2013). "Former Bears running back pens book about his 'abilities'". NWI.com. Retrieved November 30, 2014.
- ^ "Son of Former Bear Adrian Peterson Dies". February 17, 2015. Retrieved July 29, 2016.
External links
- Adrian Peterson - at NFL.com