Adrian Peterson is still the last non-quarterback to win the NFL MVP award.
Peterson made seven Pro Bowls during ten years with the Minnesota Vikings, who drafted him from Oklahoma with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Peterson is only one of 16 running backs to be named NFL MVPGetty
The explosive running back set numerous NFL records during his Hall of Fame-worthy career, and ended the 2012 season with 2,097 rushing yards – nine yards shy of breaking Eric Dickerson’s all-time single-season record.
Peterson was named the NFL’s most valuable player for his efforts that season, making him one of only 16 RBs in league history to win the award.
He led the league in rushing three times and ranks fifth all time with 14,918 rushing yards to go along with 90 touchdowns over 184 career games (167 starts).
After leaving Minnesota, he played for six other teams, including Arizona, New Orleans, Washington, Detroit, Tennessee and Seattle.
The powerful back, recognized as one of the best in league history, earned more than $100 million during his 15-year NFL career from 2007 to 2021.
However, according to reports, Peterson now finds himself in debt, estimated at more than $12 million, with a Houston judge recently issuing an order for him to turn over numerous assets in order to pay it back.
It is the latest in a long legal battle to get Peterson to pay back a $5.2 million loan he took out from a Pennsylvania lending company in 2016 that was supposed to pay back other lenders.
Peterson took the loan out with the intention of repaying it back the following year but after being dropped by the Vikings in 2017 which significantly affected his earnings.
As a free agent, he was subsequently picked up for a salary much lower than his previously held $18 million tag in Minnesota, and as time has passed the initial debt has doubled to more than $12million.
According to reports he owes more than $12 million in debtGetty
Some of Peterson’s NFL trophies were reportedly put up for auction to pay off his debt without his authorizationGetty
In July 2024, the court-appointed receiver asked a judge to order that constables accompany him to Peterson’s home in Missouri City so he can inventory assets that can be sold off.
Peterson shot down reports that a number of his NFL trophies, including his MVP award in 2012 were put up for sale at an online auction in Texas.
The auction was postponed indefinitely before closing, and Peterson said an ‘estate sale company’ included his trophies in a sale without his authorization.
“I want to emphasize that I’m financially stable and would never sell off my hard-earned trophies,” Peterson said on social media.
“And if I was gonna sell ’em, I know people that I could sell them to. I wouldn’t go online and sell my personal items randomly.”
Former NFL tight end Shannon Sharpe recently discussed Peterson’s ongoing financial situation alongside ex Bengals wide receiver Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson on their Nightcap podcast
“Man, AP! You made a 100 million and then he borrowed, I think he borrowed like 5 million in two years,” Sharpe said on a recent episode.
“The end result when you borrow money like that [is] you gotta pay like 20-25% interest.”
Johnson expressed sympathy for Peterson and called the predicament quite “unfortunate.” He said he hoped the athlete would overcome his financial situation.
Sharpe was less sympathetic and highlighted how the athlete was financially irresponsible to allegedly take a loan out for his 30th birthday party.
Sharpe (left) questioned Peterson’s financial responsibility on the latest episode of NightcapX@NightcapShow_
According to reports at the time, Peterson rode in on a camel to the party in Houston, Texas in 2015.
There were reportedly over 300 guests in attendance at the birthday bash. Peterson had a gigantic 12ft ice-block bar and his cake was a purple-and-gold-sheathed monolith invoking the Taj Mahal.
Actor and musician Jamie Foxx also showed up and danced to Michael Jackson.
“Who takes out of a loan to throw themselves a birthday party unless you’re what? Trying to impress the partygoers,” said a frustrated Sharpe.
Jamie Foxx was one of the 300+ guests at Peterson’s lavish 30th birthday in 2015X@jd0075
“I don’t know 300 people. I am 56, I don’t know 300 people.”
Peterson’s story is a sad yet cautionary tale for professional athletes moving into the post-playing phase of their lives.
In 2015, Sports Illustrated estimated that 80% of retired NFL players go broke in their first three years out of the League.
A number of factors why are cited, including a lack of competent financial planning advice, an obligation to provide financial support to family, extended family and friends that they can’t keep up with, divorce, and lack of preparation for a second career.
The National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) tries to protect players financially, but it appears they are not always successful.
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