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MINPETERSON28

Adrian Peterson

Retired

Seattle Seahawks · RB

Adrian Peterson recorded 271 indexed regular-season NFL appearances across 20 rostered seasons with Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans, Detroit Lions, Washington Redskins, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears.

▶Best highlights

59.8

rush yds/gm

11.6

rec yds/gm

8

playoff games

271

career games

Five defining games

Start here

A researched consensus introduction to Adrian Peterson's defining games.

Editorial methodology and sources

Cross-checked Vikings performance rankings, official game retrospectives, league rushing records, MVP-season history, and verified archive box scores. The list centers the single-game record and the two decisive peaks of Peterson's 2,097-yard comeback season, then adds the best all-around production of his later Minnesota career and the 200-yard performance that confirmed his 2015 return.

  1. #1. In only his eighth NFL game, Peterson ran 30 times for a league-record 296 yards and three touchdowns, including 253 yards after halftime, to turn a deficit into a 35–17 victory. Vikings: Peterson's record 296-yard game
  2. #2. Peterson ran for 199 yards and a touchdown, added a receiving score, and supplied the final drive's decisive gain as Minnesota beat Green Bay to reach the playoffs and he finished with 2,097 yards. Vikings: 2012 playoff-clinching finale
  3. #3. Peterson broke an 82-yard touchdown and finished with 212 rushing yards in St. Louis, moving past 1,800 during the late surge that made him the rare running back to win league MVP. Vikings: 2012 playoff-clinching finale
  4. #4. Peterson carried 35 times for 211 yards in an overtime win over Chicago, crossing 10,000 career rushing yards and becoming the third-fastest player to reach the milestone. Vikings: Peterson's record 296-yard game
  5. #5. Peterson ran for 203 yards, sealing the win with an 80-yard touchdown as Minnesota moved into first place and his comeback season ended with a third rushing title. Vikings: Peterson's record 296-yard game

Reviewed through 2026-08-11

Regular Season
2007
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
NOV 4, 2007

San Diego Chargers vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Nov 4, 2007

296 rush yds · 3 rush TD · 1 rec

Regular Season
2012
GREEN BAYPACKERS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
DEC 30, 2012

Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Dec 30, 2012

199 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 1 rec

Regular Season
2012
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
ST. LOUISRAMS
DEC 16, 2012

Minnesota Vikings vs St. Louis Rams

Regular Season · Dec 16, 2012

212 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 0 rec

Regular Season
2013
CHICAGOBEARS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
DEC 1, 2013

Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Dec 1, 2013

211 rush yds · 0 rush TD · 2 rec

Regular Season
2015
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
OAKLANDRAIDERS
NOV 15, 2015

Minnesota Vikings vs Oakland Raiders

Regular Season · Nov 15, 2015

203 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 2 rec

Single-game peaks

Career highs

Position-relevant single-game records from Adrian Peterson's indexed NFL box scores.

Career high: 296 rushing yards

Regular Season
2007
SAN DIEGOCHARGERS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
NOV 4, 2007

San Diego Chargers vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Nov 4, 2007

296 rush yds · 3 rush TD · 1 rec

Career high: 3 rushing touchdowns

Regular Season
2011
ARIZONACARDINALS
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
OCT 9, 2011

Arizona Cardinals vs Minnesota Vikings

Regular Season · Oct 9, 2011

122 rush yds · 3 rush TD · 0 rec

Career high: 37 carries

Regular Season
2017
ARIZONACARDINALS
SAN FRANCISCO49ERS
NOV 5, 2017

Arizona Cardinals vs San Francisco 49ers

Regular Season · Nov 5, 2017

159 rush yds · 0 rush TD · 2 rec

Career high: 2 runs of 40+ yards

Regular Season
2012
MINNESOTAVIKINGS
ST. LOUISRAMS
DEC 16, 2012

Minnesota Vikings vs St. Louis Rams

Regular Season · Dec 16, 2012

212 rush yds · 1 rush TD · 0 rec

Career high: 82 receiving yards

Regular Season
2007
NEW YORKGIANTS
CHICAGOBEARS
DEC 2, 2007

New York Giants vs Chicago Bears

Regular Season · Dec 2, 2007

67 rush yds · 0 rush TD · 7 rec

One snap at a time

Greatest individual plays

The signature moments from Adrian Peterson's career.

Run2007
PETERSON28

Adrian Peterson · vs San Diego Chargers

Peterson Reaches 296

2007 · NFL single-game rushing record

Fourth quarter

Career chapters

Franchise eras

Follow the team eras that shaped Adrian Peterson's career, in chronological order.

Earliest → latest

Franchise era

1993–2003

01
CHIPETERSON29Adrian Peterson
CHICOX52Bryan Cox
CHICONWAY80Curtis Conway

A proud identity waits for another core

Chicago Bears · Between great defenses

Chicago searched for offensive stability while gradually assembling the line and linebackers that would power its next contender.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2004–2012

02
CHIPETERSON29Adrian Peterson
CHIURLACHER54Brian Urlacher
CHIHESTER23Devin Hester

Takeaways and special teams reach the Super Bowl

Chicago Bears · Urlacher and Lovie's defense

Lovie Smith restored the defense-first formula, and Hester's return brilliance helped the 2006 Bears reach Super Bowl XLI.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2001–2013

03
MINPETERSON28Adrian Peterson
MINALLEN69Jared Allen
MINWILLIAMS93Kevin Williams

A singular runner carries changing teams

Minnesota Vikings · The Peterson years

Peterson returned from major knee surgery to rush for 2,097 yards, while Brett Favre's 2009 season produced another painful NFC title-game finish.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2014–2021

04
MINPETERSON28Adrian Peterson
MINSMITH22Harrison Smith
MINHUNTER99Danielle Hunter

A complete roster produces the Minneapolis Miracle

Minnesota Vikings · Zimmer's defense

Mike Zimmer built an elite defense, and Stefon Diggs's last-second touchdown sent the 2017 Vikings to the NFC Championship Game.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2013–2017

05
ARIPETERSON23Adrian Peterson
ARIPALMER3Carson Palmer
ARIFITZGERALD11Larry Fitzgerald

Aggressive offense meets an elite secondary

Arizona Cardinals · The Arians contender

Bruce Arians unlocked Palmer's best late-career football and built a 13-win team that reached the 2015 NFC Championship Game.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2017–2020

06
NOPETERSON28Adrian Peterson
NOBREES9Drew Brees
NOKAMARA41Alvin Kamara

A brilliant draft restores balance

New Orleans Saints · One last contender

A deep young core won four straight division titles, though the Minneapolis Miracle and a controversial NFC title-game loss defined its closest chances.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2012–2022

07
WASPETERSON26Adrian Peterson
WASGRIFFIN10Robert Griffin III
WASKERRIGAN91Ryan Kerrigan

A spectacular rookie season gives way to a decade of change

Washington Commanders · RGIII's spark and the identity crisis

Griffin's 2012 offense electrified the league before injury, while the franchise later changed its name and continued cycling through quarterbacks.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2009–2020

08
DETPETERSON28Adrian Peterson
DETSTAFFORD9Matthew Stafford
DETJOHNSON81Calvin Johnson

Spectacular talent fights organizational instability

Detroit Lions · Stafford and Calvin

Stafford and Johnson powered explosive offenses and three playoff trips, but Detroit could not turn their peak into a postseason victory.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2016–2021

09
TENPETERSON28Adrian Peterson
TENHENRY22Derrick Henry
TENTANNEHILL17Ryan Tannehill

A throwback runner controls modern playoff games

Tennessee Titans · Henry's power contender

Henry's rushing titles and Tannehill's revival carried Tennessee to the 2019 AFC Championship Game and consecutive division titles.

Read the era story →

Franchise era

2017–2021

10
SEAPETERSON21Adrian Peterson
SEAWILSON3Russell Wilson
SEAWAGNER54Bobby Wagner

The defense changes while the winning continues

Seattle Seahawks · Wilson carries the transition

The Legion dispersed, but Wilson's deep passing and Wagner's consistency kept Seattle in the playoffs until the partnership reached its limit.

Read the era story →

Career accomplishments

NFL rushing touchdowns leader · 2009, 2015NFL rushing yards leader · 2008, 2012, 2015NFL MVP · 2012NFL Offensive Player of the Year · 2012NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year · 20074× first-team All-Pro7× Pro Bowl selection20 NFL seasons271 career games9 career passing yards1 career passing touchdowns16,204 career rushing yards128 career rushing touchdowns383 career receptions3,139 career receiving yards6 career receiving touchdowns80 career solo tacklesCollege: OklahomaDrafted by: MINDraft pick: 7Jersey: 218 playoff appearances1 Super Bowl appearanceFirst appearance: Sep 29, 2002Most recent: Dec 5, 2021

Official awards via ESPN · Pro Bowl and All-Pro counts via NFLverse with selection years cross-checked against Wikipedia · league leads verified from indexed regular-season stats

Team history