Q&A: Adrian Peterson on NFL milestones, key moments and chasing Barry Sanders

At Adrian Peterson’s first news conference after signing with the Lions, a reporter asked him for his favorite memory of playing against Detroit. Without hesitation, Peterson dialed it back to the 2013 regular-season opener at Ford Field, when he took Minnesota’s first offensive play of the new year 78 yards to the house.

“I remember that play like it was yesterday,” said Peterson, who’s now on his fifth NFL team, in his 14th NFL season. “… I remember just hitting the hole and, bam, one juke. I stuck my left foot in the ground and got the free safety or linebacker to overflow, and then I was off to the races and took it to the crib.”

The 35-year-old running back might not have the encyclopedic, almost photographic memory of Matthew Stafford or many of the league’s QBs, but there are many moments over his illustrious career still fresh in his mind. Peterson enters Sunday’s game against the Cardinals — one of his former clubs — needing just six carries to pass Barry Sanders for the No. 6 spot on the NFL’s career attempts list. He’s also now within 919 yards of Sanders for the fourth spot in all-time rushing yards.

After the Lions’ Thursday practice, Peterson spent 30 minutes on the phone with The Athletic, discussing some of his greatest milestones, favorite NFL memories and his place in the record books.

Is it surreal to be on the verge of passing Barry Sanders in carries while you’re wearing a Lions jersey?

Yeah. Yeah, it is. You know, last year around this time, who would’ve thought that? That I’d be here in Detroit, that I’d be approaching passing him in carries and also approaching him on the all-time (rushing) list, playing for the Detroit Lions. It is just kinda unreal, at times. But such is life. That’s how it is sometimes, so I’m just embracing it, man. I’m just going to enjoy this moment and this time while I can, while I’m in it.

I’ve seen him tweet at you, send some encouragement. Do you have a relationship with him off the field?

Yeah, I have his number locked in. Actually, I was speaking with him like a month and a half ago, before I got signed and all that. Now that I’m here, once I get settled and everything, I look forward to talkin’ to him a little more and kinda catching up.

So, I’ve got a list of some milestones for you, just picked out some big moments. I’m sure there are others that stand out for you. But your first NFL touch was a kickoff return, right?

I don’t remember the first touch, but it might’ve been a kickoff because I was on special teams. (Editor’s note: It was the opening kickoff of the 2007 season, vs. Atlanta.)

The one I do remember, vividly, it might’ve been a preseason game, but we were playing the Jets. And it was an inside-zone play, I ended up bouncing it outside for like 15, 16 yards. Had a pretty good collision before going out of bounds. I remember thinking to myself, “OK, this isn’t half-bad.”

Do you know who the kicker was for that first touch?

Uhhhhhhh … no.

Matt Prater.

Matt Prater, huh? OK. OK.

I wonder if he knows that.

Yeahhhhh, probably not.

Do you remember your first touchdown?

My first touchdown was against the Falcons, and it was a pass, ironically. Pass from Tarvaris Jackson, out to the right. I remember Sidney Rice made an incredible block down the field, maybe like 10 yards in front of me, and then it was off to the races. Ran, got into the end zone, jumped into the crowd. First touchdown. Who would’ve thought it would come after a reception?

Just six of Adrian Peterson’s 117 career touchdowns have come off of receptions, including his first — a 60-yarder. (Tom Olmscheid / Associated Press)

Did you keep the ball from that first one?

Yeah, I got the ball. Got it in my home in Houston.

Your first rushing touchdown was a couple of weeks later against Kansas City. Do you remember that one at all?

No, I don’t remember the first rushing one. I think just the first one in general probably trumped those memories, know what I’m saying? Once that first one came, I was in a flow a little bit. Just played ball.

There was one run that I saw you talk about recently. You were on the NFL Network and said that your favorite run came against Cleveland in 2009. Is that still tops on your list or have you reordered them at all?

No, that one is still tops. It was just an incredible play, and I just remembered going to the game knowing that Mr. Jim Brown was going to be there in the crowd. Just all the history that he made there for that city, what he means for the National Football League and just paving the way, on and off the field, for athletes in general and, of course, Black athletes. He was a guy that I always had a lot of respect for, so that was one reason I was so excited and pumped up for that game. I wanted to have a good game.

And, yeah, my favorite run in 14 years. It came from being in that aura, you know? On that field. It was an inside-zone play to the left, great blocks from the offensive line. Coming through the line, the safety was coming down pursuing, and I remember giving him a little move to the right, he dove and missed. It felt like it was kinda slow-motion. I came through the hole — I’d played with Brodney Pool (at Oklahoma), and always had a lot of respect for him, he’s a good safety. Just seeing him come down, I kinda knew that I would be able to get him because of his pursuit. That little stutter to the right was just perfect, and he bit and dove and I was able to bounce it out to the left sideline.

A guy was pursuing, I just stopped and just shoved him out of bounds. Then, here you are again, Sidney Rice, making another great block to allow me to really get my engine going and break down the left sideline. The ball actually almost came out — I had it in my left arm. I kinda rolled my arm back up and pulled it down and tucked it.

It was a great feeling, pretty much sealed the deal for us (in the game). That was one that I’ll always remember, and that’ll be my favorite until I top it.

No. 65: @Vikings RB @AdrianPeterson stiff arms his way to 64-yard TD (Sept. 13, 2009) #NFL100

📺: NFL 100 Greatest Plays on @NFLNetwork pic.twitter.com/EmgYobvCuo

— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2019

It’s cool that you remember that Sidney Rice was out there blocking. When you think back on big moments in your career, is what your teammates were doing part of it? Or do remember them with a little bit of tunnel vision focused on what you were doing?

No, especially with how the guys contribute to the play, as well — it’s all about finishing. There are a lot of plays throughout the year, we watch on film and you see guys don’t finish. What was a short run could’ve been a 30-, 50-yard run. What was a 50-yard run could’ve been a touchdown if guys would’ve finished. Being able to have guys that are committed when the ball is not in their hands to do their job and to finish through to the whistle, man, that’s why I always give those guys praise. That’s the mindset I’ve always played with.

You had a little more work to do after getting past Brodney Pool on that run against Cleveland, but what’s the feeling like when a safety is coming downhill at you and he’s the last guy left?

It’s like a rush. You see past that guy, as well, and you know that pretty much if I get past this guy it’s a touchdown. It’s one of the best feelings in the world, especially for a running back. Just, “Hey, you’ve got this one guy to beat. What you gonna do? You cannot let this guy tackle you.” The best way for me to have those situations is to just be natural with it, don’t overthink it, make a decision and make it fast.

So, I have a few more milestone runs on my list here. Any others that really stand out, either because they show off your longevity or just are special moments for you?

Hmm … lemme see …

I had one run that I’m sure (people) would say, “That’s one of your favorites?” It was one of my favorite runs and, really I can say, it was probably the best play I’ve had. And it was a fumble, that’s the crazy part about it. It was a fumble. I fumbled on the play.

It was against New Orleans in the NFC Championship Game. I think we were on our 40-yard line, 35- or 40-yard line. I broke to the right, Darren Sharper came down, and I think I ended up sliding inside on him. Someone came through and hit me, someone came and punched the ball out. And I just remember the ball going directly in front of me, maybe like 10 to 12 yards. In this moment, I see two safeties — probably a safety and a maybe a cornerback — they were 6 yards from the ball. When the ball was coming out, I was falling down, so I was on my knees looking.

When I tell you that it was like an out-of-body experience … I don’t know how I recovered that ball, but I did. When I watched it on film, that’s probably the fastest I’ve ever moved in my life, period. That’s one of my favorite plays, because in that moment, that hype of whoever wins this game is going to the Super Bowl, I had like an out-of-body experience and was able to beat two guys who were 5 yards away. Pretty much bear-crawled to the ball and got there, recovered that ball.

That’s probably my favorite play of all time: a fumble recovery. (Laughs)

Didn’t you score two or three touchdowns in that game?

Yeah, yeah. People give me a hard time, like “You fumbled three times.” Well, I only lost one fumble. So, yeah, the ball was on the ground but I only lost one. Even though I’ve taken that one, on the goal line after Reggie Bush muffed a punt, that one wasn’t on me either.

But a lot of people give me a hard time, these Vikings fans. Like, “We would’ve won the game if Adrian wouldn’t have fumbled the ball three times.” It’s like, yeah, I fumbled but we only lost one of them. I think we had seven fumbles that game (Editor’s note: It was six) — they put some voodoo on us or something. Yeah, I had three touchdowns, like 150 yards or something like that.

Do you move faster when it’s your own fumble?

(Laughs) I would say that, you know … yeah. I can safely say that. Of course, you see the ball out, you have a sense of urgency to get to the ball. But it’s different. When you done fumbled that ball, I don’t care what anybody else say, your sense of urgency is higher than everyone else’s.

Your 1,000th carry was pretty early on in your career, at least compared to how much work running backs see now. It was 2010 against the Jets, so first half of Year 4 and you’re already at 1,000. Does a milestone like that stand out?

As far as 1,000 carries, uh, that milestone doesn’t really stand out. But when I look back and see 300 carries, it’s like wooooo, man. I was really gettin’ it in. It goes to say a lot just to the guys I had in front of me, of course, because they made the job easier: Matt Birk, (Steve) Hutchinson, Bryant McKinnie. I had some really good guys in front of me helping lead the way.

That’s what I’ve always envisioned, to be able to help carry a team, lead a team to a championship. When I look back, I’m just like, “Man, I wish I could have those numbers again.” Makes you have an appreciation that for a good part of your career, those were the numbers you were receiving.

You had 363 carries in your second year. You’d want that type of workload again if it was available? Do you think you could handle a 363-carry season at this point?

Yeah, I think I can.

Really? Man. Wow.

You should know my mentality by now.

It’s just such a huge number.

It is, it is. But your body can do some incredible things if you mentally can push it to do it. Barring any type of injury or something, I could handle 300 easy.

Would every veteran running back say that or is it unique to you?

I wouldn’t say every running back would say that. Every veteran running back would say that. I realize God has blessed me with a tremendous talent. I’ve been around a couple teams now and, you know, when I’m walking around the locker room, and I look at some of these young guys, the fresh meat running backs that be comin’ in, looking at their bodies compared to mine? Like, eh. It’s not really a comparison.

I don’t think it’s about the age. It’s about how you take care of your body throughout your career, during the offseason, and then you know, of course, just genetically being blessed. Look at LeBron. That’s the type of talent and ability he has, just in a different sport.

Here in Detroit, there are a lot of people that probably remember where they were or who they were watching with when Barry went over 2,000 yards in a season. Do you remember your carry to get over 2,000 in 2012? (Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards.)

I don’t.

Or the game?

No, I don’t recall it off the top, to be honest with you. Was it against … no, it wasn’t against Houston. It might’ve been … was I past 2,000 at that point? You know what, it was Green Bay, that last game. I went off, I had over 150 yards. I guess I was just too locked in, I don’t know why I thought I was maybe past that, at that point.

The moment @AdrianPeterson hit 2,000 rushing yards… 🙌 (via @nflthrowback) #FBF #MINvsGB pic.twitter.com/jNtEVn0CfH

— NFL (@NFL) September 14, 2018

Is hitting 2,000 a big moment as you look back on it now or just another thing that happened along the way?

No, no, without a doubt it was a big moment. I think what kinda put somewhat of a sour taste on it is going into that game I had an opportunity to break Eric Dickerson’s record (2,105 yards). So, it wasn’t the hype of joining the 2,000 club, it was more so the hype of having the single-season rushing record. But yeah, man, that’s a monumental accomplishment to join that club — only seven backs have accomplished that. To be a part of that elite club, of course that meant the world to me and still do to that day.

But going into that game, I remember telling myself too, “You know what? Go out there and play, not going to worry about the yards. If it happens, it happens.” Because if I break Eric Dickerson’s record, then of course I’m going over 2,000. … I took the W and took being able to say I was the seventh player ever to rush for 2,000 yards.

How about your first carry back in 2012, after your knee injury?

Who did we play?

Jacksonville. Is that ringing any bells?

That sounds right. I just remember coming through that tunnel, the smoke when they announced my name. It was like, man, that tunnel that was so far away the previous year … it happened Christmas Eve, so in that moment I was just looking at the light and saying it took a lot of work and dedication to get to this point, to play in Week 1. A lot of people were like, “It’s not gonna happen. That’s too soon.”

I just had my mind set on that. So that moment actually coming, running out, was probably one of the best feelings I’ve had. To get back out there and do what I love to do and do it at a high level was pretty incredible. I think I had a decent game, with limited reps. I felt good. It was a good confidence booster for me, to have the type of season that I had.

.@AdrianPeterson's 2012 season – only a year after a serious injury – is simply legendary.

😤 2,097 rush yards (second most ever)
😤 6.0 yards per carry
😤 Offensive Player of the Year + NFL MVP

(via @nflthrowback) pic.twitter.com/1fngdK7PDI

— NFL (@NFL) March 21, 2020

The last one I had: Week 15 last year against Philadelphia. All in one game, had your 3,000th carry, only the 10th back to get there; you tied Walter Payton on the touchdowns list; you passed Curtis Martin on the yardage list — Barry’s next up there. Can you appreciate it as you’re leapfrogging these all-time greats?

I really don’t pay too much attention to it. I’m the type of guy that’s like, hey, if I put in the work it’ll happen. But I would be lying to you to say that I see or I’m conscious of it. I’ve seen the lists, people talk to me about the lists.

Passing LT, LaDainian Tomlinson, I was pumped up about that, because he was a guy I grew up liking. From TCU, him being from the East Texas area and whatnot. And Barry Sanders, I am definitely pumped up about that one. I think he’s the GOAT. To be able to surpass Barry Sanders is going to be something I’m aware of and looking forward to doing that, because I think he’s the best player to do it.

Barry, man, he’s just that guy that you’ll never see another back like him. Passing Barry Sanders and having the opportunity to do that in Detroit, it’s gonna be pretty spectacular when it happens.

Frank Gore is No. 3 in rushing. Are you going to catch him? Whose career is going to go longer?

(Laughs) I dunno, Frank Gore’s got two years on me. He has helped me continue to keep that mindset, because it’s all about the guys that come before you. Frank Gore, he was a guy that I thought, “Man, he runs that rock.” When I look at Frank Gore, I think he’s got two years on me, I gotta play at least the amount of years that he has already. We’ll see.

I plan on playing and enjoying this game for as long as I wake up in the morning and still love it and am able to go play it at a high level.

(Top photo: Michael McLoone / USA Today)

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