Often, the hardest thing to do for professional athletes is finding a life beyond the game. So many stories of guys going broke or falling into bad times after leaving the sport permeate the media. They often aren’t truly prepared for the transition, so they sometimes get into trouble. It appears that is happening to Adrian Peterson. The former MVP running back spent a long career tormenting the Chicago Bears, establishing himself as one of the best ever to play the game. Since retiring, things haven’t gone well.
Peterson took up boxing, holding an exhibition match with fellow running back Le’Veon Bell. He was knocked out in the 5th round. Next, he tried his hand at Dancing With The Stars, finishing in 11th place. Now, mere months after suffering a DWI in April, cameras caught Peterson getting into a fist fight with a man at a poker tournament in Houston, Texas. According to [TMZ](https://www.tmz.com/2025/06/19/adrian-peterson-involved-in-poker-night-fight/), the two were friends who got into a heated dispute over a hand. Fueled by alcohol, the war of words escalated until punches were thrown.
The former running back can’t seem to stay out of trouble. Law enforcement has dogged him for years because of his bad decision-making. His star power in the NFL shielded him for much of that time, but he no longer enjoys that privilege. Clearly, he remains the same hot head he was before, showing a reckless disregard for consequences. He’s fortunate nobody was seriously hurt. All one can ask is what happens next? This is far from the first incident involving him. It won’t be the last. This probably isn’t the sort of attention he wanted as he tries carving out the next phase of his life. More issues like this may also complicate his candidacy or the Hall of Fame in a few years.
