A legend’s legacy stretches far beyond the records they set or the plays that made fans gasp. Adrian Peterson, a former NFL MVP and one of the game’s most electrifying running backs, still holds a lasting place in league history. Yet life after football can be unpredictable, often pulling retired stars back into the spotlight in ways nobody anticipated.
The 2012 NFL MVP and longtime Minnesota Vikings running back was arrested Sunday morning in Sugar Land, Texas, facing charges of DWI and unlawful carrying of a weapon. The arrest occurred around 10 a.m., according to TMZ, and Fort Bend County jail records confirm Peterson’s custody on the pending charges.
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In Texas, driving while intoxicated is classified as a Class B misdemeanor, while unlawfully carrying a weapon is categorized as a Class A misdemeanor. The DWI charge carries the more serious implications of the two.
This isn’t Adrian Peterson’s first brush with DWI charges this year. His first arrest came back in April in Minnesota, just hours after the opening night of the NFL Draft. Peterson had attended the Vikings’ draft party at U.S. Bank Stadium and even made an appearance on stage.
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According to the incident report, police stopped him in Richfield around 3:20 a.m. for driving 83 mph in a 55 zone. Tests revealed a blood alcohol level of 0.14, nearly double the state’s legal limit of 0.08.
𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚: Former Vikings star RB Adrian Peterson was ARRESTED last night for DWI after leaving a Vikings Draft Day party.
“Adrian was pulled over at 3:20 AM in an Audi Q5 … after a state trooper says they saw AP speeding, going 83 in a 55 MPH zone. The cop suspected… pic.twitter.com/RAQwBtiKKQ
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) April 25, 2025
Selected seventh overall in the 2007 NFL Draft, Adrian Peterson spent 10 seasons with Minnesota. His tenure included three rushing crowns, a 2012 MVP award, and a suspension that sidelined him for most of 2014.
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Peterson set the NFL single-game rushing record with 296 yards against San Diego as a rookie. He also stands as Minnesota’s all-time leading rusher, sitting 16th in league history, and holds the team record for career rushing touchdowns.
The accomplishments on the field remain undeniable. However, the pattern emerging off it raises questions about what comes next for a player whose dominance once defined an era in Vikings history.
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