Current players, including Myles Price, have talked about Peterson's impact on them, and I asked Peterson last week about what it means to him to have inspired this tier of players.
"Yeah, it means a lot. It really means a lot. And that's what it's all about. Reach one, teach one," Peterson said. "And to know that a lot of those guys, I was a guy they looked up to, an idol, to put a word out there, as well, that I've heard, it's amazing, man. I played this game to be the best to ever do it and to inspire people.
"When I was able to come up and talk to the rookies \[this past summer\], I was able to see how much I left for those guys to build off of. And that is one of the best feelings you can imagine because being out of the league for the time I've been out, I'm able to know and continue to be reminded that, you really impacted the game to the point where a lot of these guys who are coming into the league, you inspired their game, I'm sure along with other players, but you inspired them. You helped them get through adversity. You showed them the way to work, to prepare, the mindset to have, to overcome adversity, whether that's injuries or just life in general, understanding the source to go through to accomplish those things.
"Anytime I see these youngsters and they are giving me praise and telling me how I inspired them or how they looked up to me, that's the job-well-done moment for me, so I always embrace it over any yard, any MVP or any big win, any record," Peterson continued. "For me, impacting the human spirit and inspiring youngsters or anyone in general to overcome, persevere, to be a better version of themselves, that's what life is about to me."