Vikings to induct Adrian Peterson into Ring of Honor ahead of hall of fame eligibility
Vikings to induct Adrian Peterson into Ring of Honor ahead of hall of fame eligibility originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . The Minnesota Vikings will honor one of the greatest players in franchise history this fall when retired running back Adrian Peterson is officially inducted into the team’s Ring of Honor.
The organization announced the news Monday, adding another major milestone to Peterson’s legendary football career. Peterson, 41, spent 10 seasons with the Vikings from 2007 through 2016 and remains the franchise’s all-time leader in both rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Over his remarkable tenure in Minnesota, Peterson rushed for 11,747 yards and scored 97 touchdowns while establishing himself as one of the most dominant running backs of his era.
The honor comes one year before Peterson becomes eligible for election into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where many believe he is destined to receive first-ballot consideration. During his career, Peterson built a résumé filled with accolades, including seven Pro Bowl selections, four First-Team All-Pro honors, and the NFL MVP award in 2012. That 2012 season remains one of the greatest individual performances in league history.
Peterson rushed for 2,097 yards while coming off a devastating ACL injury suffered late the previous year. He fell just eight yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record and carried the Vikings to the playoffs in the process. Peterson legacy cemented with Ring of Honor induction Vikings owner Mark Wilf praised Peterson’s impact on the organization in a statement released by the team.
“From the moment we selected Adrian in the 2007 NFL Draft, he proved to be a transformational player for the Minnesota Vikings,” Wilf said. “His historic 2012 MVP season will be rightfully remembered by fans, but Adrian’s consistent production over 10 seasons in Minnesota is what firmly established him as an all-time Viking and one of the greatest to ever play this game. ” Wilf also expressed confidence that Peterson’s football journey is far from finished in terms of recognition and legacy.