Pro Football Hall of Fame: Class of 2027 modern-era predictions | Latest NFL News, Analysis & Updates
Adrian Peterson, RB
Minnesota Vikings, 2007-2016; New Orleans Saints, 2017; Arizona Cardinals, 2017; Washington, 2018-2019; Detroit Lions, 2020; Tennessee Titans, 2021; Seattle Seahawks, 2021
History might hold tight to Peterson as the last running back of a bygone era. Like so many before him, and really none since, Peterson was a back viewed as the best player in the league for a time and just as vital to success as the guy handing him the ball. Sixteen running backs have won the AP NFL Most Valuable Player award, but Peterson’s 2012 MVP was just the fourth this century, and the last, for a RB. Considering Saquon Barkley posed a 2,000-yard argument in 2024 and finished a distant No. 3 in the voting, Peterson could be the last RB to win MVP for a very long time — if not ever. Peterson ranks fifth all time in rushing yards (14,918) and fifth in rushing TDs (120). Those numbers warrant a gold jacket, as do his seven Pro Bowls, four first-team All-Pro nods and other hardware (2007 Offensive Rookie of the Year, 2012 Offensive Player of the Year). From his rookie year of 2007 through 2015, Peterson was seen as the best back in the NFL more often than not, with injuries usually the only thing slowing him down. He bounced around with six teams from 2017-2021, but he deserves a permanent roster spot in Canton in his first year of eligibility.
