Former Vikings star Adrian Peterson arrested for drunken driving in Minnesota

Adrian Peterson, the legendary former Minnesota Vikings running back, was arrested early Friday morning on suspicion of drunken driving while visiting the Twin Cities for the team’s NFL Draft party. The 40-year-old was stopped by a State Patrol trooper around 3:20 a.m. while driving 83 mph in a 55 mph zone on Highway 77 in Richfield, according to authorities.
Peterson, who was behind the wheel of an Audi Q5, was taken to Hennepin County Jail where a breath test registered his blood alcohol content at 0.14%—nearly twice Minnesota’s legal limit. He was booked around 5:15 a.m. on a misdemeanor count of fourth-degree DWI and posted a $4,000 bond shortly after, securing his release by 7:30 a.m. His arraignment is scheduled for May 9 in Hennepin County District Court.
The former NFL MVP had attended the Vikings’ draft celebration at U.S. Bank Stadium the night before, participating in media interviews and leaving the venue via team-provided transportation at 9 p.m., a source confirmed. The Vikings acknowledged the arrest but offered no further comment.
Peterson, who ranks fifth on the NFL’s all-time rushing list with 14,918 yards, spent a decade with the Vikings before stints with other teams and retiring in 2021. His most dominant season came in 2012, when he rushed for 2,097 yards, just nine yards short of the single-season record.
This latest incident adds to a history of legal troubles involving Peterson. In 2009, he was cited for driving 109 mph in a 55 zone and later pleaded guilty to a lesser speed. Other violations include citations for speeding and not wearing a seatbelt.
More seriously, in 2014, Peterson pleaded no contest in Texas to reckless assault charges after harshly disciplining his 4-year-old son. He was suspended for the rest of that NFL season. In 2012, he was also arrested in Houston for allegedly resisting arrest, though charges were later dismissed.