NFL Great Adrian Peterson Arrested Again—This Time for Drunk Driving
NFL legend Adrian Peterson, one of the all-time great running backs in league history, finds himself in legal trouble once again. Barely hours after attending as a special guest host to the Minnesota Vikings’ 2025 NFL Draft party, Peterson was arrested and charged with fourth-degree driving while intoxicated. The charge taints an otherwise celebrated career for on-field brilliance and brings back questions regarding Peterson’s off-field history.
Peterson’s DWI Arrest After 2025 NFL Draft
Early Friday morning, April 25, Adrian Peterson was arrested by the Minnesota State Highway Patrol. A state trooper saw the former MVP speeding—83 mph in a 55-mph zone—at around 3:20 a.m., according to police. A traffic stop was made, and a preliminary breath test showed a blood alcohol level of 0.14%, well above Minnesota’s legal limit of 0.08%. Peterson was arrested at 5:16 a.m. CST and was released over two hours later on a $4,000 bond. His next court appearance is May 9 in Minneapolis.
The arrest followed only hours after AP was welcomed by the fans of the franchise who selected him seventh overall in 2007 when he appeared as a guest at the Vikings’ public draft party at U.S. Bank Stadium. The irony of the case—a night of glory, followed by shame in the legal sense—makes what otherwise should have been a celebration a bitter one. The charge is a misdemeanor but is another bad chapter in the off-field history of Peterson.
A Troubled Pattern of Legal Trouble
This DWI arrest is not Peterson’s first run-in with the law. In 2014, he was indicted on charges of child abuse in Texas for employing a switch to discipline his 4-year-old son. Peterson eventually pled no contest to a reduced charge of misdemeanor reckless assault, was fined $4,000, and was ordered to perform 80 hours of community service.
He was suspended for almost the entire 2014 season, and the infraction sparked a national debate regarding discipline and player responsibility. Peterson has also been the subject of other off-field scandals, such as an arrest in 2022 at Los Angeles International Airport for purportedly committing an act of domestic violence against his wife.
Charges were subsequently dropped, but the incident once again brought alarms about his off-field behavior. In addition, Peterson has had high-profile financial issues despite earning over $100 million during his playing career. It is a reminder that even the greatest players can be put in difficult situations when poor choice and circumstance coincide.
Final Thoughts
Peterson’s recent arrest is just another disappointing news headline in a post-football career tarnished by scandal. Previously regarded for his rough competitiveness and historic output, his reputation remains also marred by ongoing legal trouble. Not only does this DWI arrest again tarnish his reputation, but it possibly jeopardizes his future career in football or the media as well. For fans and former teammates alike, it serves as a dark reminder that on-field greatness does not necessarily translate to tranquility off of it.
