The Minnesota Vikings brought in former running back Adrian Peterson to talk to the team’s new rookie class, but it was actually part of a ruse to surprise the retired player.
After speaking with the team, Hall of Famer John Randle walked in and helped to announce that Peterson will be inducted into the Vikings Ring of Honor in 2026.
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The retired running back will be enshrined with the franchise that he spent the first 10 years of his career with. Peterson is also eligible for Pro Football Hall of Fame enshrinement for the first time in 2027.
The Vikings Ring of Honor currently consists of 28 members, with Peterson set to be the 29th. Other members of Minnesota’s Ring of Honor include defensive end Jared Allen, wide receivers Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Randle, and quarterback Fran Tarkenton.
Minnesota drafted Peterson with the seventh overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft. He spent the first 10 years of his 15-year career with the Vikings.
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The running back played in 123 career games in Minnesota and finished with 11,747 rushing yards and 97 touchdowns. Peterson was named the 2012 NFL MVP and remains the most recent non-quarterback to win the award.
Over his career, Peterson played 184 games from 2007 to 2021. He finished with 14,918 yards on the ground with 120 touchdowns. Peterson added 2,474 receiving yards with six additional touchdowns through the air. He ranks fifth all-time in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns, and sixth in carries.
When Randle appeared, he and Peterson embraced, and then the Hall of Famer helped him pull back a curtain that had been hiding a tribute to Peterson, including his old Vikings jersey and a bio about the player.
Peterson was overcome with emotion at the surprise.
“That got me, man. This is – wow. This is amazing. Wow. I’m speechless.
I feel blessed [that my name will] go up there with the greatest of greats to play in this organization. It’s just a blessing – a constant reminder for me of how God is and how hard work plays off.
Not only just hard work, but how you treat people, how you deal with people the relationships that you build. That all comes into play when you’re honored to this magnitude.
It feels amazing.”
With the 2026 NFL schedule not fully released, the press release announcing Peterson’s induction did not include when the running back will be inducted.
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