The Minnesota Vikings’ running back has been carrying his team since he first got drafted in 2007. Adrian Peterson has over 10,000 career rushing yards and 86 touchdowns. His average yards per carry is 5.0 in his career, which is really good. This guy has been the most dominant running back in the NFL since 2008 and although he missed two games last year, Peterson still ran for over 1,200 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He has not gone a single season where he scored single-digit rushing touchdowns. Not only that, but he’s also the Vikings’ all-time leading rusher after spending just seven seasons with the team. He is a great athlete and an even greater person. Peterson has always been outspoken about his faith in Jesus Christ. The 29-year-old from Texas has grown in the faith since his rookie season and he continues to be a Christian ambassador in the NFL.
“Jesus Christ means the world to me,” Peterson said. “I’ve been through so many different situations through my childhood and now my adulthood. God just helped me get through them and made me stronger at a young age. Through all the adversity and hard times I’ve been through, God has always been present. I’ve always prayed to Him and asked Him to give me the strength to endure and to help others and to better understand whatever situation I deal with in my personal life. And He has always showed up! It brings hope and peace of mind knowing that God gave His only begotten Son for us.”
For more on Adrian Peterson’s relationship with Jesus Christ, check out this video below:
Adrian Peterson is also a big fan of helping out his local community. He started the All Day Foundation to raise awareness and funds for programs that inspire hope and build a better future for at-risk children, with a special focus on girls’ empowerment. He has been a great role model to the young women and has taught them how to live good, healthy lives so that they can have a better future. Peterson’s work on and off the field have inspired many and he is personally one of my favorite NFL players.
Peterson has also been through a lot of tough times in his life. He watched his older brother get run over by a car when he was just seven years old and then in 2011, he suffered a torn ACL in a game against the Washington Redskins. Through all the trials and the pain, Peterson has always placed his faith in God to get him through the tough situations. When he went through the rehab on his torn ACL, Peterson had a positive attitude throughout the whole process.
“So many different times through the rehab where you know I was down, just spiritually, just my body, mentally, things that I had to do – whether it was different exercises, as far as strengthening my leg that was painful, that I just didn’t want to endure at the time,” Peterson said. “You know but you know you have those thoughts that go through your head. You got the devil – he’s out. He’s got those darts. So you can choose to bite on those or you can choose to block them out. Just listen to the thoughts that God put in there. But without Him during this recovery, I had no chance.” (Credit: CNS News)
Adrian Peterson will keep producing for his Minnesota Vikings team during the upcoming training camp and he will try to help lead his team to victory this year in the tough NFC North division.
The Basket Foot 