Former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson earned over $103 million in salary alone during his NFL career. However, he is now facing financial and legal troubles.
Two warrants have been issued for the former athlete’s arrest in Fort Bend County, Texas, due to his failure to appear in court for two separate child support cases.
Highlights
- Adrian Peterson has two arrest warrants due to missed court appearances for child support cases.
- Peterson’s publicist says the legal issue is a misunderstanding, and he’s working to resolve it.
- Despite earning over $100 million in his NFL career, Peterson faces severe financial troubles, including $12 million in debt.
Adrian Peterson was a football star. The Minnesota Vikings picked him in the 2007 NFL draft.
As a rookie, he set an NFL record for the most rushing yards in a single game and won many awards.
Despite a severe injury in 2011, he returned strong in 2012, almost breaking the single-season rushing record and winning the NFL MVP Award.
By 2013, he had become the third-fastest player to reach 10,000 rushing yards in NFL history. In 2021, after 15 impressive seasons, he retired.
However, his legal troubles and financial struggles have overshadowed his star image.
Two Arrest Warrants Have Been Issued For Adrian Peterson
USA Today first reported the news about Peterson’s ar-rest, disclosing that the two warrants were issued after the former NFL RB didn’t attend a hearing before the 328th Judicial District Court on 5 December.
Ex-NFL star Adrian Peterson has warrants out for arrest: report https://t.co/BHfLNRwJsd
— Fox News (@FoxNews) December 20, 2024
Separate cash bonds of $9,500 and $7,500 were reportedly issued with the warrants.
Peterson’s publicist, Denise White, said the legal case stems from a misunderstanding about his court appearances regarding child support.
“The current legal case is related to a misunderstanding regarding Adrian’s court appearances as it relates to child support, and he is actively working with his legal team to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.”
Denise White
White also said that Peterson is committed to clearing up this situation and moving forward positively.
Traditional arrest warrants require evidence of a crime, but Peterson’s warrant is due to his failure to appear in court.
According to the reports, the two cases involve women in Minnesota as custodial parents.
The judge signed an order giving one child the right to receive a share of Peterson’s NFL benefits.
Adrian Peterson Was Charged With Child Abuse In The Past
This is not Peterson’s first legal trouble. His career has been entangled with multiple legal issues.
Adrian, who retired from the NFL in 2021, is the father of six children. He shares them with several women whose identities are unknown.
He encountered significant legal issues in 2014 when he was charged with felony child abuse.
This case stemmed from an incident where the former athlete allegedly used a switch to spank his then-4-year-old son.
As reported by Newsweek, the incident resulted in severe bruises and cuts on the young boy’s body, including his buttocks and scrotum.
The case resulted in Peterson pleading no contest to a reduced charge of misdemeanor reckless assault.
Consequently, he received a two-year probation period, a $4,000 fine, 80 hours of community service, and a one-year suspension from the NFL.
Despite this, Peterson fearlessly admitted in 2018 that he still used physical discipline.
“I had to discipline my son and spank him the other day with a belt,” the former NFL running back said.
To everyone’s surprise, he mentioned various other disciplinary methods, such as making them do wall squats, sitting in timeouts, and taking away their electronics.
Adrian Peterson Has $12 Million In Debt.
There’s a saying: a small leak can sink a great ship. This can be true for money, too.
Judge orders former NFL star Adrian Peterson to turn over assets to pay $12M debt https://t.co/sAG0fwarv2 pic.twitter.com/YzE0hLUDa6
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) September 11, 2024
For example, Adrian Peterson, who earned over $100 million in his NFL career, could not pay back over $12 million in debt.
In October 2024, a judge in Houston ordered the former Minnesota Vikings star to hand over many personal assets.
This was to help repay more than $12 million in debt. It was surprising since Peterson earned over $100 million during his career from 2007 to 2021.
He was one of the highest-paid running backs of all time. Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe was shocked and talked about it on the “Nightcap” podcast; he spoke on 15 September 2024.
“AP, bro, you made $100 million,” he said about Peterson’s earnings. Sharpe talked with co-host Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson.
He said Peterson’s spending might be the reason for his money troubles. Sharpe recalled Peterson’s 30th birthday party in 2015.
The podcast host said the party was over the top. It had camels, lemurs, belly dancers, and a palace-shaped cake. “Dude thought he was Tarzan for real!” Sharpe exclaimed.
Even with a high income, spending too much can cause problems. Peterson’s financial issues are a living example of it.
Additional Information
- Celebrity Net Worth updated Adrian Peterson’s wealth to $1 million in November 2024.
- The former professional football’s parents are former collegiate athletes, Nelson Peterson and Bonita Jackson.
- Adrian had an older brother who passed away in an accident caused by a drunk driver when he was 7.
- When he was 13, his father was arrested for money laundering and dealing with crack cocaine.
