Adrian Peterson is currently facing financial challenges. The former standout running back is dealing with substantial debt, despite having earned over $100 million during his illustrious NFL career.
A Houston judge has ordered him to address approximately $12 million in debt, which means he must part with a collection of assets to cover these obligations.
In 2016, Peterson secured a $5.2 million loan from a lending company in Pennsylvania to pay off other creditors, intending to clear it within five months. However, by 2021, the balance had ballooned to $8.3 million, and with legal fees and a 9% annual interest rate, the total amount has nearly tripled, according to USA Today.
Earlier this month, more details came to light about Peterson’s financial predicaments coinciding with an auction of some of his trophies, including game balls, jerseys, and memorabilia. As reported by USA Today, certain items were fetching prices exceeding $10,000. However, the auction was stopped as he was being pursued to settle debts, raising concerns about the legality of auctioning those items in the context of the debt collection.
This situation highlights a steep decline for the Oklahoma native. At the height of his career, few could rival his talent on the football field. Drafted No. 7 in the 2007 NFL Draft, Peterson finished with 14,918 rushing yards and 126 total touchdowns. He earned the MVP award in 2012 and was named a Pro Bowler seven times. The 2007 Rookie of the Year largely played for the Minnesota Vikings before moving between various teams from 2017 to 2021.
According to Spotrac, Peterson’s most lucrative moment came in 2011 when he inked a new contract that featured a $12 million bonus on top of his annual salary of $8.25 million. He earned a total of $94,708,319 while with the Vikings, along with several million during his subsequent stints across six other teams.
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