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NFL legend Adrian Peterson has landed himself in hot water once again after racking up a second DUI arrest in the space of six months at the weekend.
Peterson, 40, was found asleep at the wheel before being arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated and the unlawful carrying of a weapon in Sugar Land, Texas, Sunday morning, marking the latest dark chapter of his tumultuous story.
Over the past 15 years the former MVP, who earned over $100million in his 14-year career, has encountered a host of legal problems off the field, even during his days as one of the best running backs in the NFL.
His first major controversy came back in 2011, when he was investigated by police over accusations of sexual battery after an alleged booze-fueled orgy at a party he invited his underage brother to.
According to a police report viewed by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Peterson allegedly brought his teenage brother and another family member, Chris Brown, along for the party. Brown said he paid for the hotel room with a credit card from Peterson's All Day Inc. charity.
However, after a lengthy investigation, Peterson was never charged. He was also never accused of wrongdoing with respect to his charity after maintaining his innocence.
Vikings legend Adrian Peterson was arrested for DWI for the second time in six months Sunday
The ex-NFL star was arrested on suspicion of driving while intoxicated Sunday
Another scandal then followed three years later after he was charged with felony child abuse for hitting his four-year-old son with a tree branch - otherwise known as a 'switch' - in 2014.
Peterson pled no contest to the misdemeanor charge of recklessly assaulting his son after allegedly using a 'switch' to beat him on his back, buttocks, genitals, ankles, and legs as a punishment. He is said to have been punished in a similar manner in his own childhood.
The then-Minnesota Vikings star was put on probation and fined $4,000 while avoiding a jail sentence. He was also placed on unpaid suspension by the NFL until spring 2015.
Eight years later, Peterson made headlines for the wrong reasons again when he was arrested by the LAPD for a domestic violence incident with his wife on a flight from Los Angeles to Houston.
After posting bond, his wife said that he did not put his hands on her - rather that they had a verbal argument. The charges were ultimately dropped.
Peterson, best known for his stint with Minnesota, has faced a host of legal issues since 2011
The Former NFL running back was pictured playing poker shortly before his latest DWI arrest
From December 2024 onwards Peterson's legal issues have proved alarmingly more frequent. That month, it was revealed that two warrants were out for his arrest after he failed to appear in court for two different child support cases.
The Vikings icon faced arrest over the child support payments just three months after he was ordered to pay off around $12.5m in debt stemming from a 2016 loan.
Eight years after taking out a $5.2m loan from a Pennsylvania lending company, that sum grew significantly due to interest and attorney's fees, leading to an $8.3m judgment against him in 2021.
Court-appointed receiver Robert Berleth said in a February 2024 court filing that the approximate collection total was $12.5m, before a Houston judge ordered him to turn over numerous assets as a means toward paying his debt.
And amid his financial difficulties, in October 2024 Peterson pleaded no contest to misdemeanor assault after he was accused of slapping a woman from behind earlier that year.
According to USA Today, he was ordered to pay a $500 fine with no jail time.
After he failed to show in court for the child support cases, Fort Bend County - located just outside Houston - issued capias warrants against Peterson; which differ from traditional arrest warrants that require enough evidence indicating the person committed the crime.
The running back pled no contest to the misdemeanor charge of recklessly assaulting his son with a tree branch in 2014
The two cases list women from Minnesota as the custodial parents involved. In one of those cases, a judge signed a qualified domestic relations order on Monday, which establishes the right of the child to a portion of Peterson's NFL benefits for child support.
The first of his DUI arrests then came in April 2025, just hours after he attended the Vikings' NFL Draft Party in Minnesota the night prior.
According to TMZ, Peterson was pulled over at 3:20am on Friday April 25, with a state trooper alleging that he was travelling nearly 30mph over the speed limit.
He reportedly blew a blood alcohol content of .14 when he was breathalyzed. Jail records show that he was released at 7:31am and that he posted a $4,000 bail.
Just two months later in June, footage emerged capturing Peterson getting into a fist fight during a poker game in Houston, Texas.
The video, obtained by TMZ , shows him squaring up to a fellow poker player over a hand at the JokerStars social club back on May 27.
Peterson told the outlet that he and a friend were involved in a disagreement while at a table. Eventually, 'one thing led to another' and the pair raised their fists at each other.
Peterson was first arrested for DWI back in April after driving 83mph in a 55 mph zone
Video shows him and his buddy throwing punches for several seconds, despite one person trying to separate them.
Peterson ate a number of punches to the face at the beginning of the scrap, but he eventually got back at his counterpart with some haymakers.
TMZ says that bloody wounds were visible on the faces of both people involved. However, Peterson claims his injury came from falling into a chair rather than a punch.
While alcohol was involved, he claimed that wasn't the only reason the situation escalated.
'Me and the guy, we're cool,' Peterson said. 'We've known each other. It was literally like a brother situation. We agreed to disagree, we had our words, and we threw blows -- and that was it.'
He added: 'I felt really bad. It's a situation where I kind of regret it.'
TMZ reported that police were not called and were not investigating. The club did not punish either person involved.
Now, four months after that violent poker altercation, Peterson is in trouble once more after being arrested for driving under the influence again.
The ex-football player hails from Palestine, Texas, which is a small town located around three hours north of Sugar Land, where he was detained.
Peterson was released on bail from the Fort Bend County jail in Texas on Tuesday. His bond totaled $3,000 for both the DWI charge and the unlawful carrying of a weapon charge.
Considered one of the greatest NFL running backs, Peterson was a seven-time Pro Bowler
Sugar Land police officers reported waking him up after responding to a call at a Shell gas station in the Houston suburb around 9am Sunday. They stated that they woke up Peterson, got him out of his vehicle and offered medical assistance, which was declined. He allegedly said he didn't know where he was.
The officers allege he had glossy, red eyes, slurred speech and smelled of alcohol.
Per the court report, Peterson told officers he was trying to drive home from a poker game after only having a few drinks. Officers then said they performed a sobriety test before arresting him on suspicion of DWI.
Afterward, officers reported finding a gun in his glove box.
Peterson last played in the NFL in 2021. He finished with 14,918 career rushing yards and 120 touchdowns on the ground across 15 seasons, the first 10 with the Vikings.
Considered one of the greatest NFL running backs of all-time, the Oklahoma college star was a seven-time Pro Bowler while in Minnesota.
He made history in 2012 as he rushed for 2,097 yards - the second-highest mark of all-time in a single season.
Peterson would later suit up for the likes of the Saints, Cardinals, Commanders, Lions, Titans and Seahawks before his last appearance in 2021.
