EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings are adding a veteran presence to their cornerbacks room – and not just any veteran presence.
Minnesota reached an agreement with three-time All-Pro Patrick Peterson, the team announced Thursday.
Having spent all 10 seasons of his NFL career thus far with the Cardinals, the 2011 first-round draft pick (No. 5 overall) received eight straight Pro Bowl nods in Arizona (2011-18).
Peterson will turn 31 in July, but he's demonstrated his durability and that he's got plenty left in the tank. He's started 154 games over the past decade, missing just six games in that time due to a suspension in 2019.
In 2020, he started all 16 games for the Cardinals and nabbed three interceptions, which tied with Dre Kirkpatrick for most on the team. Peterson finished the campaign with 61 tackles (league stats) and eight passes defensed.
View photos of new Vikings CB Patrick Peterson who recently joined the team.
Here are five things to know about the Vikings new cornerback:
1. Back in purple
Football fans already knows Peterson looks good in purple.
The cornerback played three seasons (2008-10) for LSU, during which he totaled 135 tackles, seven interceptions, three tackles for loss and one defensive touchdown.
While with the Tigers, Peterson received the Chuck Bednarik Award as the country's best defensive player, the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back and was unanimously voted an All-American.
Peterson shares an alma mater with Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson. And although the two certainly didn't overlap in The Big Easy, Jefferson in December joined Peterson on his CBS podcast, “All Things Covered," to discuss an explosive rookie season in Minnesota. Jefferson was quick to react to reports of the deal:
2. "Old man" of the group
Peterson is two years younger than this particular Vikings writer, but he'll be seen as an old man on a young Vikings roster – and especially in the cornerbacks room.
As of his agreement with Minnesota, Peterson will be the fifth-oldest player in the Vikings locker room behind punter Britton Colquitt (will turn 36 on March 20), long snapper Andrew DePaola (33), quarterback Kirk Cousins (32) and safety Harrison Smith (32). He just barely beats out receiver Adam Thielen, who will turn 31 a month after Peterson.
3. Proud husband
Peterson is married to Dr. Antonique Peterson, who has been working on the frontlines throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the pandemic first hit the U.S. in March 2020, Antonique was in her second year of a family medicine residency at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix.
"I tell my wife all the time, she's one of the strongest women that I've ever seen," Peterson told ESPN’s Josh Weinfuss last spring.
Antonique and Patrick Peterson have two young daughters, Paityn and Parker.
4. Football family
Peterson isn't the only one in his family who's made a name for himself on the gridiron.
Among his maternal cousins are former cornerback Bryant McFadden, with whom he hosts "All Things Covered"; former defensive back Walter McFadden; and former receivers Sinorice Moss and Santana Moss.
5. Heart for giving back
Over 10 seasons in Arizona, Peterson has made a consistent effort to give back to the community he and his family have called home.
From hosting turkey giveaways for Thanksgiving to a "Shop with a Jock" holiday shopping event for youth and his Patrick Peterson Celebrity Golf Tournament, Peterson is dedicated to making a difference.
