One of the NFL’s best cornerbacks of the 2010s is calling it a career.
Patrick Peterson is retiring after 13 seasons in the NFL, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Peterson last suited up for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2023 and started 16 games for the team.
He will reportedly be back in Arizona on April 14 to retire as a member of the Cardinals.
Arizona drafted Peterson No. 5 overall in the 2011 NFL draft, one of the best classes in the modern era. The first round of that draft class featured Von Miller, Julio Jones, J.J. Watt, Tyron Smith, Cameron Jordan, Cameron Heyward, Cam Newton and A.J. Green. Later picks included Jason Kelce (sixth round, No. 191 overall) and Richard Sherman (fifth round, No. 154 overall).
Peterson’s first 10 seasons in Arizona justified the Cardinals taking him high in that 2011 draft. He made the Pro Bowl every year from 2011 to 2018 and was a first team All-Pro cornerback three times, including his rookie season in 2011. He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s All-Decade team for the 2010s.
Peterson last played for the Cardinals in 2020. He signed with Minnesota the following year and spent 2021 and 2022 with the Vikings before his final year with Pittsburgh in 2023.
Patrick Peterson stats
Over 13 seasons in the league, Peterson started 200 games at cornerback and had at least one interception every season. Here are his career statistics:
Interceptions: 36 (two pick-sixes)
Passes defensed: 122
Forced fumbles: 2
Fumble recoveries: 12
Tackles: 652
Tackles for loss: 15
Sacks: 4.0
Patrick Peterson awards
Peterson was one of the most decorated players of his generation at cornerback with the following honors:
First team All-Pro: 3 times (2011, 2013, 2015)
Pro Bowls: 8 (2011-18)
Starting cornerback on NFL 2010s All-Decade team
Will Patrick Peterson make the Hall of Fame?
Using Pro Football Reference’s Hall of Fame monitor metric, Peterson has a very good chance of making it. That metric puts his career value at 86.10, which is below the average Hall of Fame defensive back value (97) but ahead of many modern inductees like Ronde Barber (81.43) and Ty Law (74.03).
The average Hall of Fame defensive back has three All-Pro honors and seven Pro Bowl nods. Peterson meets both criteria.
Anecdotally, he was considered one of the best cornerbacks in the league during his time in the NFL along with Hall of Famer Darrelle Revis and Sherman.
Peterson doesn’t have gaudy interception numbers because teams often didn’t look his way, but that shouldn’t keep him out of consideration for Canton.
