The Minnesota Vikings are on their bye week, so there isn’t a lot happening Sunday, vs recent weekends. But NFL news never dies. Ever. Like Sunday, when video from a recent sports talk show surfaced of former Vikings CB and all-time DB GOAT Patrick Peterson pretty much begging general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to call him.
Peterson, who played two of his 13 NFL seasons in Minnesota (’21, ’22), is currently spending Sundays on his couch, watching football games at home. And on Friday, the 34-year-old, 8x Pro Bowler and 3x All-Pro went on the Zach Gelb Show (Infinity Sports Network), where he told host Zach Gelb (Audacy, Infinity Sports) that he is NOT retired. He’s just waiting for the right team to call.
Patrick Peterson wants back in with the Minnesota Vikings
Gelb mentions the Chiefs, Vikings and Lions as a few of the contenders who would make sense for Peterson. He responds with a yes, and says he is essentially waiting for one of those contending teams to call with the right offer.
Then, the host dives deeper into the Vikings… and Peterson dove right in after him, pretty much admitting that he wants the Minnesota Vikings to bring him back. P2 points to Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores, then dives into just how much he loved playing here.
Gelb: “Patrick Peterson, so how about your future? Like alright, it’s one thing to not be there for training camp, it’s one thing to not be there for the first few weeks of the regular season… are you definitely done [playing football]? If a team like, I don’t know, Minnesota calls you and says, ‘hey Pat you want to join us for the second half of the season’, are you done with the NFL or are you still leaving the book open?”
Peterson: “I’m still leaving the book open, Zach. I’m still training. I’m still working out because, you know, my mind is still in it. It’s not like I cannot physically play or I feel like I can’t physically give my best. I feel like I still have, you know, enough in the tank to help a team win. But, you know, that decision is out of my hands, so for the most part I’m doing everything that I need to do just in case the phone do ring.”
Gelb: “So Kansas City, Minnesota, Detroit, Baltimore any of these teams listening, give Patrick a call is what I’m what I’m hearing”
Peterson: “Exactly.”
Gelb: “I don’t know if they need you, man, but I’d like to see you return, if you are, to Minnesota. I think that’d be fun.”
Peterson: “Oh yeah, I would like to be there too man. I love the coaching staff there. Me and Coach Kevin [O’Connell] had the opportunity to build a solid relationship over the nine months that I was with him. And it’s just a great feel and a great organization to be around, great guys to be around and show up to go to work with every day.”
Would Peterson be a good fit with 2024 Vikings?
Honestly, I love the idea of Patrick Peterson rejoining the Minnesota Vikings for their stretch run. You can never have too many heady, bright cornerbacks in your secondary. Could Brian Flores find a way to plug P2 in next to Byron Murphy Jr, Shaq Griffen and Stephon Gilmore? If so, he’d be a perfect (minimal cost) addition for the upcoming stretch run.
Peterson would know the crowded secondary he’s coming into, so egos shouldn’t be a problem. Would it stunt the growth of Akayleb Evans and other young CBs? Maybe, but when you feel like you have a chance at winning the Super Bowl, you can’t worry about things like that. He’d be a GREAT addition on special teams too.
In his 1st ballot Hall of Fame career, Patrick Peterson has accumulated 36 interceptions and 122 passes defended. Six of those interceptions and 20 passes defended came while playing in Minnesota. He’s also racked up 652 total tackles (111 in MIN) and recovered an incredible 19 fumbles (0 in MIN).
