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Redskins: How Adrian Peterson’s career has mirrored Marcus Allen’s

By Kyle Hundley

LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 15: Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins rushes with the ball in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals during a preseason game at FedExField on August 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MD - AUGUST 15: Adrian Peterson #26 of the Washington Redskins rushes with the ball in the first quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals during a preseason game at FedExField on August 15, 2019 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 13: Running back Marcus Allen #32 of the Los Angeles Raiders runs with the ball as he gets challenged by defensive end Brison Manor #66 of the Denver Broncos during a game at Memorial Coliseum on November 13, 1983 in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won 22-20. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES – NOVEMBER 13: Running back Marcus Allen #32 of the Los Angeles Raiders runs with the ball as he gets challenged by defensive end Brison Manor #66 of the Denver Broncos during a game at Memorial Coliseum on November 13, 1983 in Los Angeles, California. The Raiders won 22-20. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images) /

Similarities (cont.)

Falling out with their original teams

Despite all of the success that Allen had early on, he did not leave Los Angeles on good terms because Al Davis thought he was getting bigger than the Raiders, and held that against him for years.

Much like Allen, Peterson experienced a ton of success in Minnesota but did not leave the Vikings the way he wanted. He got suspended almost the entire 2014 season for an incident with one of his kids. He also only played in three games in 2016, rushing for just 72 yards on a 1.9-yard average. The Vikings decided they were going to move on from him after the season. While Peterson didn’t leave the Vikings in the ugly way Allen left the Raiders, he thought he could still play at a high level and wanted to prove them wrong.

Washington Commanders
Washington Commanders /

Washington Commanders

Continued to experience success elsewhere

After signing with the Chiefs in free agency, Allen helped lead Kansas City to the AFC Championship game in 1993. He helped lead the Chiefs to four playoff appearances in the five years that he was there, including going 13-3 twice (1995 and 1997). Allen scored 12 rushing touchdowns in 1993 to lead the league and earned his sixth Pro Bowl appearance. With the Chiefs, he ran for 3,698 yards and 44 touchdowns.

After leaving the Vikings, Peterson signed with the Saints, only to last four games. He only lasted six in Arizona but has been able to revive his career with the Redskins, showing he still has tread on the tires. Since coming to DC, Peterson has rushed for 1,940 yards and 12 touchdowns in two seasons as he continues to climb the list of all-time leading rushers. He was able to log his eighth 1,000-yard season in 2018. Peterson passed Curtis Martin for fifth place all-time on the rushing yards list last year.

Stretches in careers where there was little usage 

After being the featured back early in his career, Allen had three seasons in a four-year stretch where he didn’t get 70 carries. From 1989 to 1992, Allen had just 378 attempts. In his 1985 MVP season alone, he had 380 carries. Bo Jackson and Eric Dickerson took away a lot of his carries when they arrived.

After having the offense go through him early in his career, Peterson also had three years in a four-year stretch where he didn’t get 160 carries. Peterson had just 21 carries in 2014 and only 37 in 2016. In 2017, he had just 27 carries in four games with the Saints before rushing 129 more times in six games with the Cardinals for 156 total carries on the season. He only played in 10 total games that season.

Both incredibly physical, fluid, natural runners

Marcus Allen was one of the best short-yardage and goal-line runners ever, thriving near the end-zone. Allen scored 123 career rushing touchdowns, the most ever when he retired. He was also one of the most naturally gifted, fluid running backs of all-time. Allen’s legendary touchdown run against the Redskins showcased that, and is still one of the most memorable in Super Bowl history.

Adrian Peterson has also been one of the most naturally gifted running backs in history. Never one to shy away from contact, Peterson has also been one of the league’s most physical runners. Peterson has also been a tough short-yardage back, running for 111 career touchdowns as he looks to pass Allen in the coming seasons.

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