Patrick Peterson
Patrick De'mon Peterson Jr. (né Johnson; born July 11, 1990) is an American football cornerback who is a free agent. He played college football for the LSU Tigers, where he won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the best defensive player in the country, and the Jim Thorpe Award as the best defensive back. He is regarded as one of the greatest cornerbacks of his era.[1][2]
For the runner, see Patrick Peterson (runner). For the actor, see Patrick Petersen.Personal information
July 11, 1990
Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
203 lb (92 kg)
Blanche Ely
(Pompano Beach, Florida)
LSU (2008–2010)
2011 / Round: 1 / Pick: 5
652
652
36
408
122
2
12
1,891
6
Peterson was selected fifth overall by the Arizona Cardinals in the first round of the 2011 NFL draft. A member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team, Peterson was selected to the Pro Bowl in each of his first eight seasons in the NFL and was named to the All-Pro first-team on three occasions. In 2021, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent after 10 seasons with Arizona. In 2023, he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Professional career[edit]
Pre-draft[edit]
Coming out of LSU in 2011, Peterson was a projected first-round pick by NFL draft experts and scouts. He was a consensus top-five pick and was thought to be the best player in the draft by multiple analysts.[50] Peterson attended the NFL combine and completed all of the required combine drills. On March 14, 2011, he participated at LSU's pro day and opted to stand on his combined numbers and only perform positional drills for scouts and team representatives. Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera, and New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton were among the team representatives that attended LSU's pro day to scout Peterson, Kelvin Sheppard, Drake Nevis, Joseph Barksdale, Stevan Ridley, Lazarius Levingston, Terrence Toliver, and multiple others.[51] He was ranked the top cornerback prospect in the draft by NFL analyst Mike Mayock, NFLDraftScout.com, Foxsports analyst Brian Billick, and Sports Illustrated.[52][53][54]
Personal life[edit]
Peterson was born Patrick Johnson, the name he held throughout his high school career & enrollment to LSU, before he changed his legal name to Patrick Peterson Jr. in August 2008. His parents are Patrick and Shandra Peterson of Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is related to several fellow NFL players: he is maternal cousins of Bryant McFadden, Walter McFadden, Sinorice Moss and Santana Moss and a second cousin of Zack Moss.[157]
Peterson's younger brother, Avery, was a member of the ESPNU 150 Watch List in 2012. He also legally changed his surname from Johnson to Peterson.[158]
Peterson lives in Scottsdale with his wife Antonique, a physician.[159][160] The couple have two children.[161] Peterson revealed he had type two diabetes in 2015.[97]