Former NFL MVP Adrian Peterson Sentenced to Community Service Following DWI Guilty Plea

Retired NFL star Adrian Peterson pleads guilty to a 2025 DWI charge in Richfield, receiving a stayed jail sentence and 30 hours of community service.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 11, 2026, 9:49 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CBS News

Guilty Plea and Sentencing Details

Adrian Peterson, a seven time Pro Bowl running back and former league MVP, entered a guilty plea last week in a Minnesota court to charges of driving while intoxicated. The conviction follows an incident on April 25, 2025, when Richfield police stopped Peterson for traveling nearly 30 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. According to court documentation, Peterson registered a .14 blood alcohol concentration during a roadside breathalyzer test. The sentencing terms require Peterson to perform 30 hours of community service in lieu of immediate incarceration.

Stipulations of the Judicial Agreement

The court handed down a 90 day jail sentence, though 85 of those days were stayed for a period of one year on the condition that Peterson avoids further legal infractions. Having received credit for one day already served at the time of his arrest, the remaining four days of the sentence will be satisfied through his community service commitment. The arrest occurred notably just hours after Peterson had participated in a media interview at U.S. Bank Stadium during a Draft Party, where he had discussed his desire to return to the field and his mentorship of younger athletes.

A History of Legal Complications

This DWI conviction adds to a growing list of legal matters involving the former NFL star. In December 2024, warrants were issued in Texas for Peterson’s arrest following a failure to appear in court regarding child support litigation. Furthermore, his career was famously sidelined in 2014 after an arrest for assault involving the physical punishment of his four year old son. That previous case resulted in a plea agreement where Peterson paid a $4,000 fine and completed 80 hours of community service.