By the numbers: Looking back on Patrick Peterson’s NFL career as he retires a Cardinal

On Thursday, NFL cornerback Patrick Peterson hinted at retiring as an Arizona Cardinal, with the Valley being where he spent the first 10 of 13 seasons in the league.

As ESPN’s Adam Schefter does on the regular, he confirmed Peterson will hold a press conference in Tempe on Monday to make his retirement official.

With the eight-time Pro Bowler’s career ending where it took flight, here’s a peek into what he accomplished by the numbers:

201 games

Peterson competed in 201 regular season games from 2011-2023.

The cornerback started all but one game, which came in his last competitive year in the NFL with the Pittsburgh Steelers.

10 years in the desert

Peterson was the fifth overall draft pick in 2011 by the Cardinals during general manager Steve Keim and head coach Ken Whisenhunt’s regime.

He achieved both Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro nods his rookie year, recording 59 solo tackles, two interceptions, one sack and a remarkable four punt return touchdowns.

Arguably the most memorable of those scores was a 99-yard house call against the then-St. Louis Rams on Nov. 6, 2011. Arizona won the game 19-13.

In the punt return category, he posted what would be career highs in touchdowns, return yards (699), yards per return (15.9) and long return (99).

3 All-Pro selections

The LSU Tiger and member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team reeled in three First Team All-Pro selections, all with the Cardinals (2011, ’13, ’15).

In 2011, Von Miller won AP Defensive Player of the Year and Cam Newton won AP Offensive Rookie of the Year. The New York Giants were Super Bowl champions.

Oh, how time flies, and how the NFL landscape has changed.

37 interceptions

Peterson hauled in at least one pick in all 13 seasons, with 29 coming on behalf of the Cardinals.

He had a season-best seven interceptions in his sophomore campaign of 2012 and recorded one in four career playoff games. Peterson made the most out of his lone playoff pick, returning it 72 yards, though the 2016 NFC Championship game was a lopsided affair in favor of the Carolina Panthers, 49-15.

In two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings (2021-22), Peterson had six interceptions. His swansong season with the Steelers (2023) saw two interceptions.

4 punt return TDs

Though Peterson could never replicate his rookie success, four scores is still tied for the most all-time in a single season. Jack Christiansen (Detroit Lions, 1951), Rick Upchurch (Denver Broncos, 1976) and Devin Hester (Chicago Bears, 2007) share the prestige with Peterson.

The now-34-year-old registered 195 career punt returns and 1,816 yards in seven seasons operating in a special teams role with Arizona (2011, ’12, ’13, ’15, ’16, ’17, ’18).

670 total tackles

Peterson, who was clocked at 4.38 seconds for the 40-yard dash at the 2011 NFL Draft, contributed to 670 tackles (629 solo). The speedy corner also forced 19 fumbles and recovered 12 while getting in the backfield for four sacks and 15 tackles for loss.

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