Patrick Peterson, one of the most important figures in recent Arizona Cardinals history, has officially announced his retirement from the NFL after 13 seasons. The talented cornerback had brief stints with the Vikings and Steelers, and after not seeing any action during the 2024 season, he made the difficult decision to step away from professional football.
In recent years, several players who initially chose to retire eventually found their way back to the field for one last run. But that won’t be the case for Patrick Peterson, who made it clear that the door is firmly closed—for good.
“I wanna, you know, get behind the camera and be able to express my thoughts, input, being able to get the fans and viewers something that they may not know about the game,” Peterson explained during a celebratory press conference. “So, that’s what I want to do because I love the game still, dearly, and I still can play, but I do not want to play. So, let’s just get that out there — I can still play, but I do not want to play. I’m having a good time right now, enjoying my time with the family, golfing with my buddies, still traveling.”
Although Peterson last saw action on the field wearing a Steelers uniform, his deep connection to the Cardinals made it clear that his retirement had to happen in Arizona—there was simply no other way.
Cornerback Patrick Peterson #21 of the Arizona Cardinals walks onto the field during the first half of the NFL game against the San Francisco 49ers at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona.
“It was a no-brainer,” Peterson said. “You know, there was a lot of things said and, you know, it wasn’t the greatest departure, but at the end of the day this is where my legacy is — this is where my legacy started. Me and (Cardinals owner) Mr. (Michael) Bidwill had an opportunity to have conversations leading up to this and, like I said, it was a no-brainer because being able to achieve some of the things that I achieved as an Arizona Cardinal, only so many people had the opportunity to do that, like going to eight straight Pro Bowls, a three-time All-Pro one time as a specialist — being named to the 2010 All-Decade team.
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“So, my career is here. It lives here. So, like I said, it was a no-brainer for me to come back here and retire a Cardinal where it all started,” the talented cornerback finally concluded.
The final reflection on his NFL career
As Patrick Peterson steps away from the game, he does so as one of the premier cornerbacks of his generation—an eight-time Pro Bowler, a three-time All-Pro, and a cornerstone of the Arizona Cardinals for a decade. His blend of athleticism, intelligence, and leadership set the standard at his position for years.
“This is a young man’s game now,” Peterson said. “You see all these grays on my chin now. Quite frankly, at my position, I’m not accepted anymore, but I can live with that because, at the end of the day, I had a great 13-year career. There’s no regrets.
“Me and my wife, we talked about this ever since I wasn’t able to be picked up last year. I’m perfectly fine with my decision. I’m very, very happy where I’m at in life and my career. My cement is dry now. So, now it’s in God’s hands if I did enough to be where I really want to be at the end of my career, and that’s football heaven.”
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