Patrick Peterson is calling it a career -- and he will make the official announcement back where it all started.
The eight-time Pro Bowl cornerback will be in Arizona on Monday to retire as a member of the Cardinals, the club that selected him with the No. 5 overall pick in 2011, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Friday.
Peterson's stellar career concludes after 13 NFL seasons, beginning with ten illustrious campaigns with the Cardinals before making stops in Minnesota and Pittsburgh, where the 34-year-old spent his final year in 2023.
Calling it a career in the desert is perfectly fitting for Peterson.
It was in Arizona where Peterson burst onto the NFL scene, earning Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors as a play-making punt returner who notched four touchdown scores to set the rookie record (and tie the NFL record) for the most punt return TDs in a single season all-time.
But it was his talent as a lockdown corner that separated Peterson from the rest.
Quarterbacks quickly grew wary of throwing Peterson's way, frustrating receivers in the process and creating a sizeable black hole for opposing offenses to work around. Peterson followed up his rookie campaign with seven straight Pro Bowl nods as the CB covering opposing team's No. 1 wideout, becoming one of five defensive players in the Super Bowl era to make the Pro Bowl in each of his first 8 NFL seasons (Aaron Donald, Derrick Thomas, Lawrence Taylor and Joe Greene), according to NFL Research.
Peterson also earned two more All-Pro honors in that time, and his dominant tenure with the Cardinals will forever be recognized by his selection to the 2010s All-Decade team.
Following the 2020 season, Peterson signed with the Vikings as a free agent and spent two seasons in Minnesota as a reliable veteran. Even during his age-32 season in 2022, Peterson made plays with five picks for the playoff-bound Vikes.
The Steelers inked Peterson in 2023 to man that same type of role and he turned in a reliable final season that saw two interceptions in 17 games played for another postseason appearance.
While playoff success ultimately eluded him in his fantastic career, Peterson will certainly be remembered as one of the top CBs of his time, finishing with 652 tackles, 36 interceptions (two pick-sixes), 122 pass break-ups and 12 fumble recoveries.
