Peterson knows he will see his name in the rafters of State Farm Stadium, but he is waiting his turn.
Patrick Peterson will one day be in the Arizona Cardinals‘ Ring of Honor. He revealed that when he announced his retirement from the NFL as a member of the Cardinals on Monday.
Peterson, the fifth overall pick in the 2011 draft by the Cardinals who played a decade for them, making eight Pro Bowls and three first-team All-Pro teams, had a fantastic NFL career. It didn’t end on great terms when he left the Cardinals after 2020.
In 2018, he requested a trade. In 2019, he was suspended six games for PED use and trying to cover it up.
He badmouthed the organization, most specifically then-general manager Steve Keim after his departure.
But even after he signed with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, he always anticipated coming back and eventually seeing his name among other Cardinals legends.
Peterson said Monday that owner Michael Bidwill talked about the possibility after Peterson left in free agency.
They met after the Super Bowl earlier this year and smoothed things out that had been said.
“We needed to do this (retire a Cardinal) first,” Peterson said. “(Bidwill) told me I’m in line.”
When will it happen? That depends.
“I know I cannot go before Fitzy (Larry Fitzgerald),” Peterson said. “I did tell (Bidwill) that. I do not want to go before Fitzy. So whenever that happens, it’ll be after him.”
While this has not been said, the only reason Fitzgerald is not already in the Ring of Honor would be because of Fitzgerald. When Fitzgerald is ultimately inducted into the Hall of Fame, that is probably when he will want to be honored, put in the Ring of Honor and have his No. 11 jersey retired.
Then, after that, that is when we can anticipate Peterson being honored.
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