Longtime NFL running back Adrian Peterson was arrested hours before Super Bowl LVI on Sunday, according to TMZ, but the former MVP won't face a felony domestic violence charge stemming from an incident at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Peterson was initially booked for the charge, but a representative from the Los Angeles district attorney's office said it elected not to charge the NFL running back (per TMZ).
Just four miles from SoFi Stadium, home of the big game, Peterson was reportedly removed from a plane attempting to take off for Houston after an apparent verbal and physical altercation between Peterson and his wife, Ashley Brown.
Law enforcement informed TMZ that the 36-year-old running back, last seen in a brief stint with the Seahawks in 2021, was booked at LAX after airport police received a morning call reporting a disturbance on an aircraft. Peterson was reportedly attempting to remove his wife's wedding ring, which led to the incident. The case will be sent to the Los Angeles City Attorney, which could still bring misdemeanor domestic violence charges against Peterson.
Peterson and his wife have since acknowledged a verbal altercation in a statement to TMZ, via a spokesperson: "Earlier today, Adrian and his wife Ashley had a verbal argument on a flight, and he was removed from the plane. This is a private misunderstanding between husband and wife and we anticipate it will all be resolved shortly."
Peterson and Brown were in the area the night before, per TMZ, for a Super Bowl event. The former Vikings star, a seven-time Pro Bowler who has led the NFL in rushing three times, spent time with both the Titans and Seahawks in 2021. He's been on six different times over the last five years. He infamously served an NFL suspension back in 2014 after a grand jury indicted him on charges of reckless or negligent injury to a child.
