A couple of days ago, on social media, I saw a clip of former Chicago Bears tailback Adrian Peterson from when he was in college at Georgia Southern University, and it just made me think of #29 in the Navy and Orange.
The best Run I’ve ever seen. pic.twitter.com/8P6Gfxan3m
— Coach Dan Casey (@CoachDanCasey) May 30, 2025
Peterson played in 106 games for the Bears from 2002 to 2009, mostly as a reserve and special teamer, but every time he stepped on the field, he gave his all.
He ran the ball 311 times for 1,283 yards and eight touchdowns, caught 78 passes for 665 yards, returned 14 kicks for 203 yards, and amassed 80 tackles.
But before Chicago, he was one of the greatest collegiate running backs of all time and was enshrined in the 2017 College Football Hall of Fame. His 6,559 rushing yards in regular season games are still the most ever in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision, which was called Division I-AA when Peterson was running wild for the GSU Eagles.
He was a four-time All-American and the first sophomore to win the Walter Payton Award, which is given to the best offensive player in Division I Football Championship Subdivision.
Here are some highlights from his time in college.
And here are his touchdowns while a member of the Bears.