Adrian Peterson is not looking to retire anytime soon. Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Could Washington RB Adrian Peterson play until he's 40?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated 6/24/20

Six-time Super Bowl champion quarterback Tom Brady has repeatedly declared that he wants to play until he's at least 45 years old, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers may attempt to keep the signal-caller — who turns 43 in August — around even longer.

Could running back Adrian Peterson also spend another five years in the league?

While recently speaking with TMZ Sports, the 35-year-old said he could play through the 2023 campaign:

Peterson responded when asked how much left he has in the tank:

"Man, why not four more years? Why not? I don’t want to ever be in a position where I look back and say, 'Man, I should have played two more years. I should have played another year.' I want to enjoy it. I’m still chasing a championship. I still can play the game at a high level."

If Peterson would be willing to play beyond his 38th birthday, would he consider chasing history for even longer?

That may depend on if he's able to earn his first Super Bowl ring with Washington or a different franchise by the end of February 2024.

Heading into the upcoming season that remains in doubt because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, Peterson is on 14,216 career rushing yards, 4,139 shy of Emmitt Smith's all-time mark (18,355). Odds are that "All Day" probably won't average 1,000 yards over the next four years.

Assume, though, that Peterson will be within 1,500 or so yards of Smith in early 2024. That could be reachable by December 2025 if Peterson, a physical anomaly for the bulk of his career, stays healthy through the middle of the decade.

Maybe Brady could even hand the ball off to Peterson for the record-breaking run.

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