Minnesota Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson had a bounce back season at age 30 in 2015 after a distracting and terrible 29-year-old season in 2014.

Peterson rushed for 1,485 yards to lead the NFL in rushing for the 3rd time in his career. The Vikings back also lead the NFL in touchdowns scored, and what Peterson showed us is that he isn’t slowing down yet.

As Peterson gets ready for his 10th season in the NFL at 31-year-old, Peterson tells Peter King of the Monday Morning Quarterback that he believes he can play at a high level in the NFL until age 40:

At 31, he’s trying to stave off what time does to all running backs. Peterson said: “I honestly think I can do this, and do it at a high level, until I’m 40.” That would be historic, obviously. And highly unlikely. But just in case, consider that Peterson starts this season 6,681 yards behind Emmitt Smith for the all-time rushing record. That’s five years averaging 1,337 yards per season from passing Smith. He’d have to have a run of unprecedented health to even have a prayer.

Over the course of his career, Peterson has also amazed us with his ability to recover from injury. When Peterson tore his ACL and MCLs in 2011, many people thought his career might be more. Peterson instead decided to post his first and only 2,000 yard rushing season to show people he was back and better than ever before.

In the NFL, most running backs have shorter careers than the average NFL player. If any running back is going to defy the odds, it’s Peterson.

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