Patrick Peterson: NFL Locker Rooms Aren’t the Place for Politics

Veteran NFL cornerback Patrick Peterson, a 13-year veteran of the league, believes that political discussions have no place in professional sports locker rooms. Peterson, who played from 2011 to 2023, expressed that such discourse was not only unnecessary but often lacked informed perspectives among players.

Focus on the Game

Peterson, an eight-time Pro Bowl selection, stated in a recent interview that his priority was always on game preparation, not political debates. “I’m not letting politics dwindle its way into how I’m trying to get my team prepared to beat the Cincinnati Bengals or the Pittsburgh Steelers or whoever it may be. I just felt like it was unnecessary,” he explained. He further elaborated that in his view, the locker room is not the appropriate venue for such conversations, suggesting that a significant majority of NFL players, perhaps as many as 80%, are not well-versed in political matters. “For me, I always run my own lane and stay in my own game,” Peterson added.

Politics Creeps into Team Meetings

As Peterson’s career progressed, he observed an increasing frequency of political discussions among teammates, which eventually found their way into official team meetings. “(Politics) crept into a lot of team meetings,” Peterson recalled. “Which I felt like, in my opinion, was unnecessary.” He acknowledged that athletes have a voice and a perceived obligation to speak out, but emphasized that their primary focus should remain on their professional responsibilities. “If you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing on the field, which is your livelihood and what’s keeping lights on in your household, that’s kind of like outside noise to me, especially in the field of work that we’re in,” he stated. Peterson stressed that while players can engage in political activities on their own time, the immediate priority during the season is winning games.

Career Highlights and Early Career

The Arizona Cardinals drafted Peterson as the No. 5 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft after his standout college career at LSU. He spent his first decade in the league with the Cardinals, earning three All-Pro selections. Following his time in Arizona, Peterson played two seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before concluding his NFL career with a single season with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was recognized for his contributions to the game by being named to the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Over his 201 career games, Peterson amassed 36 interceptions, 122 pass deflections, 652 total tackles, and four sacks.

A Notable Moment in 2017

Peterson recalled a specific instance in 2017 when the Cardinals faced the Dallas Cowboys. In response to then-President Donald Trump’s call for owners to fire players who knelt during the national anthem, the Cardinals team linked arms before the game. Political conversations, Peterson noted, began to gain more traction around 2016.

Beyond Football: The American Century Championship and AI

Looking ahead, Peterson is preparing to participate in the American Century Championship, a celebrity golf tournament held annually at Edgewood Golf Course in Lake Tahoe from July 10-12. He described the event as a significant family affair, with his daughters eagerly anticipating the trip each year. “My girls look forward to going to Lake Tahoe each and every year to not only walk with dad, but to go out on the lake,” Peterson shared. “Go on top the mountain and doing the zipline and things like that. So, the memories that they’re able to create for the families that are involved are countless.”

Interestingly, Peterson is leveraging artificial intelligence to refine his golf game for the tournament. He has been using an AI coaching application on his phone, which analyzes swing videos to identify flaws and suggest improvements. “I’m using this app called Performance Golf. It’s basically a app that you can download on your phone, and you can basically have a AI coach,” he explained. “You can video yourself, you can use any club, any swing, putter, wedge, chip, pitch, driver, irons, whatever you need that you need help in or want to see better results in, you can video yourself, submit the video, and then what’ll happen is the AI coach will tell you what your flaw is what you need to work on to have better results. And I’ve been using it for the last four months and it’s helped my game tremendously.” The tournament is scheduled to be broadcast on NBC and Peacock.