Pro Career:
The Cardinals first-round selection (5th overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft, earned Pro Bowl honors and was named first-team All-Pro as a kick returner while also starting all 16 games at cornerback.
Pro Career:
The Cardinals first-round selection (5th overall) in the 2011 NFL Draft, earned Pro Bowl honors and was named first-team All-Pro as a kick returner while also starting all 16 games at cornerback.
2011: Started all 16 games at CB and had a record-setting season as a punt returner, scoring four TDs and totaling 699 yards on 44 returns … tied the NFL single-season record and set the franchise all-time record with four punt return TDs … established an NFL rookie record with 699 punt return yards, which is also a franchise single-season record and ranks as the second-highest single-season total in NFL history (Desmond Howard, 875, 1996) … led the league with four punt return TDs and 699 punt return yards and ranked second with a 15.9-yard return average … selected to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner, becoming the first Cardinal rookie since Anquan Boldin (2003) to earn Pro Bowl honors; joined Johnny Bailey (1992) and Vai Sikahema (1986, 87) as the only players in franchise history to be named to the Pro Bowl as a kick returner … named to the AP All-Pro team as a kick returner, the only rookie named to the team … on defense, totaled 63 tackles and one sack, and tied for second on the team with two INTs and 13 passes defensed … blocked two FGs, helping the Cardinals lead the NFL with five blocked FGs on the season … started at CB in first career NFL game vs. Car (9/11); scored the game-winning TD with an 89-yard punt return in the fourth quarter, which marked the second-longest punt return in franchise history at the time (95 yards, Frank Bernardi, 10/14/56 at Washington); became the first player in Cardinals history to return a punt for a TD in the season opener and it was the third-longest play on opening weekend in team history; became the fifth Cardinals rookie to return a punt for a TD; also recorded three unassisted tackles on defense … collected seven tackles @ Was (9/18) and returned two punts for 30 yards … recorded his first career INT @ Sea (9/25) … totaled a team-leading seven solo tackles and had two passes defensed vs. NYG (10/2) … matched his career high with seven unassisted tackles vs. Pit (10/23) … returned a punt 82 yards for a TD in the second quarter @ Bal (10/30); marked his second punt return TD of the season, becoming the eighth player in franchise history to have at least two punt returns for TDs in a season; became the first player in team history with two career punt returns of 80+ yards … scored the game-winning TD with a franchise-record 99-yard punt return in overtime vs. StL (11/6); became the first player in NFL history with three punt return TDs in his first eight career games; marked just the second game-winning punt return in overtime in NFL history (Kansas City’s Tamarick Vanover, 86 yards vs. San Diego, 10/9/95); was the second-longest punt return in NFL history, behind only the L.A. Rams Robert Bailey’s 103-yard TD return vs. New Orleans on 10/23/94; became the first player in franchise history with three punt return TDs in a season and tied Ollie Matson and Vai Sikahema for the franchise career record; became the first player in Cardinals history and just the eighth player in the NFL since 1970 with a punt return TD in consecutive games; also had his second INT of the season, picking off Sam Bradford on a flea flicker in the first quarter, and collected four tackles and a career-high three passes defensed; named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week … blocked David Akers 30-yard FG attempt in the second quarter @ SF (11/20); also had four unassisted tackles on defense and returned two punts for 22 yards … returned a punt 80 yards for a TD in the third quarter @ StL (11/27); fourth punt return TD gave him the most of any player in franchise history, breaking a tie with Ollie Matson and Vai Sikahema; tied the NFL single-season record with four punt return TDs in a season and is just the second rookie to do so (Jack Christiansen, Detroit, 1951); became the first player in NFL history with four punt return TDs of 80+ yards in a season; combined with his 99-yard punt return TD against the Rams in week nine, joined Vai Sikahema (two against Tampa Bay on 12/21/96) as the only Cardinals with multiple punt return TDs against a single opponent in the same season; also led the DBs with five tackles; named NFL Special Teams Player of the Week; became the first player in team history to win Player of the Week twice in the same season against the same team; won NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November … collected five tackles and matched a career high with three passes defensed vs. Dal (12/4) … recorded his first career sack vs. SF (12/11), helping the Cardinals total five sacks for the second straight game; totaled five tackles and had one QB pressure; also had 44 yards on five punt returns … had a 32-yard punt return in OT that helped lead to the game-winning FG vs. Cle (12/18); collected two tackles on defense … posted one tackle for loss and two passes defensed @ Cin (12/24); also had his first career pass reception on offense; left the game in the second half with an Achilles injury … returned four punts for 63 yards vs. Sea (1/1/12), setting a new rookie record with 699 punt return yards on the season; surpassed previous record-holder Louis Lipps (656, 1984) with a 42-yard return in the second quarter; blocked Steven Hauschka’s 24-yard FG attempt in the third quarter, his second FG block of the season and fifth overall by the Cardinals; also had four tackles on defense.
College:
Played in 39 games (30 starts) and totaled 135 tackles, seven INTs, 22 passes defensed, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in three seasons at LSU before leaving for the NFL following his junior season … one of the nation’s most decorated collegiate players in 2010, winning both the Bednarik Award (nation’s top defender) and the Thorpe Award (nation’s top defensive back) … was the first LSU player to win either award and became the first defensive back to win the Bednarik Award since Michigan’s Charles Woodson in 1997 … scored four TDs during his Tigers career, returning two punts, an INT and a blocked FG for TDs … unanimous All-American selection as a junior in ‘10, became the first player in school history to win the Bednarik Award as the nation’s top defender … also became the first player in LSU history to win the Thorpe Award as the nation’s top DB … earned SEC Defensive Player of the Year and Special Teams Player of the Year honors from the league’s coaches … All-SEC first-team selection as a CB and return specialist … a defensive captain, started all 13 games at right CB and totaled 42 tackles (29 solos), four INTs and six passes defensed … added 1.5 tackles for loss, one QB hurry and blocked a FGA for an LSU defense that ranked in the top 12 nationally in three categories (scoring defense, pass defense and total defense) ... returned two punts for TDs … established school records with 32 kickoffs for 932 yards, ranking first in the SEC and ninth in the country with an average of 29.1 yards per return … 932 kick return yards ranked as the fifth-best total in SEC history and shattered the previous school record of 618 yards, established by Domanick Davis in 1999 … returned 26 punts for 418 yards and two TDs, placing first in the SEC and fourth in the country with an average of 16.1 yards per return … All-SEC second-team choice by the league’s coaches and media and co-recipient of LSU’s Percey E. Roberts Award as the team’s most outstanding defensive player during his sophomore season in ‘09 … earned second-team All-America honors from the Sporting News … started all 13 games at right CB and tallied a career-high 52 tackles (43 solos), two INTs (one of which he returned for a TD) and 13 passes defensed … also recovered one fumble … held Georgia standout WR A.J. Green to just four catches earlier in the year and limited Alabama WR Julio Jones to just three receptions … picked up a blocked FGA and raced 53 yards for a TD in the first quarter at Ole Miss … played in 13 games with four starts as a freshman in ‘08, starting the final four contests of the season, including a bowl win over Georgia Tech ... totaled 41 tackles, an INT, three passes defensed, a forced fumble and a QB hurry.
Personal:
One of the most highly prized recruits in the country, was named the USA Today Defensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2007 at Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, FL) High School and was named to the Parade All-America team and the USA Today All-America Team … played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and was one of six finalists for the U.S. Army Player of the Year Award … totaled 21 tackles and five INTs as a senior, adding 733 yards rushing and 11 TDs on offense … as a junior, earned All-Broward County first-team and 5A All-State second-team honors after totaling seven INTs and 37 tackles … scored six TDs as a junior, three on kickoff returns, two as a receiver and one on the ground … rushed for 213 yards on just 10 carries as a RB … brother, Avery Johnson, is a WR at LSU … went by the name Patrick Johnson (his mother’s maiden name) before formally changing his last name to Peterson in August 2008, to match his biological father, Patrick, Sr. … Sports Administration major.
