The 25 Fittest Football Players

Adrian Peterson – Running Back – Minnesota Vikings

Easily one of the best players in the league, Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson has been torching the competition since he first stepped foot on an NFL field. He’s not only been the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, a Pro Bowl MVP, and the fifth fastest player in NFL history to rush for 5,000 yards, but Peterson has actually run for over 1,000 yards in every year he’s been in the league until 2011 (when an injury shortened his season to only 12 games)—and even then he only came up 30 yards shy of the mark. And while his statistics might overshadow those of our fittest player, Peterson comes a very close second.

The 6'1", 217-pound back is a beast both on and off the field (just ask the Houston Police Department). “All Day” spends just about that much time in the gym (when he’s not on the field, that is) working on his calves, quads, and hammies to maintain the game breaking speed that helped him run a 4.4 second 40-yard dash. Men’s Fitness caught up with Peterson during his rookie season and got the scoop on how his NFL diet also helps the explosive running back stay lean. “I try to eat a lot of baked foods, fish, chicken, potatoes, stuff like that. Grab me a Muscle Milk. That helps,” said Peterson. Whatever it is, it’s clearly working.