Adrian Peterson Wants To Play Until He's 40, Pass Emmitt Smith For Career Rushing Yards

Tom Brady isn't the only one planning to chase greatness into his 40s. Apparently, future Hall of Fame running back Adrian Peterson is ready to follow in his footsteps.

No, not from a Super Bowl perspective -- unless Peterson plans on winning seven straight starting in 2021. But there is an achievable goal for the soon-to-be 36-year-old back.

Peterson is only 3,535 rushing yards away from becoming the NFL's all-time leader. As it sits, Emmitt Smith holds the record with 18,355 yards, while Peterson sits at 14,820. The Oklahoma product wants to overtake Smith.

Peterson recently sat down with TMZ, and his two main goals before retirement were the main talking point in the interview. What does he still want to accomplish? Continue playing in the league at 40 years old and rush for 1,500-plus yards.

"I want to live to be a 40-year-old back out there rushing for 1,500 yards and amazing people still," Peterson said, via TMZ.

He also wants to win a Super Bowl and pass Smith in the process.

"I'm going to keep playing, trying to chase the championship," Peterson told TMZ, "and, God willing, within the process of doing that, I'm able to catch Emmitt and pass him."

Both of those will be difficult tasks. There have already been reports of Peterson wanting to join Brady in Tampa Bay, probably in hopes of checking that Super Bowl box. Producing 1,500 yards at the age of 40 is unlikely, but Peterson only needs to average 707 over the next five seasons to catch Smith.

Is that likely? Probably not, but he has averaged 848 yards over the last three seasons, including 604 with the Detroit Lions this season.

We'll see what happens.

Follow Clint Lamb on Twitter @ClintRLamb.