Adrian Peterson arrived to a stadium full of supporting fans two hours before his matchup against the Carolina Panthers yesterday (Oct. 13).  The NFL MVP found solace in being on the field as he mourns the death of his two-year-old son.

“You may ask why? God wants good to come from it … We mourn and grieve but heaven has the baddest welcoming party for my son. That knowledge gives me peace,” the Minnesota Vikings player wrote in a text to Fox Sports sideline reporter, Laura Okmin.

Peterson pointed out that he is no stranger to playing through tragedy after hitting the field following the death of his half-brother several years ago.

“I’m still hurt and feel the pain of life, but I’m able to function because of the peace and joy of knowing my loved ones are in a much better place,” he said.

According to RadarOnline, Peterson had recently learned that he had a son by a woman he had a brief affair with and had not yet met the little boy.

Medical and law enforcement personnel responded to the boy’s home after his mother’s new boyfriend, Joseph Patterson, called 911 for saying the boy was “choking.” It was later determined that he had been beaten. – Alley Olivier