A quiet poker evening in Houston took a dramatic turn last month, capturing headlines when an unexpected brawl erupted involving NFL great Adrian Peterson and poker pro Joe “Baby Joe” Castaneda. As the dust settles, Castaneda is unpacking the events that led to the chaos, sharing his side of the story.
Known for his presence at high-stakes poker games, Castaneda shed light on the viral altercation that unfolded at a private social club on May 27. Surprisingly, the clash was not sparked by the typical triggers of poker nights—money or cards—but rather by an exchange of words, allegedly targeting one of Castaneda’s friends.
“It was something [Peterson] said that crossed the line,” Castaneda explained in an interview with TMZ Sports. “I stood up for my buddy, and off it went.”
Caught on camera, the scene showed a flurry of punches exchanged between Castaneda and Peterson, drawing the startled attention of other players. The footage ends abruptly before the confrontation is defused, but not before leaving a visual impact.
Despite the physical encounter, Castaneda, at 47, recalls a calming of tensions not long afterward. The cooling-off period led to an agreement between the two to put the incident behind them. “It was a fight—we got it out of our system,” Castaneda shared. “Once I return from Vegas, we should be cool playing poker again.”
Highlighting their history, Castaneda mentioned that he and Peterson, who is 40, have shared countless poker nights in the past, emphasizing that there’s no lingering animosity. No whispers of police reports or lawsuits—just a dust-up borne out of heated emotions.
“We’ve been in the same rooms plenty of times,” he reiterated. “This time, it got heated. But that’s it. We move on.”
Peterson, celebrated for his hard-hitting style on the football field, has yet to publicly address the scuffle. However, the willingness of both to return to the poker table suggests this bout might just be a blip in their ongoing poker rivalry.
As for Castaneda, his sights are set on the bright lights of Las Vegas. What comes next? Perhaps another poker night with Peterson, but this time keeping the competitive spirit confined to the cards.
