Cordarrelle Patterson Bio
Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed “Flash,” is an American professional football running back born on March 17, 1991, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. He is widely recognized as one of the most versatile utility players of his era, with a career built around explosive kick returning, occasional wide receiver duty, and downhill running back production. Patterson attended Northwestern High School in Rock Hill before playing college football at Hutchinson Community College and the University of Tennessee.
Selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, Patterson has also spent time with the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, and Pittsburgh Steelers. He is regarded as one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history, holding the league record for career kickoff return touchdowns. Patterson is a Super Bowl champion, a four-time First-team All-Pro, a four-time Pro Bowl selection, and a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Early Life and Background
Cordarrelle Patterson grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he attended Northwestern High School. A multi-sport athlete, Patterson played football and basketball and competed on the track and field team, becoming a three-year letterman in sprints and jumps. He was coached by Jimmy Wallace and was a productive receiver in high school, finishing his senior year in 2008 with 75 catches for 944 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading Northwestern to the state Class 4A Division II championship game and earning All-State recognition.
After his senior year, Patterson began a post-graduate year at North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy, but he did not play football there. He left before the spring semester and enrolled at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, where his career as a return specialist and offensive playmaker began to take shape. His track and field background, including personal bests of 10.33 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.19 seconds in the 200 meters, gave him the elite speed that would later define his professional reputation.
Path to American Football
At Hutchinson Community College, Patterson emerged as one of the most dynamic junior college players in the country. He was recognized as a National Junior College Athletic Association All-American in both 2010 and 2011, and he set more than a dozen school records, including marks for career receiving yards, career receptions, career total touchdowns, and career kickoff return average. As a sophomore, he was named the 2011 Jayhawk Conference Offensive Player of the Year, balancing work as a receiver, runner, and returner.
Patterson transferred to the University of Tennessee for the 2012 season, joining the Volunteers as a highly touted five-star junior college recruit. He made an immediate impact, finishing the year with 1,858 all-purpose yards, a school record at the time, and 10 total touchdowns despite the team’s 5-7 record. He earned First-team All-SEC honors and declared for the 2013 NFL Draft on January 9, 2013, becoming one of the most intriguing prospects in the country.
Cordarrelle Patterson Career
Early Career (2013-2014)
Patterson began his NFL career with the Minnesota Vikings in 2013, and his rookie year was spectacular. He set the NFL record for the longest kickoff return with a 109-yard score against the Green Bay Packers, tied the NFL record for the longest play from scrimmage, and was voted a Pro Bowl starter and First-team All-Pro as a kick returner. He also contributed as a receiver, finishing with 45 catches for 469 yards and four touchdowns.
The 2014 season was a difficult adjustment. Under new head coach Mike Zimmer and offensive coordinator Norv Turner, Patterson saw his receiving production drop sharply, and he finished with only 33 catches for 384 yards and one touchdown. By the end of the year, he had fallen to fourth on the wide receiver depth chart, and his role was reduced primarily to return duties.
Minnesota Vikings Breakthrough (2015-2016)
Patterson’s role in 2015 was largely limited to special teams, where he remained a dangerous returner. He added two more kick return touchdowns, including scores against the Oakland Raiders and Seattle Seahawks, and continued to provide value on coverage units. Although his offensive snaps dwindled to just two receptions, he remained one of the most feared return men in the league.
In 2016, Patterson returned to the Pro Bowl and earned his second career First-team All-Pro selection as a returner, reinforcing his place among the league’s elite special teams players. He played in 16 games with eight starts, recording 52 receptions for 453 yards and two touchdowns while adding another return touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals. By the end of his Vikings tenure, he had firmly established himself as a foundational special teams figure for the franchise.
Oakland Raiders Era (2017)
On March 13, 2017, Patterson signed a two-year, $8.5 million contract with the Oakland Raiders. He joined a receiver group that included Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper, Seth Roberts, and Johnny Holton, and he was used in a versatile offensive role that featured rushes, receptions, and kick returns. He scored a 43-yard rushing touchdown against the New York Jets and added a 47-yard rushing touchdown against the Los Angeles Chargers during the season.
Patterson finished his lone Raiders season with 31 receptions for 309 yards, 13 carries for 121 yards and two rushing touchdowns, and 19 kick returns for 538 yards across 16 games and two starts. His time in Oakland showed that he could be a productive change-of-pace running back in addition to being a top-flight returner, foreshadowing the role he would embrace later in Atlanta.
New England Patriots Era (2018)
Patterson was traded to the New England Patriots on March 18, 2018, in a deal that sent him and a 2018 sixth-round pick to New England for a 2018 fifth-round pick. He became an immediate contributor on offense and special teams, highlighted by a 55-yard receiving touchdown against the Miami Dolphins, a 95-yard kick return touchdown against the Chicago Bears, and a 61-yard rushing performance against the Green Bay Packers. He finished the regular season with 21 receptions for 247 yards and three touchdowns, plus 42 carries for 228 yards and a touchdown.
In the postseason, Patterson played a key supporting role as the Patriots captured Super Bowl LIII. He contributed two receptions for 14 yards, a 38-yard kick return, and seven rushing yards in the 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, earning his first Super Bowl ring and cementing his reputation as a do-everything contributor on a championship roster.
Chicago Bears Era (2019-2020)
Patterson signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Chicago Bears on March 13, 2019, and quickly delivered some of the most explosive moments of his career. He tied the NFL record for the most career kickoff return touchdowns with a 104-yard score against the Minnesota Vikings, breaking Gale Sayers’ franchise record in the process. He also posted a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown against the New Orleans Saints and was voted to the Pro Bowl as a starter, leading the NFC in kickoff return average.
In 2020, Patterson led the NFL in kickoff returns and ranked near the top in yards per return, earning his fourth Pro Bowl selection and his fourth First-team All-Pro nod. He also took on a larger rushing role, finishing the season with career highs of 64 rushing attempts and 232 rushing yards. His two-year Bears tenure represented a renaissance, as he reminded the league of his unique ability to impact the game in all three phases.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2021-2023)
Patterson signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons on April 15, 2021, and delivered the most productive offensive season of his career. He posted career highs across the board with 153 rushes for 618 yards, 52 receptions for 548 yards, and 11 total touchdowns, and he was ranked 73rd by his peers on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022. He also recorded three receiving touchdowns in a single game against Washington, and 108 rushing yards with two rushing touchdowns against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
After re-signing with Atlanta on a two-year, $10.5 million deal in March 2022, Patterson added a 103-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Chicago Bears on November 20, 2022, his ninth career return score, which set the all-time NFL record. He finished 2022 with 144 carries for 695 yards and eight touchdowns, but injuries limited him to 13 games. In 2023, his role shrank behind rookie Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, and he appeared in 14 games primarily as a complementary back and returner.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2024)
On April 1, 2024, Patterson signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he served primarily as a third-string running back and kick returner. The Steelers described him as a hard-nosed runner with the agility to make defenders miss, and he was used both out of the backfield and as a wide receiver in select packages. He finished the 2024 regular season with 12 receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown, along with 32 rushes for 135 yards, helping Pittsburgh reach the playoffs as the AFC’s number six seed.
On July 28, 2025, Patterson was released by the Steelers, opening the next chapter of his career. His versatility, special teams value, and championship experience continue to make him an attractive option for teams seeking a veteran utility player and elite return specialist.
Driving Style and Strengths
Patterson is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound running back whose game is built on rare straight-line speed, balance through contact, and the ability to line up almost anywhere on the field. He excels on perimeter runs, kickoffs, and jet motion concepts, where his track background gives him an explosive first step. He has built a reputation as a selfless, detail-oriented teammate who embraces hybrid roles on offense, special teams, and occasionally defense, as he showed briefly at safety for the Falcons.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Patterson’s signature moments are his 109-yard kickoff return touchdown against the Green Bay Packers as a rookie, his 104-yard return against the Vikings that tied the NFL career record, and his record-breaking 103-yard return against the Bears in 2022 that set the all-time mark with his ninth career return score. He is also a Super Bowl LIII champion with the New England Patriots and a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team.
Cordarrelle Patterson Career Wins
Cordarrelle Patterson’s career has been defined less by traditional win totals and more by his unique ability to flip field position and score in the return game. Across his time with the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, Atlanta Falcons, and Pittsburgh Steelers, he has been a steady contributor on special teams and a championship-level utility player on offense.
Series Highlights
Patterson’s first NFL win as a returner came in his second career game against the Chicago Bears in 2013, when he opened the scoring with a 105-yard kickoff return touchdown, the first return score the Bears had allowed in years. He has since added return touchdowns with the Vikings, Patriots, Bears, and Falcons, and his 103-yard return against the Bears in 2022 stands as the most recent in a long line of signature plays. His most recent playoff appearance came with the Steelers in the 2024 AFC Wild Card Round against the Baltimore Ravens.
Other Wins and Performances
Beyond the NFL, Patterson earned back-to-back NJCAA All-American honors at Hutchinson Community College in 2010 and 2011, and he was named the 2011 Jayhawk Conference Offensive Player of the Year. At the University of Tennessee, he was a First-team All-SEC selection in 2012 and set a school record with 1,858 all-purpose yards. His track and field success, including personal bests of 10.33 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.19 seconds in the 200 meters, also stands as a notable performance line outside of football.
Cordarrelle Patterson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Cordarrelle Patterson was raised in Rock Hill, South Carolina, by his mother, Catherine, alongside his brother, Charles, and his sister, Crystal. His mother has been a central figure in his life and career, and his family supported his athletic development from a young age. Patterson’s track and field background at Northwestern High School gave him the speed foundation that has defined his professional career.
Personal Life
Patterson married his wife, Taylor Quick, in July 2024. The couple has four children, and in 2017 they experienced the loss of a son during pregnancy. In December 2021, Patterson wore custom cleats during a game to raise awareness for pregnancy and infant loss, a tribute that reflected the family’s personal journey. Off the field, Patterson is known for his charitable work and his close ties to his Rock Hill community.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marks a new chapter for Cordarrelle Patterson, who was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on July 28, 2025, after spending 2024 as a third-string running back and kick returner. As a free agent, Patterson is widely expected to draw interest from teams in need of a veteran return specialist and a versatile offensive contributor. His track record of nine career kickoff return touchdowns, the most in NFL history, makes him a unique free agent target.
Wherever Patterson lands in 2025, he is expected to be deployed primarily as a kickoff returner and a situational running back, with possible work as a wide receiver or motion player. His value in the return game, paired with his red-zone rushing production during his Atlanta years, gives offensive coordinators multiple ways to feature him without leaning on him for a full three-down role. His championship experience with the Patriots also adds locker room value for a contender.
At 35 years old, Patterson continues to defy the typical career arc for a return specialist, and his 2025 plans will be closely watched around the league. Whether he returns to Pittsburgh, signs with a new team, or steps into a reduced role, his place among the all-time great return men in NFL history is already secure.