Jaret Patterson Bio
Jaret Patterson (born December 23, 1998) is an American professional football running back for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 5 ft 8 in and listed at 195 lb, Patterson rose to prominence at the University at Buffalo, where he set multiple school records and tied the NCAA Division I FBS single-game rushing touchdown record. He signed with the Washington Football Team as an undrafted free agent in 2021 and has since spent time with both the Commanders and the Chargers. He is listed as the Chargers’ No. 32 on the active roster.
Born in Glenn Dale, Maryland, Patterson built his reputation as a compact, high-volume runner with strong goal-line instincts and a nose for the end zone. Through his first four NFL seasons he has played both on offense and on special teams, contributing as a runner, receiver, and return man.
Early Life and Background
Jaret Patterson grew up in the Maryland suburbs outside Washington, D.C., and attended St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland. At Pallotti he played football alongside future NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young, who would later become a Washington Commanders teammate. During his senior season Patterson rushed for 2,045 yards and 23 touchdowns, and in one game against Riverdale Baptist he generated 558 all-purpose yards. He earned All-State Honorable Mention recognition for his play.
Patterson was not as heavily recruited out of high school as his twin brother James, and the pair committed to the University at Buffalo together as a package deal. The brothers grayshirted in the fall of 2017 and joined the Buffalo Bulls program full-time for spring practice in 2018, beginning the climb that would later define Patterson’s college career.
Path to American Football
Patterson’s path to the professional level ran almost entirely through the Mid-American Conference. After settling into the Buffalo program in 2018, he immediately produced as a freshman, running for 1,013 yards and 14 touchdowns. That debut season earned him MAC Freshman of the Year honors and a spot on the All-MAC Second-team, signaling that his high school production would translate to the FBS level.
The 2019 season confirmed his breakout trajectory. Patterson set a Buffalo single-season rushing record with 1,799 yards and added a school-record 19 rushing touchdowns, leading the MAC in rushing yards and ranking fifth nationally. He closed the year by rushing for 173 yards and two touchdowns in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl, claiming offensive MVP as the Bulls secured their first bowl victory in program history. He was named First-team All-MAC for the second straight season in 2020, the same year he won MAC Offensive Player of the Year and the Vern Smith Leadership Award as the conference’s most valuable player.
Jaret Patterson Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Patterson’s early college career was defined by record-setting consistency. His freshman totals of 1,013 yards and 14 touchdowns made him an instant contributor and the conference’s top newcomer. By his sophomore year he had rewritten the Buffalo record book, setting single-season marks for rushing yards and rushing touchdowns while also establishing himself as one of the most productive rushers in the country.
His junior season produced his most famous single performance. On November 28, 2020, Patterson tied Howard Griffith’s FBS single-game record with eight rushing touchdowns against the Kent State Golden Flashes in a 70–41 win. He finished the game with 36 carries for 409 yards, falling 18 yards short of the FBS single-game rushing record set by Oklahoma’s Samaje Perine in 2014. Knee issues kept him out of the 2020 Camellia Bowl, and he declared for the 2021 NFL draft following his junior year.
Washington Football Team / Commanders (2021–2022)
Patterson signed with the Washington Football Team on May 3, 2021, after going unselected in the 2021 NFL draft. He impressed during the preseason under head coach Ron Rivera and made the final roster over veteran Peyton Barber. He began his rookie year third on the depth chart behind Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic, making his NFL debut in Week 1 with two rushes for nine yards on four offensive snaps.
His role grew gradually. After contributing mostly on special teams in Weeks 2 and 3, Patterson recorded his first career reception in Week 4. He posted season-highs with 11 rushing attempts and 46 rushing yards in Week 8, scored his first career touchdown on a fourth-quarter carry against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 15, and earned his first NFL start in Week 17 against Philadelphia, rushing for 57 yards and a touchdown while adding 41 receiving yards. He was waived on August 30, 2022, and spent the entire 2022 season on Washington’s practice squad, appearing in just two games.
Los Angeles Chargers Era (2023–Present)
Patterson’s Chargers tenure has unfolded across two stints. He signed with the Los Angeles practice squad on September 13, 2023, and was released on December 20 of that year before briefly returning to the Commanders’ practice squad. On January 10, 2024, he signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers, was waived on August 29, re-signed to the practice squad, and was elevated to the active roster on December 7. His lone appearance that season came on special teams against the Kansas City Chiefs.
In 2025, Patterson signed another reserve/future contract with Los Angeles on January 13. He was released with an injury settlement on August 26 as part of final roster cuts, re-signed to the practice squad on October 14, and was promoted to the active roster on November 29. He was waived on December 8 following Omarion Hampton’s return from injury, re-signed to the practice squad two days later, and promoted back to the active roster on December 23.
Driving Style and Strengths
Though listed at just 5 ft 8 in and 195 lb, Patterson has carved out a role through low-center-of-gravity leverage, contact balance, and finishing strength near the goal line. His compact frame helps him absorb hits between the tackles, and his college record of eight rushing touchdowns in a single game underscores his nose for the end zone. At the NFL level he has primarily contributed on special teams and as a complementary back, with limited but productive offensive usage when called upon.
Notable Events and Milestones
Patterson’s signature moment remains his eight-touchdown performance against Kent State on November 28, 2020, tying Howard Griffith’s FBS single-game record. Other milestones include his 1,799-yard rushing season in 2019, his Bahamas Bowl MVP honors, and his first NFL start and first NFL touchdown during the 2021 season with Washington.
Jaret Patterson Career Wins
At the collegiate level, Patterson anchored a Buffalo program that secured its first-ever bowl victory in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl, a performance in which he earned offensive MVP. His individual accolades include the 2019 and 2020 First-team All-MAC selections, the 2020 MAC Most Valuable Player and Offensive Player of the Year awards, and the 2018 MAC Freshman of the Year honor. He did not win major NFL individual awards through the 2025 season, but he has been a consistent practice squad and special teams contributor.
College Highlights
Patterson set Buffalo’s single-season records for rushing yards (1,799) and rushing touchdowns (19) during the 2019 season and matched the FBS single-game rushing touchdown record with eight scores against Kent State in 2020. He was named First-team All-MAC in both 2019 and 2020, Second-team All-MAC in 2018, and was the 2019 Bahamas Bowl MVP.
Other Wins & Performances
Patterson earned an All-State Honorable Mention as a senior at St. Vincent Pallotti, where he rushed for 2,045 yards and 23 touchdowns. He has not secured any confirmed regional or lower-league professional titles beyond his collegiate achievements.
Jaret Patterson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Patterson has a twin brother, James Patterson, who also played football at the University at Buffalo. The brothers were recruited by Buffalo as a package deal and grayshirted together in 2017 before joining the program full-time in 2018. James Patterson did not reach the NFL.
Personal Life
Patterson was born and raised in Glenn Dale, Maryland, and attended St. Vincent Pallotti High School in nearby Laurel. He maintains a public presence on social media, where he goes by the handle @jaretpatterson on X and @j.patt32 on Instagram. No public information is available regarding a spouse, children, or other personal relationships.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a turbulent year for Patterson in Los Angeles. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Chargers on January 13 but was released with an injury settlement on August 26 during final roster cuts. He rejoined the team via the practice squad on October 14 before being promoted to the active roster on November 29.
His roster movement continued when he was waived on December 8 following Omarion Hampton’s return from injury. The Chargers re-signed him to the practice squad two days later and promoted him back to the active roster on December 23, giving him a late-season opportunity to contribute. Through the 2025 season, his role has remained primarily tied to special teams and short-yardage situations, with his career NFL rushing totals standing at 503 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns, along with 13 receptions for 81 receiving yards.
Looking ahead, Patterson remains an active member of the Chargers’ roster and is positioned as a depth running back and special teams option. His familiarity with the team’s system, built across multiple stints since 2023, should give him a clear opportunity to compete for a roster spot heading into the next league year.
