Cordarrelle Patterson Bio
Cordarrelle Patterson, nicknamed “Flash,” is an American professional football running back born on March 17, 1991, in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing approximately 220 pounds, Patterson is widely recognized as one of the most versatile utility players in the National Football League (NFL), excelling as a kickoff returner, running back, and occasional wide receiver.
After starring at Hutchinson Community College and the University of Tennessee, Patterson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has also played for the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and Atlanta Falcons, and is a Super Bowl champion and multi-time All-Pro selection.
Early Life and Background
Cordarrelle Patterson grew up in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he attended Northwestern High School. A multisport athlete, Patterson played football, basketball, and ran track, and was coached in football by Jimmy Wallace. As a senior in 2008, he caught 75 passes for 944 yards with 18 touchdowns, leading Northwestern to the South Carolina Class 4A Division II championship game and earning All-State honors.
Patterson was also a three-year letterman in track and field. After high school, he briefly attended North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy in 2009 for a post-graduate year but did not play football there. He left the school before the spring and eventually enrolled at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas to continue his athletic career.
Raised by his mother, Catherine, Patterson has one brother, Charles, and one sister, Crystal. His family supported his athletic development from an early age, and his background in track and field helped shape the speed that would later define his professional career.
Path to Professional Football
At Hutchinson Community College, Patterson quickly established himself as a premier junior college prospect. He was recognized as a National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) All-American in both 2010 and 2011 and set more than a dozen school records, including marks for career receiving yards (1,832), career receptions (113), career total touchdowns (36), and career all-purpose yards (3,379).
Rated as a five-star recruit and the top junior college player in the country by 247Sports.com in 2012, Patterson chose the University of Tennessee over programs such as LSU, Auburn, Georgia, and Ole Miss. Playing under head coach Derek Dooley, he was used primarily as a wide receiver while also contributing as a return specialist and running back.
In his lone season at Tennessee, Patterson racked up a school-record 1,858 all-purpose yards, surpassing a mark previously set by Reggie Cobb in 1987. He finished with 10 total touchdowns and earned first-team All-SEC honors. On January 9, 2013, Patterson announced his decision to forgo his remaining college eligibility and enter the 2013 NFL draft.
Cordarrelle Patterson Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
The Minnesota Vikings selected Cordarrelle Patterson in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft with the 29th overall pick, acquiring the selection in a trade with the New England Patriots. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, scoring his first career touchdown on a 105-yard kickoff return against the Chicago Bears and tying the NFL record for the longest play with a 109-yard kickoff return against the Green Bay Packers.
Patterson finished his rookie season with 45 receptions for 469 yards and four touchdowns, along with 43 kick returns for 1,393 yards and two touchdowns. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, selected to the Pro Bowl, and named first-team All-Pro as a kick returner. His production dropped sharply in 2014 under new head coach Mike Zimmer, and he eventually fell to fourth on the depth chart.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2013–2016)
Patterson spent his first four NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. After a strong debut campaign, he struggled to develop chemistry with quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in 2014 and lost his starting wide receiver job. He rebounded in 2015 with two kickoff return touchdowns, one against the Oakland Raiders and another against the Seattle Seahawks, regaining a role on special teams.
In 2016, Patterson remained a productive return man despite limited involvement in the receiving game. He was named to his second Pro Bowl and earned second first-team All-Pro selection as a returner, capping his Vikings tenure with one of the most decorated return resumes in franchise history.
Oakland Raiders (2017)
On March 13, 2017, Patterson signed a two-year contract with the Oakland Raiders. He joined a receiving corps that included Michael Crabtree, Amari Cooper, Seth Roberts, and Johnny Holton. Patterson made his Raiders debut in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans and quickly contributed as a runner and returner.
He finished the 2017 season with 31 receptions for 309 yards, 13 carries for 121 yards and two touchdowns, and 19 kick returns for 538 yards across 16 games and two starts. His lone season in Oakland showcased his continued value as a versatile playmaker on offense and special teams.
New England Patriots (2018)
Patterson was traded to the New England Patriots in March 2018 in exchange for a 2018 fifth-round pick. He made his Patriots debut in the season opener against the Houston Texans and scored his first touchdown as a Patriot on a 55-yard reception against the Miami Dolphins in Week 4. He added a 95-yard kickoff return touchdown in a road victory over the Chicago Bears in Week 7.
Patterson finished the regular season with 21 receptions for 247 yards and three touchdowns, 42 carries for 228 yards and a touchdown, and 23 kick returns for 663 yards and a score. He helped the Patriots finish atop the AFC East with an 11-5 record and played a key role in their postseason run, including a 13-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LIII, earning his first Super Bowl championship.
Chicago Bears Era (2019–2020)
On March 13, 2019, Patterson signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Chicago Bears. He recorded a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown in a Week 7 loss to the New Orleans Saints and was later named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month, the first Bears player to earn the honor since Devin Hester in 2011. He was voted to the 2020 Pro Bowl and finished the season as the NFL’s leader in kick return yards (825) and was named first-team All-Pro as a kick returner and second-team All-Pro as a special teamer.
In 2020, Patterson was named to the Pro Bowl for the second consecutive season and again led the league in kick returns and yards per return. He set a franchise record with a 104-yard kickoff return touchdown against his former Vikings team, surpassing Gale Sayers’ 103-yard return from 1967. Patterson finished 2020 with career highs in rushing attempts (64) and rushing yards (232).
Atlanta Falcons Era (2021–2023)
Patterson signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons on April 15, 2021. He opened the season with seven carries for a touchdown and five receptions for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and later recorded three receiving touchdowns in a single game against the Washington Football Team, a career high. He set career bests with 153 rushes for 618 yards, 52 receptions for 548 yards, and 11 total touchdowns, and was ranked 73rd on the NFL Top 100 Players of 2022.
He re-signed with the Falcons on a two-year, $10.5 million contract in March 2022 and was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after a 141-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Seattle Seahawks. On November 20, 2022, he recorded his ninth career kickoff return touchdown, a 103-yard return against the Bears, setting the all-time NFL record. He appeared in 14 games in 2023 but fell to third on the running back depth chart behind rookie Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
Pittsburgh Steelers Era (2024)
On April 1, 2024, Patterson signed a two-year contract with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Used primarily as a third-string running back, he also contributed as a kick returner and occasional wide receiver. Patterson finished the regular season with 12 receptions for 80 yards and a touchdown, along with 32 rushes for 135 yards. The Steelers finished 10-7 and earned a playoff berth as the AFC’s No. 6 seed, though Patterson did not play an offensive snap in the Wild Card loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
On July 28, 2025, Patterson was released by the Steelers, closing his Pittsburgh chapter.
Driving Style and Strengths
Patterson’s game is built on rare straight-line speed, lateral quickness, and physical versatility. A former track athlete with personal bests of 10.33 seconds in the 100 meters and 21.19 seconds in the 200 meters, he is at his most dangerous in open space, particularly on kick returns and pitch plays behind the line of scrimmage. His ability to line up at running back, wide receiver, and on special teams has allowed offensive coordinators to deploy him in a variety of gadget roles throughout his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Patterson holds the NFL record for most career kickoff return touchdowns with nine, six of which have been longer than 100 yards. He tied the NFL record for the longest play from scrimmage with his 109-yard kickoff return against the Packers in 2013, and he set the Chicago Bears franchise record for the longest kickoff return with a 104-yard score in 2020. He is also a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team and a Super Bowl LIII champion.
Cordarrelle Patterson Career Wins
Cordarrelle Patterson’s most celebrated victories and milestones have come on special teams and as a multipurpose offensive weapon. While he is not defined by traditional win-loss statistics, his individual achievements, including a Super Bowl ring, four Pro Bowl selections, and four first-team All-Pro honors, mark him as one of the most decorated return men of his era.
Kickoff Return and All-Pro Highlights
Patterson earned first-team All-Pro honors as a kick returner in 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2020, and second-team All-Pro recognition in 2015, 2018, and 2019. He was named NFL kickoff return yards leader in both 2019 and 2020 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2020. His 109-yard return against Green Bay in 2013 tied the NFL record for the longest play, and he later set the all-time league record for career kickoff return touchdowns with his ninth score in 2022.
Other Performances
At Hutchinson Community College, Patterson won back-to-back NJCAA All-American honors in 2010 and 2011 and 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 the program’s single-season all-purpose yards record with 1,858 yards.
Cordarrelle Patterson Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Cordarrelle Patterson was raised by his mother, Catherine, alongside his brother Charles and his sister Crystal in Rock Hill, South Carolina. His mother played a central role in his upbringing, and the family has remained a consistent presence throughout his football career. Patterson has credited his South Carolina roots and close family ties for grounding him amid the demands of professional football.
Spouse and Children
Patterson married his wife, Taylor Quick, in July 2024. He is a father of four children. In 2017, he and his wife experienced the loss of a son during pregnancy, an event that Patterson has spoken about publicly, including wearing cleats in December 2021 to raise awareness for pregnancy and infant loss.
2025 Season Outlook
After being released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on July 28, 2025, Cordarrelle Patterson entered the 2025 season as a free agent. The 34-year-old veteran brings more than a decade of NFL experience, a Super Bowl ring, and the all-time record for career kickoff return touchdowns to any potential suitor.
Despite his age, Patterson has continued to demonstrate value as a multipurpose offensive player and a reliable return specialist. Teams in need of a veteran presence on special teams or a situational weapon in the backfield could view him as a low-risk addition with a proven track record of production.
As the 2025 season progresses, Patterson’s next career move will shape the closing chapter of one of the most decorated return careers in NFL history.