Cordarrelle Patterson has been a versatile sensation this season, but his story makes you want to get behind him even more.
The Atlanta Falcons are in yet another different season but somehow sit second in the NFC South. A big part of the team’s offence this season has been WR-turned-RB, Cordarrelle Patterson, who was signed in the offseason as a free agent.
Patterson’s run to the NFL wasn’t easy, and his time in the league hasn’t been that straightforward either. The versatile player’s journey began in South Carolina, where he played football, basketball, and ran track.
After leaving school, he attended North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy but did not play football. He would leave in the spring to go to Hutchinson Community College, in Kansas. At Hutchinson, Patterson would be a Junior College All-American three years in a row, making a name for himself in all three phases of the game, most notably in kickoff and punt returns.
Cordarrelle Patterson’s rare road to NFL stardom
After three years in Junior College, the return specialist was recruited by Tennessee. After one year, he declared for the NFL Draft and was taken with the 29th pick in the first round, by the Minnesota Vikings.
Patterson would spend three years in Minneapolis, the highlight being a 109-yard kickoff return against the Green Bay Packers, which is still tied for the longest play in NFL history. What followed was a brief spell in Oakland and then landing with special teams lover Bill Belichick in New England, where he would win a Super Bowl.
A two-year stop on the Chicago Bears would see the now 30-year-old regain his status as one of the best returners, making the Pro-Bowl two years in a row. Despite his returning prowess, he was sparingly used on offense and signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
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In Georgia is where it seems the player has found his footing. Under Arthur Smith, Patterson has played multiple positions on offense and special teams. This season he has been used primarily as a running back, but we’ve also seen him at WR and TE. Following injuries in Week 12, he was even listed as the third-string safety with the player himself stating he’d love to play on defense.
In 2021 he has 411 rushing yards, 500 receiving yards, and nine total touchdowns, finally getting in there on offense.
Patterson came up the hard way but made it to the league with a lot of promise which he never managed to live up to. He found his way via special teams and is tied for the most return touchdowns in NFL history.
Despite making his name in the return game, he never stopped grinding, offering to play anywhere on the field, and at 30, is now setting career highs across the board.
He is another example of the stories the NFL comes up with and is certainly one that everyone can get behind.