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The Pittsburgh Steelers and versatile return guy Cordarrelle Patterson reached a two-year, $6 million deal shortly after the NFL implemented a new kickoff regulation, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Following a record low rate of kickoff returns in 2023, it is anticipated that the modified regulations would place more emphasis on the return game, which will make Patterson’s job even more important.
Since joining the NFL in 2013, Patterson—who played for the Atlanta Falcons under current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith—has nine career kick return touchdowns, making him the league’s all-time leader in this category. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he has three times as many kick return touchdowns as any other player during that time.
JuJu Smith-Schuster’s 96-yard kick return touchdown against the Cleveland Browns in 2017 marked the last time the Steelers had scored a touchdown on a kick return. In the 2023 season, the team used a combination of players, including running back Anthony McFarland and previous practice squad member Godwin Igwebuike, in an attempt to identify a reliable return man.
Due in part to the addition of players and the NFL’s prior modifications to the kickoff rule, which increased the frequency of touchbacks, Patterson saw his role with the Falcons diminished in 2023. Last season, he recorded career lows in yards per return (21.9), return yardage (153) and returns (7).
He had 50 carries for 181 yards, his lowest totals since 2019, and nine receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown, his poorest totals since 2015, his third season in the league, on offense, where he had discovered the largest possibilities of his career beginning at age 30.With the Falcons, Patterson, 33, evolved into a hybrid running back/receiver. He frequently lined up in all of Smith’s offensive groupings and recorded a career-high 1,166 yards from scrimmage in 2020 (618 yards rushing, 548 yards receiving).
The Minnesota Vikings selected him with the 29th overall choice in the 2013 draft. He has now participated in 170 games (60 starts), rushing for 2,511 yards and 22 touchdowns on 514 runs, and hauling in 298 passes for 2,795 yards and 16 touchdowns. In addition, he has played for the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, and Chicago Bears.
In addition to his record, Patterson is third in the history of kick return averages (29.3), ninth in yardage (7,989), and 17th in all-time kick return attempts (273), behind only Lynn Chandnois (29.6 from 1950–56) and Gale Sayers (30.6 from 1965–71).
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