Ranking Cordarrelle Patterson's 5 best return touchdowns
Cordarrelle Patterson is one of the greatest kick returners in NFL history. He has spent time as a wide receiver and a running back for five different teams during his NFL career. However, it's been his contributions to the special teams units of those teams where he has really made his mark. His consistent dominance in that area has led to six All-Pro selections, including four as a first-teamer.
Patterson entered the 2022-23 NFL season tied with Leon Washington and Josh Cribbs for the most kickoff return touchdowns in NFL history (8). He broke the tie in Week 11, returning his NFL record-setting ninth kickoff for a touchdown. Let's see where this spectacular return ranks among his five best return touchdowns of all time.
#5 - 1 KR TD in 1 season with the Patriots
Patterson has scored at least one kickoff return touchdown with four of the five teams he's played for, a current NFL record. The Las Vegas Raiders are the only team where he hasn't scored a return touchdown. He scored one with the New England Patriots, contributing to a victory against the Chicago Bears in Week 7 of the 2018-19 NFL season.
#4 - Patterson makes his former team pay the price
Patterson began his career with the Minnesota Vikings. He later joined their NFC North division rivals the Chicago Bears ahead of the 2019-20 NFL season. In 2020, he faced off against his former team. He made them regret letting him go by returning a massive 104-yard kick return touchdown for the Bears.
#3 - The 1st of his career
Patterson was selected by the Minnesota Vikings with the 29th overall pick in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft. It didn't take long for him to make an immediate impact on their special teams unit. In the second game of his career, in Week 2 against the Chicago Bears, he scored the first kickoff return touchdown of his career.
#2 - Cordarrelle Patterson sets an NFL record
In Week 11 of the 2022-23 NFL season, Patterson broke a three-way tie for the most kickoff return touchdowns in NFL history. He recorded the ninth of his career and his first for the Atlanta Falcons. He contributed directly to the victory in a tightly contested game against the Chicago Bears.
History: Cordarrelle Patterson just set the record for the most kickoff returns TDs in NFL history.
This 103-yard return is the 9th of his career.
https://t.co/k7bYKS8ehP
#1 - Another NFL record
Longest kickoff return of all-time.
@ceeflashpee84. 2013. As a rookie. 109 YARDS. 😳
(via @NFLThrowback) https://t.co/lzMLiObFfm
Patterson put together one of the best performances of his career during his rookie season against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8. He set a career-high by recording 228 return yards across five attempts. One of those was a 109-yard touchdown return. It's tied for the longest play in NFL history.