Cordarrelle Patterson
Cordarrelle Patterson (/kɔːrˈdɛrəl/ kor-DERR-əl;[1] born March 17, 1991), nicknamed "Flash", is an American football running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). A versatile utility player, he plays running back, wide receiver, return specialist, and occasionally on defense. Patterson played college football for the Hutchinson Blue Dragons before transferring to the Tennessee Volunteers, where he earned first-team All-SEC honors. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of the 2013 NFL draft. He has also been a member of the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, and the Atlanta Falcons.
No. 84 – Pittsburgh Steelers
March 17, 1991
Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
220 lb (100 kg)
Northwestern
(Rock Hill, South Carolina)
- Hutchinson (2010–2011)
- Tennessee (2012)
2013 / Round: 1 / Pick: 29
Active
298
298
2,795
2,511
7,998
47
During a game against the Green Bay Packers in 2013, Patterson tied the NFL record for longest play and set the NFL record for longest kick return with 109 yards, the longest possible.[2] He is considered one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history, with a league record nine kickoff return touchdowns in his career, six of which have been longer than 100 yards. On the depth chart for the 2023 season, Patterson was listed under the position "Joker".[3]
Early years[edit]
Patterson attended Northwestern High School in Rock Hill, South Carolina, where he played football, basketball, and ran track.[4] He was coached by Jimmy Wallace.[5] As a senior in 2008, he caught 75 passes for 944 yards with 18 touchdowns, leading his team to the State Class 4A Division II championship game, and was named All-state selection.[6] Patterson was also a three-year letterman in track & field at Northwestern High School. He spent part of 2009 beginning a post-graduate year at North Carolina Tech Preparatory Christian Academy, but did not play football, and left prior to the spring to enroll at Hutchinson Community College.[7]