Cordarrelle Patterson made an incredible play Sunday that launched him into the NFL record books.
The Chicago Bears produced a big-time highlight-reel play early on against the Atlanta Falcons. Not too long after that, the Falcons retaliated. Patterson, known for his electrifying kick returns, stepped up to the plate after a Bears’ touchdown. Patterson had previously fumbled a return that allowed for Chicago to turn around and score. So what did he do to make up for it?
Easy: The former Tennessee standout just ran the next return back for a touchdown himself.
Not only that, but the touchdown clinched a record-breaking moment. Cordarrelle Patterson scored his ninth career kickoff return touchdown. That’s the most ever in NFL history.
THE KICK RETURN KING RETURNS. @ceeflashpee84
: #CHIvsATL on FOX : Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/IaVHvpN01O pic.twitter.com/9iqlSi4EGh — NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2022
The NFL’s Research Twitter account tweeted on the record-breaking return, “Cordarrelle Patterson just broke the all-time record for career kickoff returns for TD. That was the ninth of his career, breaking a tie with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington.”
Cordarrelle Patterson just broke the all-time record for career kickoff returns for TD.
That was the 9th of his career, breaking a tie with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington.@AtlantaFalcons @ProFootballHOF
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 20, 2022
Patterson (seen above breaking a tackle on a different play) wasn’t done though. He also continued to stand out in another way. The NFL’s Research Twitter revealed, “Cordarrelle Patterson has seven career touchdowns of 100+ yards. No one else in NFL history has more than three.”
Cordarrelle Patterson has 7 career touchdowns of 100+ yards.
No one else in NFL history has more than 3.#dirtybirds @AtlantaFalcons @ProFootballHOF
— NFL Research (@NFLResearch) November 20, 2022
Certainly, it’s a brilliant day for Patterson. The NFL world reacted to the record-breaking moment:
Best kick returner in NFL history and it's not even remotely close. https://t.co/9wyE0LVHcI
— Ian Kenyon (@ikenyonFB) November 20, 2022
Give him the GOLD Jacket! @ceeflashpee84
— Chris Puckett (@MLGPuckett) November 20, 2022
Yessir! Congrats bro! @ceeflashpee84 https://t.co/gH7fxg83vg
— Emmanuel Ellerbee (@LB_ellerbee42) November 20, 2022
Cordarrelle Patterson, a Hall of Fame return man. https://t.co/oRy23HnMNZ
— Tyler Dragon (@TheTylerDragon) November 20, 2022
Cordarrelle Patterson has set the all-time kickoff return TD record playing in an era when the NFL has actively put rules in place to diminish the role of kick returns. The best to ever do it
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) November 20, 2022
Kick Return King. @ceeflashpee84 pic.twitter.com/ga7j3bEcoD
— NFL (@NFL) November 20, 2022
[NFL on Twitter, photo from Dale Zanine/USA Today Sports]