ORLANDO, Fla. — Hours after the NFL adopted new kickoff rules, the Pittsburgh Steelers have agreed to a two-year, $6 million contract with versatile return man Cordarrelle Patterson, league officials tell ESPN's Adam. -Told Schefter.
Patterson's role will be important as the revised rules are expected to place emphasis on the return game, as the kickoff return rate was historically low in the 2023 season.
Patterson, who played with the Atlanta Falcons under current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, has nine career kick return touchdowns since entering the NFL in 2013. , making him the NFL'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 in that span.
The last time the Steelers scored a touchdown on a kick return was JuJu Smith-Schuster's 96-yarder into the end zone in 2017 against the Cleveland Browns. The team has struggled to find a consistent return man for the 2023 season with a combination of players. That included former practice squad additions Godwin Igwebuike and running back Anthony McFarland.
Patterson saw his role with the Falcons diminish in 2023, in part due to increased personnel and previous changes to the NFL's kickoff rules that made touchbacks more common. He set career lows in returns (7), return yards (153) and yards per return (21.9) last season.
In an offense that saw the biggest opportunity of his career starting at age 30, he had 50 carries for 181 yards (lowest since 2019) and nine catches for 38 yards and one touchdown, his worst numbers since 2015. It became. Third year in the league.
Patterson, 33, is a running back/receiver hybrid for the Falcons, often lined up across Smith's offensive formations, and had a career-best season in 2020 with 1,166 yards from scrimmage (618 rushing, 548 receiving). did.
He was selected 29th overall in the 2013 draft by the Minnesota Vikings. Since then, he has appeared in 170 games (60 starts) with 514 carries for 2,511 yards and 22 touchdowns and 298 catches for 2,795 yards and 16 touchdowns. He also played for the Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, and Oakland Raiders.
In addition to the records, Patterson ranks 17th all-time in kick return attempts (273), ninth in yards (7,989), and averages 29.3 kick returns, trailing only Gale Sayers (30.6 from 1965 to 1971) and Lin.・It is in 3rd place after Chan de Noah. (29.6 from 1950 to 1956).
ESPN's Michael Rothstein contributed to this report.