After a career year and public announcement of a return to the Atlanta Falcons, Cordarrell Patterson gets his wish. He stopped in Atlanta.
Patterson agreed to terms with the Falcons on Saturday, a source confirmed to ESPN, keeping the versatile forward on the team with which he had the most offensive success of his career.
He told ESPN and the “From The Perch” podcast in late February that he wants to return to the Falcons if that makes sense for him and his family, saying “Atlanta spoiled me” in 2021 with the way he’s been used. He’s also made it clear that he’d like to surpass the NFL record for returning touchdowns — he’s tied for an eight-touchdown record — in Atlanta with special teams coordinator Marquis Williams.
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Patterson set career rushing and receiving records with the Atlanta Falcons in 2021, rushing for 618 yards and six touchdowns on 153 carries, catching 52 passes for 548 yards and five touchdowns.
Part of what made Patterson’s career resurrection intriguing was his reversal of positions. Originally selected by the Minnesota Vikings as a wide receiver in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft, he became a full-fledged running back—often spread out—under Falcons head coach Arthur Smith in his first year.
The 31-year-old Patterson more than doubled his previous season record for most carries (64 in 2020) and had the most goals as a wide receiver since the 2016 season with the Vikings. He often expressed a desire to return to the Falcons near the end of the season and early offseason, using social media and his boots to convince Atlanta to keep him after the best offensive season of his career.
After leaving Minnesota after the 2016 season, Patterson tossed between the Raiders in Oakland, the New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears before landing in Atlanta. Prior to the 2021 season, Patterson, a four-time Pro Bowl and four-time All-Pro, was best known as one of the best players of all time with 257 return hits for 7,552 yards and eight touchdowns. His eight return touchdowns are the best in NFL history, and his 29.4 yard return batting average is the third best in NFL history.
The NFL Network was the first to report on Patterson’s deal with the Falcons.