PITTSBURGH – Moments after the NFL passed a new rule in March that will drastically change kickoffs, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed one of the league’s best kickoff returners of all time. Cordarrelle Patterson might be 33, but his credentials as a returner are unmatched.
He enters his 12th season in the NFL as the all-time leader in yardage per kickoff return (29.3) and kickoff returns for touchdowns (nine). His touchdown total is an NFL record, and Patterson believes his knack for returning kicks will continue to be an asset even though the play will look nothing like the traditional kickoff that had been in place since the league’s inception.
“I’m eager to showcase my abilities to the world,” declared Patterson. In recent years, kickoffs in the NFL have all but disappeared from the game. For touchbacks, most kickers are capable of booting the ball well into or out of the end zone. The receiving team will line up between the 30 and 35 yards, while the coverage unit will align at the opposing team’s 40-yard line. Kickers will still start the kickoff from the 35-yard line under the new rule.
All kickoffs must land between the goal line and the 20-yard line. If it lands before then or out of bounds, the receiving team will get the ball at the 40. Kickers can still boot the ball into the end zone for touchbacks, but the receiving team will now get the ball at the 30-yard line rather than the 25.
There are many other details to the new play, but it’s designed to make the play safer and bring kickoff returns back into the game. The rule has been adapted from a similar kickoff play the XFL used in recent seasons. The XFL had a return rate of 97% on kickoffs during their 2023 season, while the NFL had a kickoff return rate of just 22% last season. Patterson, who returned 43 kickoffs as a rookie in 2013 with the Minnesota Vikings, has had just 34 opportunities to return kicks in the past three seasons.
“I found it exciting as soon as the rule was implemented,” Patterson remarked. “We have been preparing for it for some time, but it will be extremely different. I hope we can get a head start on it.”
Although Patterson has only returned a kickoff for a score once in the last three seasons, Danny Smith, the special teams coordinator for the Steelers, is optimistic that Patterson’s abilities will still be useful in the new rules. Just don’t expect Patterson to give you any information about the Steelers’ strategy for the play. There has been a lot of conjecture over how this play would alter the personnel on special teams throughout the league. While some teams might decide to keep bigger players on the field, other special teams coaches might go with smaller but faster players to maneuver in the constrained landing area.
“I can’t really say too much,” Patterson said. “I can’t really tell you everything. Coach Smith will get mad at me.”
Additionally unclear is Patterson’s offensive role. He didn’t take part in any of the spring sessions over the first two weeks, and this week he just performed some side conditioning. Patterson, who weighs 220 pounds and stands 6-foot-2, is not your usual little, shifty returner. Throughout his career, he has played both running back and receiver after being selected in the first round of the draft. Arthur Smith, the new offensive coordinator for the Steelers, was the head coach in Atlanta during the previous three seasons that he played there.
Patterson ran for over 1,300 yards in total in 2021 and 2022, when Smith shown his best running abilities. However, Patterson only managed 181 yards last season after the Falcons selected running back Bijan Robinson with their first-round choice.
After Patterson was hired, it was Smith who approached him about signing a contract with the Steelers. Several former Atlanta Falcons signed as free agents this spring, including Patterson. Smith’s teammates in Atlanta included tight end McCoyle Pruitt and receivers Van Jefferson and Scotty Miller. Patterson will probably fill a number of roles in Smith’s offensive scheme. “I don’t sit down,” Patterson said in jest. “I attend all of the meetings.
