Cordarrelle Patterson is the NFL’s all-time record holder for kickoff return touchdowns.
Patterson took a kickoff three yards deep in the end zone and ran it back 103 yards for a touchdown today against the Bears. That was the ninth kickoff return touchdown of Patterson’s career.
And that’s a new NFL record. Patterson previously shared the career record for kickoff return touchdowns with Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington, both of whom retired with eight kickoff return touchdowns.
Patterson’s record might never be broken. No other active player has more than three kickoff return touchdowns, and NFL rules changes are making kickoff return touchdowns less common. It’s even possible that the kickoff will eventually disappear from football altogether.
But Patterson’s accomplishments are now enshrined in the NFL record book, where he has a place all his own.