Pittsburgh, PA – In a move that signals a shift for the Pittsburgh Steelers, four-time All-Pro return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson announced his release from the team on Monday, July 28, 2025. The veteran, known for his electrifying kick returns, shared the news with a characteristic sarcastic tone on social media, stating, "Breaking news❗️❗️❗️Pittsburgh Steelers release old washed up cordarrelle patterson on his day off!!!" (ESPN).
The decision to part ways with the 34-year-old "Flash" (Wikipedia) will save the Steelers approximately $2.8 million in cap space (ESPN). Patterson had signed a two-year contract with Pittsburgh on April 1, 2024 (Steelers.com), a signing that was widely seen as a direct response to the NFL’s new kickoff rules, which were designed to make the play more dynamic and increase return opportunities. Given Patterson’s league-leading nine career kickoff return touchdowns (Wikipedia, NFL.com), he was expected to be a key component of the Steelers’ special teams unit.
However, Patterson’s tenure in Pittsburgh was brief and less impactful than anticipated. In his lone season with the Steelers in 2024, he played in 13 games (ESPN, Pro-Football-Reference.com). He recorded just 11 kick returns for 240 yards, marking his second-lowest season total in that category (ESPN). Beyond special teams, he contributed 32 carries for 135 rushing yards and caught 12 passes on 14 targets for 80 receiving yards and one touchdown (ESPN, Pro-Football-Reference.com). His season was also hampered by a midseason ankle injury. Furthermore, Patterson did not participate in the team’s offseason activities and missed the first four training camp practices this season, factors that likely played a role in the team’s decision (ESPN). He notably did not play an offensive down in the Steelers’ 28-14 Wild Card playoff loss to the Baltimore Ravens (Wikipedia).
Patterson’s career, which began when he was drafted 29th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2013 NFL Draft (Wikipedia), has been marked by remarkable versatility and special teams dominance. He is widely considered one of the greatest return specialists in NFL history, holding the all-time record for kickoff return touchdowns. His 109-yard kickoff return in 2013 remains tied for the longest play in NFL history (Wikipedia). His accolades include four First-team All-Pro selections (2013, 2016, 2019, 2020) and four Pro Bowl nods (2013, 2016, 2019, 2020) (Wikipedia, Pro-Football-Reference.com). He was also named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team (Wikipedia) and earned a Super Bowl LIII ring with the New England Patriots in 2018 (Wikipedia).
Beyond his return prowess, Patterson has proven to be a valuable offensive weapon throughout his career, playing running back and wide receiver. His most notable offensive resurgence came during his three seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2021-2023), particularly in 2021, where he achieved career highs with 153 rushes for 618 yards, 52 receptions for 548 yards, and 11 total touchdowns (Wikipedia, Pro-Football-Reference.com). Prior to the Steelers, he also played for the Oakland Raiders (2017) and Chicago Bears (2019-2020), where he led the league in kickoff return yards in both 2019 and 2020 (Wikipedia).
As Patterson enters free agency once again, his future in the NFL remains uncertain. However, his unique skill set and proven ability as a game-changing return specialist, especially with the league’s renewed emphasis on kick returns, could still make him an attractive option for teams looking to bolster their special teams and add a versatile offensive threat.
