In the second quarter of Sunday’s game against the Bears, with the Falcons trailing by 10 points, the Atlanta star returned a kickoff 103 yards for a touchdown, the ninth kickoff return touchdown of his career. It also establishes an NFL record.
Patterson, a 2013 first-round pick from Tennessee, shared the record for most kickoff return touchdowns with former return specialist Josh Cribbs and former running back and return specialist Leon Washington until Sunday.
Before Sunday, Patterson’s previous kickoff return for a touchdown occurred in late 2020 against his former Vikings squad, on a 104-yard run while playing for the Bears.
Patterson played for the Vikings for four seasons before playing for the Patriots and the Raiders. In 2021, he signed a one-year, $3 million contract with the Falcons. In March of this year, he re-signed for a two-year, $10.5 million agreement.
Patterson’s heroics in the first half were significant for the Falcons, who entered the break tied with Chicago at 17 points apiece.