Cordarrelle Patterson
He redefined the role of a special teams weapon, turning kick returns into must-watch events of pure, game-breaking speed.
Born 1991 (age 35)·American football player·Birthday: March 17·Millennials
Biography
Cordarrelle Patterson's journey to the NFL was anything but conventional. After a standout season at Hutchinson Community College, he exploded onto the SEC scene at Tennessee for a single, dazzling year. That was enough. Drafted in the first round, he entered the league with a raw, breathtaking athleticism that teams struggled to fully harness as a traditional receiver. But Patterson found his true calling as perhaps the most dangerous kick returner of his generation. His combination of size, power, and sprinter's speed made every return a potential touchdown, a threat that forced special teams coordinators into sleepless nights. While he later evolved into a uniquely powerful running back, his lasting legacy is etched in the record books: he didn't just return kicks; he owned them, turning a phase of the game many overlook into his personal highlight reel.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Cordarrelle was born in 1991, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cordarrelle Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Cordarrelle's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Holds the NFL record for most career kickoff return touchdowns (9).
- Earned four First-Team All-Pro selections as a kick returner.
- Named to the NFL 2010s All-Decade Team as a kick returner.
- Scored a 102-yard kickoff return touchdown in Super Bowl LV with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Flash' was given to him by a high school coach for his speed.
He played only one season of Division I college football at the University of Tennessee.
He has scored touchdowns via reception, rush, kick return, and fumble recovery in his career.
In 2023, he broke the NFL's all-time record for kickoff return yards, surpassing Josh Cribbs.
“Just give me the ball in space and let's see what happens.”
