PITTSBURGH — On the same day the NFL completely changed how kickoffs are handled, the Steelers have made a special teams splash.

Cordarrelle Patterson will sign a short-term deal with the Steelers. Patterson, 33, was a first-round pick as a wide receiver back in 2013, but he has found his home in the NFL in the return game. In 2022, he set the NFL record for kickoffs returned for touchdowns with nine, and twice he has led the league in kickoff return yards.

In recent years, Patterson’s role on offense has mainly shifted to the backfield. He was surprisingly effective as a running back during his lone season with the Patriots (2018), rushing for 5.4 yards per attempt on 42 carries. Since then, his subsequent teams (Bears, Falcons) have also used his talents there. He topped out at 695 yards and eight rushing touchdowns in Atlanta in 2022 before being relegated to more of a depth role last season after the Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson in the first round.

New Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith was the Falcons’ head coach during those seasons, so he will be familiar with Patterson’s skill set. The Steelers did not need a No. 3 running back last season because Harris and Warren stayed healthy all season, dressing for all 17 games. Their No. 3 running back had been Anthony McFarland, and he spent most of the season on the practice squad.

Other than Harris and Warren, the only other running backs on the offseason roster are Alfonzo Graham and Aaron Shampklin, and neither has been on an NFL 53-man roster.

At this point in his career, Patterson probably shouldn’t be counted on to be the answer at wide receiver. He has had fewer than 50 receptions in six of the past seven seasons.

Patterson’s biggest impact is likely to come in the return game. With new kickoff rules in place that will encourage more returns, the Steelers secured one of the best kickoff returners of this generation. He’s had at least one kickoff return for a touchdown in seven of his 11 NFL seasons.

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