Letting it rip: A rollicking chat with Bears special-teams ace Cordarrelle Patterson

Patterson has been the most fun thing about the 2019 Bears, on the field and on the mic.

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Patterson has been tremendous for the Bears on special teams this season.

AP Photos

There’s something beautifully simple about Cordarrelle Patterson’s approach to special teams, and watching him demolish punt returners and rip through coverage units might be the most fun thing about the Bears this season.

Actually, talking to him is the most fun.

Patterson’s media availability is rare but always a hit. In training camp, he said his nickname should be, “Damn!” because that’s what you say whenever you see him make a play. He has lived up to that.

He has done more damage on special teams than in the offense as a wide receiver, but he makes no distinction between the two. As long as he gets on the field, he’s happy. And that’s atypical for a player of his status: a 2013 first-round pick and recent Super Bowl champion now in his seventh season.

“There’s a lot of players, probably, that look past special teams,” Patterson said. “A lot of people got a lot of pride, and because it’s special teams, they don’t think they can make a lot of money.

“But there’s a lot of guys [who] would die for special teams. Some guys, that’s all they do is play special teams. That’s their only job, so they go out there and play their heart out.”

Sometimes his mouth runs faster than his mind. He doubled back for a moment as he caught up to what he’d just said.

“Not necessarily really die for it, but they’ll go out and do everything they can for special teams,” he said, smirking. “I had to get that right, because I’m not dying for football. Sorry. I love it to death, but I’m not dying for it.”

Patterson is the most entertaining man on this team. He has a tradition of playing catch with fans before games, and often throws into the second level. He let one fly before the Giants game, and the fan turned around as Patterson was throwing and got hit in the back of the head.

Patterson scorched him.

“It’s probably that same guy who brought that pie in the game,” he quipped, referencing a viral video of a Bears fan preparing a full-on pumpkin pie during the game.

A more serious topic is the Pro Bowl, which Patterson legitimately has a chance to make this season. He earned a spot as a special-teamer in 2013 and ’16 with the Vikings, and he’s a strong candidate with his coverage prowess and an NFC-best 29.6 yards per kick return heading into the Thursday’s game in Detroit.

Earlier this season, he had a 102-yard kick-return touchdown against the Saints after a defensive back met him at midfield and Patterson ran through the tackle attempt without breaking stride, declaring later, “Look how big I am. You think I feel that?”

Last Sunday, he made three incredible plays in punt coverage against the Giants that were as important as anything he could have done offensively:

• He fought off a double-team that ran him out of bounds, saving a touchdown by bringing down Jabrill Peppers.

• He got downfield fast enough to catch a punt by Pat O’Donnell at the 3-yard line.

• He dove to smack a ball away from the end zone at the last second so Deon Bush could down it and stick the Giants on their own 6 to begin their final possession.

Many players are indifferent about the Pro Bowl, but not Patterson. As with special teams, he takes nothing for granted.

“My family loves it, man,” he said. “They done been to Orlando once, and they care about it a lot, but a guy like me, I just want to go out there and win.

“If it comes, it comes. That’s a [popularity] thing. If you’re liked, you’ll make it to the Pro Bowl. That’s just how it goes, man. If I get liked enough, I’ll be there.”

And he’ll bring the whole family.

“They want all that free stuff, man,” he said, laughing. “We all love that free stuff. Come on, now. You can’t take that away from us.”

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