Bears’ Cordarrelle Patterson named first-team All-Pro as kick returner

Bears running back/kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson was named to the Associated Press All-Pro first team as a kick returner for the fourth time in his career and second consecutive season with the Bears on Friday.

Bears outside linebacker Khalil Mack and inside linebacker Roquan Smith were named to the second team. Place-kicker Cairo Santos did not receive any votes, despite setting a franchise record by making 93.8% of his field-goal attempts this season (30-of-32) including a franchise-record 27 in a row.

Patterson was second in the NFL with a 29.1-yard average on 35 kickoff returns. His 104-yard return for a touchdown was his eighth career kickoff-return touchdown — tying Josh Cribbs and Leon Washington for the most in NFL history. Patterson was one of seven players to return a kickoff for a touchdown this season. The 104-yard return was the longest in Bears history — breaking the mark set by Gale Sayers (103 yards) against the Steelers in 1967.

Patterson was a landslide winner with 43 votes. The Bills’ Andre Roberts (seven) was the only other kick returner to receive votes. Patterson also received an All-Pro vote as a special teams contributor. Last year he was tied for second in the voting in that category.

Considered a running back in the Bears’ offense, Patterson also had 64 rushes for 232 yards (3.6 avg.) and a touchdown this season, with 21 receptions for 132 yards (6.3 avg.)

Smith’s exclusion from the first team drew some consternation from experts and Bears fans alike after he had already been snubbed for the Pro Bowl. The third-year linebacker from George was second in the NFL with 18 tackles-for-loss — behind the Steelers’ T.J. Watt (23). He also was second in solo tackles (98) and sixth in total tackles (139). Smith also had six quarterback pressures, seven pass break-ups, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Smith was beaten out for first-team honors by the 49ers’ Fred Warner, the Seahawks’ Bobby Wagner and the Colts’ Darius Leonard. He actually was tied for sixth in the voting with the Buccaneers’ Lavonte David — also behind the Buccaneers’ Devin White and the Saints’ Demario Davis.

Mack was a distant third in the voting for edge rusher with six votes — behind Watt (47) and the Browns’ Myles Garrett (36). Mack was named to the All-Pro team for the fourth time. He also made in 2015 and 2016 with the Raiders and 2018 with the Bears. He had nine sacks, 11 tackles-for-loss, 12 quarterback pressures. three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three pass break-ups and one safety this season.