Veteran Cordarrelle Patterson says the Steelers released him

Cordarrelle Patterson hasn’t taken part in a drill yet during this Pittsburgh Steelers training camp. He apparently never will, either.

A post to the X account of Patterson late Monday morning read: “Breaking news… Pittsburgh Steelers release old washed up cordarrelle patterson on his day off!!!”

Breaking news❗️❗️❗️Pittsburgh Steelers release old washed up cordarrelle patterson on his day off!!!

— cordarrelle patterson (@ceeflashpee84) July 28, 2025

Patterson, 34, played a 12^th NFL season last year for the Steelers. But he made little impact and, in 2025, was rarely spotted on a practice field over organized team activities and other summer team functions. Though he was at Saint Vincent College over the past week since camp opened, Patterson was not practicing. Coach Mike Tomlin made only vague references to an injury, but Patterson did not open up camp on the physically unable to perform list — standard practice for an injured player.

Teammates last season referred to Patterson as “a gold-jacket guy” implying he will be a future Hall of Fame inductee. Patterson holds the NFL record for career kickoff touchdown returns with nine. But he hasn’t had one since 2022 while playing for the Atlanta Falcons. It was for three seasons with that team that Patterson’s head coach was current Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.

Smith, though, never really integrated Patterson into the offense in 2024 after Patterson signed a two-year, $6 million deal last spring. The timing of the signing — just after the NFL modified its kickoff rules in an attempt to create more returns — suggested Patterson would be deployed heavily back deep for kickoffs.

But Patterson’s raw 2024 return numbers were some of the worst in the league (21.8-yard average), the worst of his career and worse than the other Steelers who returned at least four kickoffs (Jaylen Warren and Aaron Shampklin).

Patterson also was used sparingly on offense — 32 rushing attempts for 135 yards, 12 catches for 80 yards, one touchdown. A first-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings in 2013, Patterson entered the league as a receiver but had some of his greatest moments on offense as a running back for the Falcons and the New England Patriots’ Super Bowl-winning team in 2018.

Patterson also played for the then-Oakland Raiders and the Chicago Bears.

His release saves the Steelers his scheduled $2.8 million salary and cap hit this season, although there remains a $950,000 “dead money” charge to account for.

At running back, the Steelers have Warren, free-agent signee and third-down back Kenneth Gainwell and rookie third-round pick Kaleb Johnson, among others.

The Steelers did not immediately confirm the move or announce a corresponding roster move.