Cordarrelle Patterson won a Super Bowl with the New England Patriots and built a career as one of the NFL’s most prolific kick returners, but early Saturday brought a different kind of attention. TMZ reports the former NFL player was booked into a Tennessee jail.

According to TMZ, Patterson was arrested early Saturday, October 17, 2026, in Tennessee on a domestic assault charge. He was booked into the Sevier County Jail. 

While details of the charges and the incidents are still emerging, Cordarelle’s life with his wife isn’t a secret. He got married to Taylor Quick in July back in 2024, but have known each other for roughly eight years before that. The couple also has three children, with Quick often posting about them on social media. 

At the moment, Patterson is without an NFL team. He was released back in July 2025, with previous stints at the Minnesota Vikings, Oakland Raiders, as well as the Atlanta Falcons, totaling up to 12 seasons multipurpose player, having played as a wide receiver and running back. 

But he’ll be remembered mostly for what he did on special teams. Patterson holds the NFL record with nine kickoff return touchdowns, including a return of 109 yards against Green Bay in 2013 that is still the longest in league history.

During this time, Patterson won a title with the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII on February 3, 2019, when New England beat the Rams 13-3. Patterson’s role that night was small. He caught two passes for 14 yards and ran twice for seven, which added up to 21 yards from scrimmage.

Patterson didn’t sound especially sentimental about that win when Red Line Media’s Justin Turpin asked him about it

“What’s it like to be a Super Bowl champ? Honestly, that Super Bowl don’t mean sh-t to me, know what I’m saying?” Patterson said. “I’m in a new era right now, I’m on a new team, so it’s a new opportunity for me to bring my legacy (and let it) live on to another team. So whatever happened in the last year, in the past, that’s in the past so I’m just moving forward.”

Coming back to his arrest, the incident comes more than a year after his playing days quietly wound down. The Pittsburgh Steelers let him go with a year left on his contract during training camp in July 2025. He broke the news with a sarcastic tweet:

“Breaking news,” he wrote. “Pittsburgh Steelers release old washed up cordarrelle patterson on his day off!!!”

In Patterson’s absence, Kenneth Gainwell led the team with 26 returns for 633 yards, about 24.3 per attempt. He was later named team MVP.

With no roster to belong to in 2026, the case doesn’t directly affect any club right now.

As of the latest reports, Patterson hasn’t commented publicly, and police haven’t responded to requests for more information. Reports also indicate he had no earlier arrests or criminal charges before this October 2026 incident.

However, in case Patterson plans to return to the NFL, he may be subject to the league’s Personal Conduct Policy, meaning even if the chargers are dropped, it may not stop the league form conducting it’s own investigation. 

The Personal Conduct Policy lists out prohibited behaviors that are:

• Actual or threatened physical violence against another person, including dating violence, domestic violence, child abuse, and other forms of family violence
• Assault and/or battery, including sexual assault or other sex offenses
• Violent or threatening behavior toward another employee or a third party in any workplace setting
• Stalking, harassment, or similar forms of intimidation

First offenses can get a fine of upto six games, with repeat offenses invoking more severe penalties. The league can also modify the punishment based on its investigation.

We’re seeing something similar unfold with Tyreek Hill, who was found guilty in two of 10 counts related to domestic violence in a civil trial. The league is conducting an investigation into the matter, putting a dent in Hill’s hopes of singning with a team.