Two Chicago Bears have been named to USA Today’s All-Decade Team: Outside linebacker Khalil Mack and kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson.
While both haven’t been with the Bears for very long — Mack is in his second year and Patterson his first with Chicago — they’ve already had lasting impacts on the franchise.
In Mack’s first season with the Bears, he amassed 12.5 sacks, a career-high six forced fumbles and 18 quarterback hits. But even more than that, it was his presence on the field that added a new wrinkle to Chicago’s defense. Even when he’s not making an impact on the box score, he’s affecting every play.
Before Mack was traded to the Bears in 2018, he established himself as one of the NFL’s best defenders with the Oakland Raiders. In 2016, Mack was named Defensive Player of the Year following a season where he registered 15.0 sacks and 23 tackles-for-loss. Mack has now been voted to five straight Pro Bowls (three with the Raiders, two with the Bears).
In Patterson’s first season with the Bears, he’s breathed life into Chicago’s kick return game. He ranks second in the league with a 29.6-yard average on 27 kickoff returns, and he’s ran one back 102 yards for a touchdown against the Saints. More than a kick returner, Patterson has proven to be an impressive gunner on special teams.
When the Bears signed Patterson in the offseason, they were adding a dynamic weapon that affected plays on both offense and special teams. Patterson ranks second in NFL history averaging 29.9 yards on 203 kickoff returns. He also ranks third all-time on the NFL’s kickoff return touchdowns list with seven.
