Jaret Patterson

Jaret Patterson (born December 23, 1998) is an American professional football running back. He played college football for the Buffalo Bulls before signing with the Washington Commanders, then known as the Washington Football Team, as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Alongside Howard Griffith, Patterson holds the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision record for most rushing touchdowns in a single game with eight.

Early life Patterson attended St. Vincent Pallotti High School in Laurel, Maryland, where he played football with future NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Washington Commanders teammate Chase Young. Patterson rushed for 2,045 yards and 23 touchdowns in his senior season. In a game against Riverdale Baptist he accounted for 558 all-purpose yards. Patterson was named an All-State Honorable Mention. He committed to the University at Buffalo to play college football in the Mid-American Conference. Patterson was not as heavily recruited out of high school compared to his twin brother James and the two were recruited to Buffalo as a package deal.

College career Patterson and his brother grayshirted in the fall of 2017 and joined the team full-time for spring practice in 2018. In his freshman season in 2018, Patterson rushed for 1,013 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was named the Mid-American Conference Freshman of the Year and named to the All-MAC Second-team. He returned as Buffalo's starting running back in 2019 and had the best season by a running back in school history by rushing for a single-season school record 1,799 yards and scoring 19 rushing touchdowns, also a school record. He led the MAC and ranked fifth in the nation in rushing yards on his way to being named to the All-MAC First-team. In the 2019 Bahamas Bowl, Patterson rushed for 173 yards and two touchdowns in a Buffalo win, their first bowl win in program history, and received the game's offensive MVP award.

On November 28, 2020, Patterson tied Howard Griffith's FBS single-game record with eight rushing touchdowns against the Kent State Golden Flashes in a 70–41 win. Patterson finished the game with 36 carries for 409 yards, 18 yards short of the single-game FBS record set by former Oklahoma Sooners running back Samaje Perine in 2014. Patterson was forced to sit out Buffalo's appearance in the 2020 Camellia Bowl, due to knee issues. Following the season, Patterson was named the conference's Offensive Player of the Year and was given the Vern Smith Leadership Award as the conference's most valuable player. Patterson declared for the 2021 NFL draft following his junior year.

Records Buffalo Bulls Most rushing yards in a single game (409) Most rushing yards in a single season (1,799) Most rushing touchdowns in a single season (19)

NCAA Tied for most touchdowns in a single game (8) Tied for most points in a single game (48)

College statistics

Professional career

Washington Football Team / Commanders (first stint)

Patterson signed with the Washington Football Team on May 3, 2021, after going unselected in the 2021 NFL draft. Patterson performed well enough in the 2021 preseason to receive praise from head coach Ron Rivera. He was ultimately named to the team's final roster over veteran running back Peyton Barber.

Prior to the first game of the regular season, Patterson was listed as the third running back on the depth chart behind Antonio Gibson and J. D. McKissic. He made his pro football debut in the first week of the season with two rushes for nine yards on four offensive snaps. After playing only on special teams in the following two games, he recorded his first reception in the fourth week of the season on the first target of his career. It was good for eleven yards and a first down. Patterson would get his first career start in Week 17 against the Eagles in place of Antonio Gibson, who was on the team's COVID-19 reserve list. In the game, he recorded 57 rushing yards on 12 carries, his second career touchdown, and 41 receiving yards on five receptions.

On August 30, 2022, Patterson was waived by the Commanders and signed to the practice squad the next day. He spent the entire 2022 season on the practice squad until November 14 when he was activated for that night's game following injuries to Gibson and McKissic. The majority of the carries went to Brian Robinson Jr., however, and Patterson only appeared on four plays on special teams. Patterson appeared in a game on January 1 and returned kicks for the first time in his NFL career, picking up 70 yards on three opportunities. He was signed to the active roster again on January 5, 2023. Patterson got his first touches on offense in the final game of the season in a winning effort. Although on the bench behind Jonathan Williams, he led the team with 17 carries and 78 rushing yards, both of which set career highs.

Los Angeles Chargers On September 13, 2023, the Los Angeles Chargers signed Patterson to their practice squad. He was released on December 20.

Washington Commanders (second stint) On December 26, 2023, Patterson signed with the practice squad of the Washington Commanders. He became a free agent when his practice squad contract expired after the season.

Los Angeles Chargers (second stint) On January 10, 2024, Patterson signed a reserve/future contract with the Los Angeles Chargers. He was waived on August 29 and re-signed to the practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on December 7, and appeared in one special teams play for the Chargers the following day against the Kansas City Chiefs. It would be his only appearance that season.

Patterson signed a reserve/future contract with Los Angeles on January 13, 2025. On August 26, Patterson was released with an injury settlement by the Chargers as part of final roster cuts before the start of the 2025 season. On October 14, Patterson was re-signed to the practice squad. He was promoted to the active roster on November 29. Patterson was waived by the Chargers following Omarion Hampton's return from injury on December 8. He was re-signed to the team's practice squad two days later. Patterson was promoted back to the active roster on December 23.

On August 30, 2026, the Chargers released Patterson as part of final roster cuts before the start of the 2026 season.