Blue Bombers name former Grey Cup champion Darrell Patterson as defensive line coach

Photo courtesy: Scott Grant / CFLPhotoArchive.com

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers have named Darrell Patterson to the 2021 coaching staff as the new defensive line coach.

Patterson played for the club from 1984 to 1987 and was a member of the 1984 Grey Cup championship team. He brings extensive coaching experience to Winnipeg’s staff, having most recently served as an assistant coach/defensive analyst at TCU (2018-2020) following a long run at Rice (2007-2017).

Patterson worked with the Rice linebackers for eight years and in his last six years with the program was also the assistant head coach. In addition, he spent seven years as the Rice special-teams coordinator and four as the run-game coordinator.

With his connections to Canada, Patterson led the school’s recruiting efforts in this country and helped Rice land eight Canadians over a nine-year span, including long-time NFL tight end Luke Willson, defensive end Christian Covington, offensive lineman Scott Mitchell, and offensive lineman Peter Godber.

Prior to his days at Rice, Patterson worked at Stanford University (2005-2007), Southern Methodist (2003-2004), Baylor (2002), Arkansas State (2001), Kentucky (1997-00), Temple (1995-96), and Akron (1992-94). He began his coaching career as an intern with the B.C. Lions in 1991.

A standout linebacker at TCU during his playing days from 1979-82, Patterson is a member of the school’s Hall of Fame and remains the school’s all-time leader in tackles. He was selected by the New York Giants in the sixth round of the 1983 NFL Draft and first made his way north to Winnipeg and the Blue Bombers in 1984.

He would suit up for 49 regular season games with the Bombers from 1984-1987 before moving on to the Ottawa Rough Riders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats. His best season statistically came in 1987, when he finished with eight sacks, behind only Blue Bomber Hall of Famers Tyrone Jones and Mike Gray.