Follow WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS

© 2024 Winnipeg Blue Bombers. All rights reserved.

Menu

Darrell Patterson

Defensive Line Coach

Darrell Patterson enters his fourth season with the Blue Bombers in 2024 as the club’s defensive line coach.

The Blue Bombers defence has been the CFL’s stingiest over the last three seasons and the work of the defensive line plays a critical role in that success.

Winnipeg allowed the fewest points per game in 2023 (20.9), fewest yards (298.8), passing yards (229.4) and third in rushing yards (90.4). Dominant defensive end Willie Jefferson enjoyed another solid year while being named a CFL All-Star for the fifth time in his career.

A Blue Bombers alumnus, Patterson played for the club from 1984-87 and was a member of the 1984 Grey Cup championship team. Prior to joining the Blue Bombers, Patterson served as an assistant coach/defensive analyst with the Texas Christian Horned Frogs from 2018-2020 following a long run with the Rice Owls from 2007-17.

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 Wilson and defensive end Christian Covington as well as offensive linemen Scott Mitchell and Peter Godber. Prior to his days at Rice, Patterson worked at Stanford University (2005-07), Southern Methodist (2003-04), Baylor (2002), Arkansas State (2001), Kentucky (1997-00), Temple (1995-96), 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, 151st overall, 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 1984-87 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.