NFL Single Season Leaders - Punt Return Average

The following is a list of the NFL single season punt return leaders ranked by punt return average. Statistics are current through the 2020 NFL season and include stats accrued in NFL, AFL and APFA games.

Active players are listed in bold.

Leaders based on 20 punt returns

      Punt Returns
Player Season Team Num Yds Avg Lg TD
1. B. Grimes 1950 GB 29 555 19.1 85 2
2. L. McKelvin 2012 Buf 23 431 18.7 88t 2
3. G. Olszewski 2020 NE 20 346 17.3 70t 1
4. D. Hester 2010 Chi 33 564 17.1 89t 3
5. J. Williams 2002 SF 20 336 16.8 89t 1
6. S. Moss 2002 NYJ 25 413 16.5 63t 2
7. R. Parrish 2007 Buf 27 440 16.3 74t 1
8. D. Hall 2003 KC 29 472 16.3 93t 2
9. D. Hester 2011 Chi 28 454 16.2 82t 2
10. D. Harris 2012 Dal 22 354 16.1 78t 1
11. J. Lewis 2000 Bal 36 578 16.1 89t 2
12. P. Peterson 2011 Ari 44 699 15.9 99t 4
13. V. Smith 1949 LA 27 427 15.8 85 1
14. P. Studstill 1962 Det 29 457 15.8 44 0
15. M. Martin 1984 Cin 24 376 15.7 55 0
16. D. Sanders 1998 Dal 24 375 15.6 69t 2
17. T. Doss 2013 Bal 23 359 15.6 82t 1
18. J. Lewis 1997 Bal 28 437 15.6 89t 2
19. W. Slater 1947 Pit 28 435 15.5 33 0
20. D. Hester 2007 Chi 42 651 15.5 89t 4
21. S. Duncan 1965 SD 30 464 15.5 66t 2
22. J. Agnew 2017 Det 29 447 15.4 88t 2
23. M. Gray 1991 Det 25 385 15.4 78t 1
  B. Johnson 1977 Hou 35 539 15.4 87t 2
25. R. Parrish 2008 Buf 21 322 15.3 63t 1
26. B. Johnson 1975 Hou 40 612 15.3 83t 3
  B. Westbrook 2003 Phi 20 306 15.3 84t 2
28. J. Edelman 2010 NE 21 321 15.3 94t 1
29. A. Hakim 2000 Stl 32 489 15.3 86t 1
30. R. Mathews 1952 Pit 26 397 15.3 70t 2
31. J. Williams 1952 Was 24 366 15.2 74t 2
32. M. Sherels 2013 Min 22 335 15.2 86t 1
33. D. Jackson 2009 Phi 29 441 15.2 85t 2
34. T. Hill 2016 KC 39 592 15.2 95t 2
35. J. Green 1998 TB 30 453 15.1 95t 1
36. D. Howard 1996 GB 58 875 15.1 92t 3
37. D. Gordon 1996 SD 36 537 14.9 81t 1
38. M. Herron 1974 NE 35 517 14.8 66 0
39. D. Howard 2000 Det 31 457 14.7 95t 1
40. D. Northcutt 2002 Cle 25 367 14.7 87t 2
41. M. Gray 1987 NO 24 352 14.7 80 0
42. E. Kennison 1996 Stl 29 423 14.6 78t 2
43. J. Smith 1980 KC 40 581 14.5 75t 2
44. T. Harmon 1947 LA 27 392 14.5 88t 1
45. C. Rogers 1999 Sea 22 318 14.5 94t 1
46. C. Gibson 1964 Oak 29 419 14.4 58 0
47. E. Tunnell 1951 NYG 34 489 14.4 81t 3
48. B. Dudley 1946 Pit 27 385 14.3 52 0
49. T. Brown 2001 NE 29 413 14.2 85t 2
50. M. Lewis 2002 NO 44 625 14.2 83t 1