NFL Yearly Leaders - Kickoff Returns

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

      Kickoff Returns
Year Player Team Num Yds Avg Lg TD
2020 C. Patterson Chi 35 1,017 29.1 104 1
2019 S. Sims Was 32 819 25.6 91t 1
2018 A. Erickson Cin 40 1,049 26.2 77 0
  A. Roberts NYJ 40 1,174 29.4 99t 1
2017 A. Roberts Atl 38 860 22.6 61 0
2016 D. Thompson Chi 35 804 23.0 64 0
2015 A. Abdullah Det 37 1,077 29.1 104 0
2014 D. Hester Atl 45 1,128 25.1 66 0
2013 D. Hester Chi 52 1,436 27.6 80 0
2012 D. Wilson NYG 57 1,533 26.9 97t 1
2011 B. Banks Was 51 1,174 23.0 47 0
2010 M. Mariani Ten 60 1,530 25.5 98t 1
2009 D. Amendola Stl 66 1,618 24.5 58 0
2008 J. Wilson Sea 69 1,753 25.4 61 0
2007 T. Ginn Mia 63 1,433 22.7 52 0
  M. Hicks SF 63 1,502 23.8 55 0
2006 C. Carr Oak 69 1,762 25.5 50 0
2005 C. Carr Oak 73 1,752 24.0 62 0
2004 D. Hall KC 68 1,718 25.3 97t 2
2003 J. Scobey Ari 73 1,684 23.1 100 1
2002 M. Lewis NO 70 1,807 25.8 97t 2
2001 D. Vaughn Atl 61 1,491 24.4 96t 1
2000 M. Jenkins Ari 82 2,186 26.7 98t 1
1999 B. Marion Mia 62 1,524 24.6 93 0
1998 G. Milburn Chi 62 1,550 25.0 94t 2
1997 D. Howard Oak 61 1,318 21.6 45 0
1996 T. Hughes NO 70 1,791 25.6 58 0
1995 T. Hughes NO 66 1,617 24.5 83 0
1994 T. Hughes NO 63 1,556 24.7 98t 2
1993 C. Verdin Ind 50 1,050 21.0 38 0
1992 M. Gray Det 42 1,006 24.0 89t 1
1991 R. Woodson Pit 44 880 20.0 47 0
1990 E. Metcalf Cle 52 1,052 20.2 102 2
1989 R. Brown LA 47 968 20.6 74 0
  J. Dixon Dal 47 1,181 25.1 97t 1
1988 T. Brown LAR 41 1,098 26.8 97t 1
  J. Cribbs Mia 41 863 21.0 44 0
1987 P. Palmer KC 38 923 24.3 95t 2
1986 H. Hunter Det 49 1,007 20.6 54 0
1985 B. Rhymes Min 53 1,345 25.4 88 0
1984 L. James SD 43 959 22.3 55 0
1983 R. Fellows Dal 43 855 19.9 53 0
1982 J. Brooks SD 33 749 22.7 47 0
1981 D. Hill LA 60 1,170 19.5 50 0
1980 E. Payton Min 53 1,184 22.3 59 0
1979 B. Harper NYJ 55 1,158 21.1 52 0
  D. Turner Cin 55 1,149 20.9 36 0
1978 B. Harper NYJ 55 1,280 23.3 40 0
1977 B. Harper NYJ 42 1,035 24.6 60 0
1976 L. Piccone NYJ 31 699 22.5 58 0
1975 L. Jones Was 47 1,086 23.1 44 0
1974 L. Piccone NYJ 39 961 24.6 46 0
1973 M. Herron NE 41 1,092 26.6 92t 1
1972 M. Adkins NO 43 1,020 23.7 61 0
1971 D. Hampton GB 46 1,314 28.6 90t 1
1970 M. Battle NYJ 40 891 22.3 41 0
1969 M. Morris (AFL) Mia 43 1,136 26.4 106 1
  P. Pearson (NFL) Bal 31 706 22.8 51 0
1968 M. Anderson (AFL) Buf 39 971 24.9 100 1
  C. Latourette (NFL) Stl 46 1,237 26.9 75 0
1967 N. Smith (AFL) KC 41 1,148 28.0 106 1
  R. Smith (NFL) Atl 39 976 25.0 99t 1
1966 B. Jancik (AFL) Hou 34 875 25.7 53 0
  R. Smith (NFL) Atl 43 1,013 23.6 80 0
1965 A. Haynes (AFL) Den 34 901 26.5 60 0
  K. Alexander (NFL) SF 32 741 23.2 46 0
1964 O. Barry (AFL) Den 47 1,245 26.5 60 0
  M. Renfro (NFL) Dal 40 1,017 25.4 65 0
1963 B. Jancik (AFL) Hou 45 1,317 29.3 53 0
  T. Brown (NFL) Phi 33 945 28.6 100 1
  B. Butler (NFL) Min 33 713 21.6 35 0
1962 D. Christy (AFL) NYT 38 824 21.7 43 0
  A. Woodson (NFL) SF 37 1,157 31.3 79 0
1961 G. Fleming (AFL) Oak 29 588 20.3 36 0
  T. Brown (NFL) Phi 29 811 28.0 106 1
1960 L. Burton (AFL) NYT 30 862 28.7 102 2
  J. Larscheid (AFL) Oak 30 852 28.4 0 0
  T. Dean (NFL) Phi 26 533 20.5 30 0
  T. Franckhauser (NFL) Dal 26 526 20.2 32 0
1959 L. Lyles SF 25 565 22.6 46 0
1958 J. Sears ChiC 32 756 23.6 50 0
1957 A. Carmichael GB 31 690 22.3 33 0
1956 A. Carmichael GB 33 927 28.1 106 1
1955 S. Watson Pit 27 716 26.5 49 0
1954 W. Lewis LA 34 836 24.6 88t 1
1953 W. Lewis LA 32 830 25.9 69 0
1952 B. Baggett DalT 23 567 24.7 82 0
  B. Young DalT 23 643 28.0 63 0
1951 G. Taliaferro NYY 27 622 23.0 47 0
1950 D. Paul ChiC 28 693 24.8 46 0