NFL Yearly Leaders - Punt Return Yards

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

      Punt Returns
Year Player Team Num Yds Avg Lg TD
2020 G. Olszewski NE 20 346 17.3 70t 1
2019 D. Harris NO 36 338 9.4 53t 1
2018 T. Cohen Chi 33 411 12.5 44 0
2017 J. Agnew Det 29 447 15.4 88t 2
2016 T. Hill KC 39 592 15.2 95t 2
2015 D. Sproles Phi 38 446 11.7 89t 2
2014 D. Sproles Phi 39 506 13.0 82t 2
2013 D. McCluster KC 58 686 11.8 89t 2
2012 J. Cribbs Cle 38 457 12.0 60 0
2011 P. Peterson Ari 44 699 15.9 99t 4
2010 D. Hester Chi 33 564 17.1 89t 3
2009 Q. Cosby Cin 40 474 11.8 60 0
2008 J. Higgins Oak 44 570 13.0 93t 3
2007 N. Burleson Sea 58 658 11.3 94t 1
2006 D. Hester Chi 47 600 12.8 84t 3
2005 M. Jones TB 51 492 9.6 31 0
2004 B. Sams Bal 55 575 10.5 78t 2
2003 A. Rossum Atl 39 545 14.0 72 1
2002 M. Lewis NO 44 625 14.2 83t 1
2001 J. Lewis Bal 42 519 12.4 62 0
2000 D. Mason Ten 51 662 13.0 69t 1
1999 T. Vanover KC 51 627 12.3 84t 2
1998 R. Barlow Jax 43 555 12.9 85t 1
1997 L. Johnson NYJ 51 619 12.1 66t 1
1996 D. Howard GB 58 875 15.1 92t 3
1995 T. Vanover KC 51 540 10.6 86t 1
1994 T. Brown LAR 40 487 12.2 48 0
1993 T. Hughes NO 37 503 13.6 83t 2
1992 K. Martin Dal 42 532 12.7 79t 2
1991 B. Mitchell Was 45 600 13.3 69t 2
1990 D. Meggett NYG 43 467 10.9 68t 1
1989 D. Meggett NYG 46 582 12.7 76t 1
1988 J. Taylor SF 44 556 12.6 95t 2
1987 V. Sikahema Stl 44 550 12.5 76t 1
1986 V. Sikahema Stl 43 522 12.1 71t 2
1985 F. Walker LAR 62 692 11.2 32 0
1984 L. Lipps Pit 53 656 12.4 76t 1
1983 G. Pruitt LAR 58 666 11.5 97t 1
1982 L. Bright NYG 37 325 8.8 33 0
1981 L. Irvin LA 46 615 13.4 84t 3
1980 J. Smith KC 40 581 14.5 75t 2
1979 J. Smith KC 58 612 10.6 88t 2
1978 J. Wallace LA 52 618 11.9 58 0
1977 R. Upchurch Den 51 653 12.8 87t 1
1976 E. Brown Was 48 646 13.5 71t 1
1975 N. Colzie Oak 48 655 13.6 64 0
1974 L. Swann Pit 41 577 14.1 69 1
1973 B. Thompson Den 30 366 12.2 53 0
1972 B. Laird Bal 34 303 8.9 42 0
1971 J. Scott Mia 33 318 9.6 31 0
1970 B. Taylor SF 43 516 12.0 76 0
1969 J. LeVias (AFL) Hou 35 292 8.3 46 0
  A. Haymond (NFL) LA 33 435 13.2 52 0
1968 G. Atkinson (AFL) Oak 36 490 13.6 86t 2
  C. Latourette (NFL) Stl 28 345 12.3 86t 1
1967 R. Bird (AFL) Oak 46 612 13.3 78 0
  B. Hayes (NFL) Dal 24 276 11.5 69t 1
1966 R. Bird (AFL) Oak 37 323 8.7 42 0
  A. Haymond (NFL) Bal 40 347 8.7 64 0
1965 S. Duncan (AFL) SD 30 464 15.5 66t 2
  A. Haymond (NFL) Bal 41 403 9.8 55 0
1964 C. Gibson (AFL) Oak 29 419 14.4 58 0
  M. Renfro (NFL) Dal 32 418 13.1 69t 1
1963 C. Gibson (AFL) Oak 26 307 11.8 85 2
  T. Watkins (NFL) Det 32 399 12.5 90t 1
1962 D. Christy (AFL) NYT 15 250 16.7 73t 2
  P. Studstill (NFL) Det 29 457 15.8 44 0
1961 D. Christy (AFL) NYT 18 383 21.3 70t 2
  J. Sample (NFL) Pit 26 283 10.9 55t 1
1960 A. Haynes (AFL) DalT 14 215 15.4 46 0
  A. Woodson (NFL) SF 13 174 13.4 48 0
1959 B. Stacy ChiC 29 281 9.7 74t 2
1958 J. Arnett LA 18 223 12.4 58 0
1957 B. Zagers Was 14 217 15.5 76t 2
1956 C. Taseff Bal 27 233 8.6 90t 1
1955 O. Matson ChiC 13 245 18.8 78t 2
1954 V. Switzer GB 24 306 12.8 93t 1
1953 W. Lewis LA 35 267 7.6 78t 1
1952 E. Tunnell NYG 30 411 13.7 60 0
1951 E. Tunnell NYG 34 489 14.4 81t 3
1950 B. Grimes GB 29 555 19.1 85 2