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Year-by-Year Fumble Return Yards Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | Yds | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | O.J. Atogwe (27) | 75 | STL |
| 2007 | Daryl Smith (25) | 77 | JAX |
| 2006 | Adrian Wilson (27) | 99 | ARI |
| 2005 | DeAngelo Hall (22) | 86 | ATL |
| 2004 | Mike Brown (26) | 95 | CHI |
| 2003 | Dre' Bly (26) | 113 | DET |
| 2002 | Mike Brown (24) | 106 | CHI |
| 2001 | Brian Urlacher (23) | 101 | CHI |
| 2000 | Aeneas Williams (32) | 104 | ARI |
| 1999 | Travis Davis (26) | 102 | PIT |
| 1998 | Dwayne Rudd (22) | 157 | MIN |
| 1997 | Paul Bradford (23) | 78 | SDG |
| 1996 | Carnell Lake (29) | 85 | PIT |
| 1995 | Lee Woodall (26) | 98 | SFO |
| 1994 | Tyrone Hughes (24) | 128 | NOR |
| 1993 | Marcus Robertson (24) | 107 | HOU |
| 1992 | Stevon Moore (25) | 115 | CLE |
| 1991 | Chris Martin (31) | 100 | KAN |
| 1990 | Terry Kinard (31) | 72 | HOU |
| 1989 | Erik McMillan (24) | 119 | NYJ |
| 1988 | Sam Seale (26) | 50 | SDG |
| Mel Jenkins (26) | 50 | SEA | |
| 1987 | Mark D. Jackson (25) | 77 | STL |
| 1986 | Robert Lyles (25) | 93 | HOU |
| 1985 | Jacob Green (28) | 79 | SEA |
| 1984 | Andy Headen (24) | 81 | NYG |
| 1983 | Greg Best (23) | 94 | PIT |
| 1982 | Bob Glazebrook (26) | 91 | ATL |
| 1981 | Gary Spani (25) | 91 | KAN |
| 1980 | Cedric Brown (26) | 80 | TAM |
| 1979 | Bob Swenson (26) | 93 | DEN |
| 1978 | Charlie Phillips (26) | 127 | OAK |
| 1977 | Zeke Moore (34) | 68 | HOU |
| 1976 | C.L. Whittington (24) | 96 | HOU |
| 1975 | Lem Barney+ (30) | 74 | DET |
| 1974 | Joe Lavender (25) | 96 | PHI |
| 1973 | Phil Wise (24) | 80 | NYJ |
| Bill Thompson (27) | 80 | DEN | |
| 1972 | Jack Tatum (24) | 104 | OAK |
| 1971 | Ken Houston+ (27) | 71 | HOU |
| 1970 | Alan Page+ (25) | 77 | MIN |
| 1969 | Larry Wilson+ (31) | 88 | STL |
| Booker Edgerson (30) | 39 | BUF | |
| 1968 | Jim Smith (22) | 61 | WAS |
| Jim Hunt (30) | 51 | BOS | |
| 1967 | Dan Conners (26) | 73 | OAK |
| Earsell Mackbee (26) | 59 | MIN | |
| 1966 | Chuck Howley (30) | 97 | DAL |
| 1965 | Dick Lynch (29) | 84 | NYG |
| 1964 | Jim Bradshaw (25) | 80 | PIT |
| 1963 | Bob Lilly+ (24) | 42 | DAL |
| Larry Wilson+ (25) | 42 | STL | |
| 1962 | Ed Sharockman (23) | 88 | MIN |
| 1961 | Jim Katcavage (27) | 38 | NYG |
| 1960 | Lindon Crow (27) | 65 | NYG |
| 1959 | George Tarasovic (29) | 57 | PIT |
| 1958 | Charlie Sumner (28) | 101 | CHI |
| 1957 | Don R. Paul (31) | 89 | CLE |
| 1956 | John Paluck (21) | 76 | WAS |
| 1955 | Richie McCabe (22) | 76 | PIT |
| 1954 | Larry Brink (31) | 84 | CHI |
| 1953 | Jerry Helluin (24) | 42 | CLE |
| 1952 | Lou Ferry (25) | 71 | PIT |
| 1951 | Art Tait (22) | 70 | NYY |
| 1950 | Dub Garrett (25) | 62 | CHI |
| 1949 | Tommy Mont (27) | 45 | WAS |
| 1948 | Dick Poillon (28) | 93 | WAS |
| 1947 | Vince Banonis (26) | 83 | CRD |
| 1946 | Don Wells (24) | 47 | GNB |
| 1945 | Charley Brock (29) | 52 | GNB |