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Year-by-Year Kick Returns for Touchdown Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | TD | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Allen Rossum (33) | 1 | SFO |
| Leon Washington (26) | 1 | NYJ | |
| Darren Sproles (25) | 1 | SDG | |
| Clifton Smith (23) | 1 | TAM | |
| Leodis McKelvin (23) | 1 | BUF | |
| Felix Jones (21) | 1 | DAL | |
| Josh Cribbs (25) | 1 | CLE | |
| J.J. Arrington (25) | 1 | ARI | |
| 2007 | Leon Washington (25) | 3 | NYJ |
| Andre' Davis (28) | 3 | HOU | |
| 2006 | Justin Miller (22) | 2 | NYJ |
| Devin Hester (24) | 2 | CHI | |
| 2005 | Jerome Mathis (22) | 2 | HOU |
| 2004 | Terrence McGee (24) | 3 | BUF |
| 2003 | Jerry Azumah (26) | 2 | CHI |
| Dante Hall (25) | 2 | KAN | |
| 2002 | Kevin Faulk (26) | 2 | NWE |
| Chad Morton (25) | 2 | NYJ | |
| Michael Lewis (31) | 2 | NOR | |
| 2001 | Ronney Jenkins (24) | 2 | SDG |
| Steve Smith (22) | 2 | CAR | |
| 2000 | Darrick Vaughn (22) | 3 | ATL |
| 1999 | Michael Bates (30) | 2 | CAR |
| Tony Horne (23) | 2 | STL | |
| 1998 | Terry Fair (22) | 2 | DET |
| Glyn Milburn (27) | 2 | CHI | |
| Roell Preston (26) | 2 | GNB | |
| 1997 | Byron Hanspard (21) | 2 | ATL |
| 1996 | Derrick Witherspoon (25) | 2 | PHI |
| 1995 | Tamarick Vanover (21) | 2 | KAN |
| Andre Coleman (23) | 2 | SDG | |
| 1994 | Mel J. Gray (33) | 3 | DET |
| 1993 | Mel J. Gray (32) | 1 | DET |
| Tyrone Hughes (23) | 1 | NOR | |
| Tony Smith (23) | 1 | ATL | |
| Robert Brooks (23) | 1 | GNB | |
| 1992 | Deion Sanders (25) | 2 | ATL |
| 1991 | Dexter Carter (24) | 1 | SFO |
| Alexander Wright (24) | 1 | DAL | |
| Charles Wilson (23) | 1 | GNB | |
| Clarence Verdin (28) | 1 | IND | |
| Al Edwards (24) | 1 | BUF | |
| Jon Vaughn (21) | 1 | NWE | |
| Deion Sanders (24) | 1 | ATL | |
| Nate Lewis (25) | 1 | SDG | |
| 1990 | Eric Metcalf (22) | 2 | CLE |
| 1989 | James Dixon (22) | 1 | DAL |
| Marc Logan (24) | 1 | MIA | |
| Rod Woodson (24) | 1 | PIT | |
| Herschel Walker (27) | 1 | 2TM | |
| Thomas Sanders (27) | 1 | CHI | |
| Bobby Morse (24) | 1 | NOR | |
| Anthony Miller (24) | 1 | SDG | |
| Joe P. Johnson (27) | 1 | WAS | |
| James Jefferson (26) | 1 | SEA | |
| 1988 | Lorenzo White (22) | 1 | HOU |
| Dwight Stone (24) | 1 | PIT | |
| Tim Brown (22) | 1 | RAI | |
| Jamie Holland (24) | 1 | SDG | |
| Sammy Martin (23) | 1 | NWE | |
| Anthony Miller (23) | 1 | SDG | |
| Rod Woodson (23) | 1 | PIT | |
| Stanford Jennings (26) | 1 | CIN | |
| 1987 | Paul Palmer (23) | 2 | KAN |
| 1986 | Dennis Gentry (27) | 1 | CHI |
| Mel J. Gray (25) | 1 | NOR | |
| Boyce Green (26) | 1 | KAN | |
| Jo-Jo Townsell (26) | 1 | NYJ | |
| Lew Barnes (24) | 1 | CHI | |
| Gerald McNeil (24) | 1 | CLE | |
| Bobby Humphery (25) | 1 | NYJ | |
| 1985 | Ron J. Brown (24) | 3 | RAM |
| 1984 | Mike Guman (26) | 1 | RAM |
| Andre Waters (22) | 1 | PHI | |
| Phil Smith (24) | 1 | IND | |
| Del Rodgers (24) | 1 | GNB | |
| Bobby Humphery (23) | 1 | NYJ | |
| 1983 | Steve Brown (23) | 1 | HOU |
| Carl Roaches (30) | 1 | HOU | |
| Zachary Dixon (27) | 1 | 2TM | |
| 1982 | Ricky Smith (22) | 1 | NWE |
| Alvin Hall (24) | 1 | DET | |
| 1981 | Amos Lawrence (23) | 1 | SFO |
| Fulton Walker (23) | 1 | MIA | |
| Eddie Payton (30) | 1 | MIN | |
| Willie Tullis (23) | 1 | HOU | |
| Carl Roaches (28) | 1 | HOU | |
| 1980 | Ray Williams (22) | 1 | DET |
| Drew Hill (24) | 1 | RAM | |
| Keith Nord (23) | 1 | MIN | |
| Arthur Whittington (25) | 1 | OAK | |
| James Owens (25) | 1 | SFO | |
| Dave Williams (26) | 1 | CHI | |
| Horace Ivory (26) | 1 | NWE | |
| Derrick Jensen (24) | 1 | OAK | |
| 1979 | Billy Campfield (23) | 1 | PHI |
| Ira Matthews (22) | 1 | OAK | |
| Rickey Watts (22) | 1 | CHI | |
| Aundra Thompson (26) | 1 | GNB | |
| James Owens (24) | 1 | SFO | |
| Roy Green (22) | 1 | STL | |
| 1978 | Dave Williams (24) | 1 | SFO |
| Tony Green (22) | 1 | WAS | |
| Joe Washington (25) | 1 | BAL | |
| Larry Anderson (22) | 1 | PIT | |
| Curtis Brown (24) | 1 | BUF | |
| Dennis Pearson (23) | 1 | ATL | |
| Steve Odom (26) | 1 | GNB | |
| 1977 | Raymond Clayborn (22) | 3 | NWE |
| 1976 | Willie Shelby (23) | 1 | CIN |
| Cullen Bryant (25) | 1 | RAM | |
| 1975 | Billy Johnson (23) | 1 | HOU |
| Allen Carter (23) | 1 | NWE | |
| Mike Collier (22) | 1 | PIT | |
| Steve Odom (23) | 1 | GNB | |
| Terry Metcalf (24) | 1 | STL | |
| Harold Hart (23) | 1 | OAK | |
| Thomas Henderson (22) | 1 | DAL | |
| 1974 | Greg Pruitt (23) | 1 | CLE |
| Terry Metcalf (23) | 1 | STL | |
| Cullen Bryant (23) | 1 | RAM | |
| Larry Jones (23) | 1 | WAS | |
| 1973 | Wallace Francis (22) | 2 | BUF |
| 1972 | Ron Smith (29) | 1 | CHI |
| Randy Montgomery (25) | 1 | DEN | |
| Vic Washington (26) | 1 | SFO | |
| Earl Thomas (24) | 1 | CHI | |
| Rocky Thompson (25) | 1 | NYG | |
| Don McCauley (23) | 1 | BAL | |
| 1971 | Ron Jessie (23) | 2 | DET |
| Ike Thomas (24) | 2 | DAL | |
| 1970 | Cecil Turner (26) | 4 | CHI |
| 1969 | Bobby Bell+ (29) | 1 | KAN |
| Mercury Morris (22) | 1 | MIA | |
| Mal Snider (22) | 1 | ATL | |
| Bobby Williams (27) | 1 | DET | |
| Dave Hampton (22) | 1 | GNB | |
| John Gilliam (24) | 1 | STL | |
| Travis Williams (23) | 1 | GNB | |
| Jim Duncan (23) | 1 | BAL | |
| Don McCall (25) | 1 | PIT | |
| 1968 | Preston Pearson (23) | 2 | BAL |
| Max Anderson (23) | 1 | BUF | |
| 1967 | Travis Williams (21) | 4 | GNB |
| Zeke Moore (24) | 1 | HOU | |
| Noland Smith (24) | 1 | KAN | |
| 1966 | Gale Sayers+ (23) | 2 | CHI |
| Timmy Brown (29) | 2 | PHI | |
| Goldie Sellers (24) | 2 | DEN | |
| 1965 | Charley Warner (25) | 2 | BUF |
| Mel Renfro+ (24) | 1 | DAL | |
| Lance Rentzel (22) | 1 | MIN | |
| Gale Sayers+ (22) | 1 | CHI | |
| 1964 | Clarence Childs (26) | 1 | NYG |
| Ode Burrell (25) | 1 | HOU | |
| Andy Livingston (20) | 1 | CHI | |
| 1963 | Abe Woodson (29) | 3 | SFO |
| Charley Mitchell (23) | 1 | DEN | |
| Dave Grayson (24) | 1 | KAN | |
| 1962 | Keith Lincoln (23) | 1 | SDG |
| Bo Roberson (27) | 1 | OAK | |
| Elbert Dubenion (29) | 1 | BUF | |
| Art Baker (25) | 1 | BUF | |
| Bobby Mitchell+ (27) | 1 | WAS | |
| Amos Marsh (23) | 1 | DAL | |
| Johnny Counts (23) | 1 | NYG | |
| Timmy Brown (25) | 1 | PHI | |
| Herb Adderley+ (23) | 1 | GNB | |
| Larry Garron (25) | 1 | BOS | |
| 1961 | Bobby Mitchell+ (26) | 1 | CLE |
| Timmy Brown (24) | 1 | PHI | |
| Jon Arnett (26) | 1 | RAM | |
| Abe Woodson (27) | 1 | SFO | |
| Pat Studstill (23) | 1 | DET | |
| Fred Brown (23) | 1 | BUF | |
| Ron Burton (25) | 1 | BOS | |
| Al Frazier (26) | 1 | DEN | |
| Abner Haynes (24) | 1 | DTX | |
| Larry Garron (24) | 1 | BOS | |
| 1960 | Leon Burton (25) | 2 | NYT |
| Lenny Lyles (24) | 1 | SFO | |
| Johnny Sample (23) | 1 | BAL | |
| Bobby Mitchell+ (25) | 1 | CLE | |
| 1959 | Abe Woodson (25) | 1 | SFO |
| 1958 | Lenny Lyles (22) | 2 | BAL |
| Ollie Matson+ (28) | 2 | CRD | |
| 1957 | Lenny Moore+ (24) | 1 | BAL |
| Billy Wells (26) | 1 | 2TM | |
| Jon Arnett (22) | 1 | RAM | |
| 1956 | Joe Arenas (31) | 1 | SFO |
| Don Bingham (27) | 1 | CHI | |
| Ollie Matson+ (26) | 1 | CRD | |
| Al Carmichael (28) | 1 | GNB | |
| Tommy Wilson (24) | 1 | RAM | |
| 1955 | Joe Scudero (25) | 1 | WAS |
| Jerry Norton (24) | 1 | PHI | |
| Jimmy Patton (22) | 1 | NYG | |
| Al Carmichael (27) | 1 | GNB | |
| 1954 | Les Goble (22) | 2 | CRD |
| 1953 | Buddy Young (27) | 1 | BAL |
| Lynn Chandnois (28) | 1 | PIT | |
| 1952 | Lynn Chandnois (27) | 2 | PIT |
| Ollie Matson+ (22) | 2 | CRD | |
| 1951 | Buddy Young (25) | 1 | NYY |
| Emlen Tunnell+ (26) | 1 | NYG | |
| 1950 | Vitamin Smith (27) | 3 | RAM |
| 1949 | Jack Salscheider (25) | 1 | NYG |
| Buddy Young (23) | 1 | NYY | |
| Dan Edwards (23) | 1 | CHH | |
| 1948 | Frank Minini (27) | 1 | CHI |
| Dan Sandifer (21) | 1 | WAS | |
| Joe Scott (22) | 1 | NYG | |
| Joe Perry+ (21) | 1 | SFO | |
| Fred Gehrke (30) | 1 | RAM | |
| 1947 | Eddie Saenz (25) | 2 | WAS |
| Bruce Alford (25) | 1 | NYY | |
| Buddy Young (21) | 1 | NYY | |
| Spec Sanders (29) | 1 | NYY | |
| Alex Wizbicki (26) | 1 | BUF | |
| Billy Hillenbrand (25) | 1 | BCL | |
| Chet Mutryn (26) | 1 | BUF | |
| 1946 | Abe Karnofsky (24) | 1 | BOS |
| Frank Seno (25) | 1 | CRD | |
| Bob Shaw (25) | 1 | RAM | |
| Elroy Hirsch+ (23) | 1 | CHR | |
| Spec Sanders (28) | 1 | NYY | |
| Chuck Fenenbock (29) | 1 | LAD | |
| Billy Hillenbrand (24) | 1 | CHR | |
| Edgar Jones (26) | 1 | CLE | |
| 1945 | Steve Van Buren+ (25) | 1 | PHI |
| 1944 | Art Van Tone (26) | 1 | DET |
| Elbie Schultz (27) | 1 | CRD | |
| Steve Van Buren+ (24) | 1 | PHI | |
| 1943 | Ned Mathews (25) | 1 | DET |
| Dante Magnani (26) | 1 | CHI | |
| 1942 | Bosh Pritchard (23) | 1 | 2TM |
| Marshall Goldberg (25) | 1 | CRD | |
| Andy Farkas (26) | 1 | WAS | |
| Andy Uram (27) | 1 | GNB | |
| Ray Hare (25) | 1 | WAS | |
| Bill Dudley+ (23) | 1 | PIT | |
| 1941 | Dante Magnani (24) | 1 | RAM |
| Billy Jefferson (23) | 1 | DET | |
| George McAfee+ (23) | 1 | CHI | |
| 1940 | George McAfee+ (22) | 1 | CHI |
| Bill Leckonby (23) | 1 | BKN | |
| Ray Nolting (27) | 1 | CHI | |
| 1939 | Andy Farkas (23) | 1 | WAS |
| 1938 | Dave Smukler (24) | 1 | PHI |
| 1937 | Johnny McNally+ (34) | 1 | PIT |
| 1935 | Cliff Battles+ (25) | 1 | BOS |
| Pug Rentner (25) | 1 | BOS | |
| 1934 | Homer Griffith (22) | 1 | CRD |
| Doug Russell (23) | 1 | CRD | |
| Harry Newman (25) | 1 | NYG | |
| 1932 | Oran Pape (28) | 1 | 2TM |