NFL Kick Return Yards Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1941)Subscribe Now (First Month Free)

For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
+ Indicates Hall of Famer, season age in parentheses

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Leaders

Leaders Table
Year Player Yds Tm
2023Keisean Nixon (26)782GNB
2022Keisean Nixon (25)1,009GNB
2021Andre Roberts (33)1,0102TM
2020Cordarrelle Patterson (29)1,017CHI
2019Cordarrelle Patterson (28)825CHI
2018Andre Roberts (30)1,174NYJ
2017Tyler Lockett (24)949SEA
2016Alex Erickson (23)810CIN
2015Ameer Abdullah (22)1,077DET
2014Devin Hester+ (31)1,128ATL
2013Devin Hester+ (30)1,436CHI
2012David Wilson (21)1,533NYG
2011Brandon Banks (23)1,174WAS
2010LaRod Stephens-Howling (23)1,548ARI
2009Danny Amendola (23)1,618STL
2008Josh Wilson (23)1,753SEA
2007Josh Cribbs (24)1,809CLE
2006Chris Carr (23)1,762OAK
2005Chris Carr (22)1,752OAK
2004Dante Hall (25)1,718KAN
2003Josh Scobey (23)1,684ARI
2002Michael Lewis (30)1,807NOR
2001Ronney Jenkins (24)1,541SDG
2000MarTay Jenkins (25)2,186ARI
1999Brock Marion (29)1,524MIA
1998Glyn Milburn (27)1,550CHI
1997Kevin Williams (26)1,458ARI
1996Tyrone Hughes (26)1,791NOR
1995Tyrone Hughes (25)1,617NOR
1994Tyrone Hughes (24)1,556NOR
1993Clarence Verdin (30)1,050IND
1992Deion Sanders+ (25)1,067ATL
1991Mel Gray (30)929DET
1990Eric Metcalf (22)1,052CLE
1989James Dixon (22)1,181DAL
1988Tim Brown+ (22)1,098RAI
1987Paul Palmer (22)923KAN
1986Herman Hunter (25)1,007DET
1986Tim McGee (22)1,007CIN
1985Buster Rhymes (23)1,345MIN
1984Lionel James (22)959SDG
1983Zachary Dixon (27)1,1712TM
1982James Brooks (23)749SDG
1981Stump Mitchell (22)1,292STL
1980Eddie Payton (29)1,184MIN
1979Bruce Harper (24)1,158NYJ
1978Bruce Harper (23)1,280NYJ
1977Bruce Harper (22)1,035NYJ
1976Willie Shelby (23)761CIN
1975Larry Jones (24)1,086WAS
1974Lou Piccone (25)961NYJ
1973Mack Herron (25)1,092NWE
1972Margene Adkins (25)1,020NOR
1971Dave Hampton (24)1,314GNB
1970Alvin Haymond (28)1,022RAM
1969Mercury Morris (22)1,136MIA
1969Bo Scott (26)722CLE
1968Chuck Latourette (23)1,237STL
1968Max Anderson (23)971BUF
1967Noland Smith (23)1,148KAN
1967Ron Smith (24)976ATL
1966Ron Smith (23)1,013ATL
1966Bobby Jancik (26)875HOU
1965Abner Haynes (27)901DEN
1965Kermit Alexander (24)741SFO
1964Odell Barry (22)1,245DEN
1964Mel Renfro+ (22)1,017DAL
1963Bobby Jancik (23)1,317HOU
1963Timmy Brown (26)945PHI
1962Abe Woodson (28)1,157SFO
1962Dick Christy (26)824NYT
1961Timmy Brown (24)811PHI
1961Frank Jackson (22)645DTX
1960Leon Burton (25)862NYT
1960Ted Dean (22)533PHI
1959Lenny Lyles (23)565SFO
1958Jimmy Sears (27)756CRD
1957Al Carmichael (28)690GNB
1956Al Carmichael (27)927GNB
1955Sid Watson (23)716PIT
1954Woodley Lewis (29)836RAM
1953Woodley Lewis (28)830RAM
1952Buddy Young (26)643DTX
1951George Taliaferro (24)622NYY
1950Vitamin Smith (26)742RAM
1949Herm Wedemeyer (25)602BCL
1949Don Doll (23)536DET
1948Dan Sandifer (21)594WAS
1948Monk Gafford (27)559BDA
1947Eddie Saenz (24)797WAS
1947Chet Mutryn (26)691BUF
1946Abe Karnofsky (23)599BOS
1946Chuck Fenenbock (28)479LAD
1945Frank Seno (24)408CRD
1944John Grigas (24)471CRD
1943Ken Heineman (25)444BKN
1942Marshall Goldberg (24)393CRD
1941Marshall Goldberg (23)290CRD