You Are Here > Pro-Football-Reference.com > Leaders > Year-by-Year Longest Punt Return Leaders
Year-by-Year Longest Punt Return Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | Lng | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Nate Burleson (26) | 94 | SEA |
| Tramon Williams (24) | 94 | GNB | |
| 2006 | Nate Burleson (25) | 90 | SEA |
| Pacman Jones (23) | 90 | TEN | |
| 2005 | Antonio Chatman (26) | 85 | GNB |
| 2004 | Nate Burleson (23) | 91 | MIN |
| 2003 | Dante Hall (25) | 93 | KAN |
| 2002 | Lamont Brightful (23) | 95 | BAL |
| 2001 | Eric Metcalf (33) | 89 | WAS |
| 2000 | Desmond Howard (30) | 95 | DET |
| 1999 | Charlie Rogers (23) | 94 | SEA |
| 1998 | Jacquez Green (22) | 95 | TAM |
| 1997 | Darrien Gordon (27) | 94 | DEN |
| 1996 | Desmond Howard (26) | 92 | GNB |
| 1995 | Joey Galloway (24) | 89 | SEA |
| 1994 | Robert Bailey (26) | 103 | RAM |
| 1993 | Eric Metcalf (25) | 91 | CLE |
| 1992 | Carl Pickens (22) | 95 | CIN |
| 1991 | Kelvin Martin (26) | 85 | DAL |
| 1990 | Terance Mathis (23) | 98 | NYJ |
| 1989 | Dave Meggett (23) | 76 | NYG |
| 1988 | John Taylor (26) | 95 | SFO |
| 1987 | Dennis McKinnon (26) | 94 | CHI |
| 1986 | Gerald McNeil (24) | 84 | CLE |
| 1985 | Irving Fryar (23) | 85 | NWE |
| 1984 | Henry Ellard (23) | 83 | RAM |
| 1983 | Greg Pruitt (32) | 97 | RAI |
| 1982 | Dana McLemore (22) | 93 | SFO |
| 1981 | Mark Lee (23) | 94 | GNB |
| 1980 | J.T. Smith (25) | 75 | KAN |
| Will Lewis (22) | 75 | SEA | |
| Roland James (22) | 75 | NWE | |
| 1979 | J.T. Smith (24) | 88 | KAN |
| 1978 | Keith Moody (25) | 82 | BUF |
| Bruce Harper (23) | 82 | NYJ | |
| 1977 | Keith Moody (24) | 91 | BUF |
| 1976 | Rick Upchurch (24) | 92 | DEN |
| 1975 | Billy Johnson (23) | 83 | HOU |
| 1974 | Dennis Morgan (22) | 98 | DAL |
| 1973 | Ron Smith (30) | 84 | SDG |
| 1972 | Jon Staggers (24) | 85 | GNB |
| 1971 | Leroy Kelly+ (29) | 74 | CLE |
| 1970 | Ron Gardin (26) | 80 | BAL |
| 1969 | Rickie Harris (26) | 86 | WAS |
| Noland Smith (26) | 64 | KAN | |
| 1968 | Charlie West (22) | 98 | MIN |
| Speedy Duncan (26) | 95 | SDG | |
| 1967 | Bob Grim (22) | 81 | MIN |
| Rodger Bird (24) | 78 | OAK | |
| 1966 | Johnny Roland (23) | 86 | STL |
| Speedy Duncan (24) | 81 | SDG | |
| 1965 | Gale Sayers+ (22) | 85 | CHI |
| Willie Mitchell (25) | 71 | KAN | |
| 1964 | Brady Keys (28) | 90 | PIT |
| Bobby Jancik (24) | 82 | HOU | |
| 1963 | Bill Baird (24) | 93 | NYJ |
| Tom Watkins (26) | 90 | DET | |
| 1962 | Abe Woodson (28) | 85 | SFO |
| Dick Christy (27) | 73 | NYT | |
| 1961 | Dick Bass (24) | 90 | RAM |
| Dick Christy (26) | 70 | NYT | |
| 1960 | Gene Mingo (22) | 76 | DEN |
| Abe Woodson (26) | 48 | SFO | |
| 1959 | Ken Hall (24) | 84 | CRD |
| 1958 | Yale Lary+ (28) | 71 | DET |
| 1957 | Bert Zagers (24) | 76 | WAS |
| 1956 | Frank Bernardi (23) | 95 | CRD |
| 1955 | Ollie Matson+ (25) | 78 | CRD |
| 1954 | Veryl Switzer (22) | 93 | GNB |
| 1953 | Woodley Lewis (28) | 78 | RAM |
| 1952 | Hugh McElhenny+ (24) | 94 | SFO |
| 1951 | Jack Christiansen+ (23) | 89 | DET |
| 1950 | Bill Dudley+ (31) | 96 | WAS |
| 1949 | Vitamin Smith (26) | 85 | RAM |
| Bob Livingstone (27) | 79 | 2TM | |
| 1948 | Tom Casey (24) | 94 | NYY |
| Jerry Davis (24) | 70 | CRD | |
| 1947 | Tom Harmon (28) | 88 | RAM |
| Tom Colella (29) | 82 | CLE | |
| 1946 | Glenn Dobbs (26) | 78 | BDA |
| Jack Wilson (29) | 70 | RAM | |
| 1945 | Chuck DeShane (27) | 81 | DET |
| 1944 | Frank Seno (23) | 60 | WAS |
| 1943 | Frankie Sinkwich (23) | 77 | DET |
| 1942 | Ray McLean (27) | 89 | CHI |
| 1941 | Andy Uram (26) | 90 | GNB |