NFL Career Punt Return Yards Leaders
| Rank |
Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active |
Yds |
Years |
Teams |
| 1. |
Brian Mitchell |
4,999 |
1990-2003 |
3TM |
| 2. |
Dave Meggett |
3,708 |
1989-1998 |
3TM |
| 3. |
Darrien Gordon |
3,601 |
1993-2002 |
5TM |
| 4. |
Eric Metcalf |
3,453 |
1989-2002 |
7TM |
| 5. |
Tim Brown |
3,320 |
1988-2004 |
2TM |
| 6. |
Billy Johnson |
3,317 |
1974-1988 |
3TM |
| 7. |
Jermaine Lewis |
3,282 |
1996-2004 |
3TM |
| 8. |
Vai Sikahema |
3,169 |
1986-1993 |
3TM |
| 9. |
Allen Rossum |
3,056 |
1998-2009 |
6TM |
| 10. |
Rick Upchurch |
3,008 |
1975-1983 |
den |
| 11. |
Devin Hester (30) |
2,985 |
2006-2012 |
chi |
| 12. |
Glyn Milburn |
2,984 |
1993-2001 |
4TM |
| 13. |
Desmond Howard |
2,895 |
1992-2002 |
5TM |
| 14. |
J.T. Smith |
2,764 |
1978-1990 |
3TM |
| 15. |
Mel J. Gray |
2,753 |
1986-1997 |
4TM |
| 16. |
Mike Fuller |
2,660 |
1975-1982 |
2TM |
| 17. |
Troy Brown |
2,625 |
1993-2007 |
nwe |
| 18. |
Dennis Northcutt |
2,592 |
2000-2009 |
3TM |
| 19. |
Kelvin Martin |
2,567 |
1987-1996 |
3TM |
| 20. |
Karl Williams |
2,565 |
1996-2004 |
2TM |
| 21. |
Antwaan Randle El |
2,557 |
2002-2010 |
2TM |
| 22. |
Wes Welker (31) |
2,417 |
2004-2012 |
3TM |
| 23. |
Rod Woodson+ |
2,362 |
1987-2003 |
4TM |
| 24. |
Kevin Williams |
2,295 |
1993-2000 |
4TM |
| 25. |
Dante Hall |
2,261 |
2000-2008 |
2TM |
| 26. |
Emlen Tunnell+ |
2,209 |
1948-1961 |
2TM |
| 27. |
Speedy Duncan |
2,201 |
1964-1974 |
2TM |
| 28. |
Deion Sanders+ |
2,199 |
1989-2005 |
5TM |
| 29. |
Jacoby Jones (28) |
2,161 |
2007-2012 |
2TM |
| 30. |
Josh Cribbs (29) |
2,154 |
2005-2012 |
cle |
| 31. |
Alvin Haymond |
2,148 |
1964-1973 |
5TM |
| 32. |
Irving Fryar |
2,055 |
1984-2000 |
4TM |
| 33. |
R.W. McQuarters |
2,020 |
1998-2008 |
4TM |
| 34. |
Tamarick Vanover |
2,016 |
1995-2002 |
2TM |
| 35. |
Greg Pruitt |
2,007 |
1973-1984 |
2TM |
| 36. |
Mike Nelms |
1,948 |
1980-1984 |
was |
| 37. |
Roscoe Parrish (30) |
1,920 |
2005-2012 |
2TM |
| 38. |
Leo Lewis |
1,868 |
1981-1991 |
2TM |
| 39. |
Phil McConkey |
1,832 |
1984-1989 |
4TM |
| 40. |
Michael Lewis |
1,818 |
2001-2007 |
2TM |
| 41. |
Bill Thompson |
1,814 |
1969-1981 |
den |
| 42. |
Ron Smith |
1,788 |
1965-1974 |
5TM |
| 43. |
Bruce Harper |
1,784 |
1977-1984 |
nyj |
| 44. |
Az-Zahir Hakim |
1,773 |
1998-2006 |
3TM |
|
Tim Dwight |
1,773 |
1998-2007 |
5TM |
| 46. |
Neal Colzie |
1,759 |
1975-1983 |
3TM |
| 47. |
Gerald McNeil |
1,717 |
1986-1990 |
2TM |
| 48. |
Robbie Martin |
1,670 |
1981-1986 |
2TM |
| 49. |
Leon Washington (30) |
1,668 |
2006-2012 |
2TM |
| 50. |
Steve Smith (33) |
1,652 |
2001-2012 |
car |
| 51. |
Clarence Verdin |
1,650 |
1986-1994 |
3TM |
| 52. |
Reggie Barlow |
1,639 |
1996-2003 |
2TM |
| 53. |
Walter Stanley |
1,619 |
1985-1992 |
5TM |
| 54. |
Leon Johnson |
1,617 |
1997-2003 |
3TM |
| 55. |
Freddie Solomon |
1,614 |
1975-1985 |
2TM |
| 56. |
David Palmer |
1,610 |
1994-2000 |
min |
| 57. |
Dana McLemore |
1,598 |
1982-1987 |
2TM |
| 58. |
Willie Drewrey |
1,597 |
1985-1993 |
2TM |
| 59. |
Derrick Mason |
1,590 |
1997-2011 |
4TM |
| 60. |
Howard Stevens |
1,559 |
1973-1977 |
2TM |
| 61. |
Danny Reece |
1,554 |
1976-1980 |
tam |
| 62. |
Eddie Kennison |
1,528 |
1996-2008 |
5TM |
| 63. |
Henry Ellard |
1,527 |
1983-1998 |
3TM |
| 64. |
Nate Burleson (31) |
1,523 |
2003-2012 |
3TM |
| 65. |
John Taylor |
1,517 |
1987-1995 |
sfo |
| 66. |
Bill Dudley+ |
1,515 |
1942-1953 |
3TM |
| 67. |
Pete Mandley |
1,511 |
1984-1990 |
2TM |
|
Eddie Brown |
1,511 |
1974-1979 |
3TM |
|
Theo Bell |
1,511 |
1976-1985 |
2TM |
| 70. |
Todd Kinchen |
1,493 |
1992-1998 |
3TM |
| 71. |
Mark Jones |
1,483 |
2004-2009 |
4TM |
| 72. |
Bobby Joe Edmonds |
1,471 |
1986-1995 |
3TM |
| 73. |
Larry Marshall |
1,466 |
1972-1978 |
4TM |
| 74. |
LeRoy Irvin |
1,457 |
1980-1990 |
2TM |
| 75. |
Fulton Walker |
1,437 |
1981-1986 |
2TM |
| 76. |
Chad Morton |
1,431 |
2000-2006 |
4TM |
|
George McAfee+ |
1,431 |
1940-1950 |
chi |
| 78. |
Ted Ginn Jr. (27) |
1,425 |
2007-2012 |
2TM |
| 79. |
Johnny Bailey |
1,420 |
1990-1995 |
3TM |
| 80. |
Darren Sproles (29) |
1,412 |
2005-2012 |
2TM |
| 81. |
Tyrone Hughes |
1,411 |
1993-1998 |
3TM |
| 82. |
Willie Wood+ |
1,391 |
1960-1971 |
gnb |
| 83. |
Eddie Payton |
1,387 |
1977-1982 |
4TM |
| 84. |
Mike Martin |
1,381 |
1983-1989 |
cin |
|
Claude Gibson |
1,381 |
1961-1965 |
2TM |
| 86. |
B.J. Sams |
1,378 |
2004-2008 |
2TM |
| 87. |
Stump Mitchell |
1,377 |
1981-1989 |
crd |
| 88. |
Deltha O'Neal |
1,370 |
2000-2008 |
3TM |
| 89. |
Winslow Oliver |
1,364 |
1996-2000 |
2TM |
| 90. |
Jo-Jo Townsell |
1,360 |
1985-1990 |
nyj |
| 91. |
Dexter Carter |
1,358 |
1990-1996 |
2TM |
| 92. |
Jake Scott |
1,357 |
1970-1978 |
2TM |
| 93. |
Joey Galloway |
1,349 |
1995-2010 |
5TM |
| 94. |
Bruce Taylor |
1,323 |
1970-1977 |
sfo |
| 95. |
Butch Johnson |
1,313 |
1976-1985 |
2TM |
| 96. |
Lem Barney+ |
1,312 |
1967-1977 |
det |
| 97. |
Reggie Swinton |
1,311 |
2001-2005 |
3TM |
| 98. |
Terrence Wilkins |
1,307 |
1999-2006 |
2TM |
| 99. |
Eric Guliford |
1,300 |
1993-1998 |
3TM |
| 100. |
Patrick Crayton |
1,291 |
2004-2011 |
2TM |
| 101. |
Cliff Hicks |
1,284 |
1987-1995 |
4TM |
| 102. |
Eddie Drummond |
1,280 |
2002-2007 |
2TM |
| 103. |
Santana Moss (33) |
1,268 |
2001-2012 |
2TM |
| 104. |
Charlie Rogers |
1,248 |
1999-2003 |
3TM |
| 105. |
George Atkinson |
1,247 |
1968-1979 |
2TM |
| 106. |
Stefan Logan (31) |
1,243 |
2009-2012 |
2TM |
| 107. |
Troy Walters |
1,241 |
2000-2007 |
4TM |
| 108. |
Louis Lipps |
1,234 |
1984-1992 |
2TM |
| 109. |
Wally Henry |
1,231 |
1977-1982 |
phi |
| 110. |
DeSean Jackson (26) |
1,223 |
2008-2012 |
phi |
| 111. |
Adam Jones (29) |
1,208 |
2005-2012 |
4TM |
| 112. |
Antonio Chatman |
1,207 |
2003-2008 |
2TM |
| 113. |
Lemar Parrish |
1,205 |
1970-1982 |
3TM |
| 114. |
Davone Bess (27) |
1,196 |
2008-2012 |
mia |
| 115. |
Lionel James |
1,193 |
1984-1988 |
sdg |
| 116. |
Dennis McKinnon |
1,191 |
1983-1990 |
2TM |
| 117. |
Tiki Barber |
1,181 |
1997-2006 |
nyg |
| 118. |
Mike Haynes+ |
1,168 |
1976-1989 |
2TM |
| 119. |
Bob Hayes+ |
1,158 |
1965-1975 |
2TM |
| 120. |
Leon Bright |
1,149 |
1981-1985 |
2TM |
| 121. |
O.J. McDuffie |
1,127 |
1993-2000 |
mia |
| 122. |
Patrick Peterson (22) |
1,125 |
2011-2012 |
crd |
|
Jeff Fisher |
1,125 |
1981-1984 |
chi |
| 124. |
Carl Roaches |
1,116 |
1980-1985 |
2TM |
| 125. |
Jeff Burris |
1,103 |
1994-2003 |
3TM |
| 126. |
Charlie West |
1,099 |
1968-1979 |
3TM |
| 127. |
Andre Hastings |
1,086 |
1993-2000 |
3TM |
| 128. |
Jack Christiansen+ |
1,084 |
1951-1958 |
det |
| 129. |
Phillip Buchanon |
1,076 |
2002-2011 |
5TM |
| 130. |
Chris Carr (29) |
1,073 |
2005-2012 |
4TM |
| 131. |
Bosh Pritchard |
1,072 |
1942-1951 |
3TM |
| 132. |
Rodger Bird |
1,063 |
1966-1968 |
rai |
| 133. |
Amani Toomer |
1,060 |
1996-2008 |
nyg |
| 134. |
Bobby Engram |
1,059 |
1996-2009 |
3TM |
| 135. |
Eddie Royal (26) |
1,031 |
2008-2012 |
2TM |
| 136. |
Rickie Harris |
1,029 |
1965-1972 |
2TM |
|
Javier Arenas (25) |
1,029 |
2010-2012 |
kan |
| 138. |
Dedric Ward |
1,026 |
1997-2004 |
5TM |
|
Woodley Lewis |
1,026 |
1950-1960 |
3TM |
| 140. |
Quan Cosby (30) |
1,014 |
2009-2012 |
4TM |
| 141. |
Gerald Willhite |
1,012 |
1982-1988 |
den |
| 142. |
Leroy Kelly+ |
990 |
1964-1973 |
cle |
| 143. |
Mack Herron |
982 |
1973-1975 |
2TM |
| 144. |
Jon Arnett |
981 |
1957-1966 |
2TM |
| 145. |
Johnnie Lee Higgins |
973 |
2007-2010 |
rai |
| 146. |
Tom Watkins |
970 |
1961-1968 |
3TM |
| 147. |
Ralph McGill |
969 |
1972-1979 |
2TM |
| 148. |
Stanley Morgan |
960 |
1977-1990 |
2TM |
| 149. |
Glen Edwards |
959 |
1971-1981 |
2TM |
| 150. |
Abe Woodson |
956 |
1958-1966 |
2TM |
| 151. |
Bill Bradley |
953 |
1969-1977 |
2TM |
| 152. |
Dick James |
952 |
1956-1965 |
3TM |
| 153. |
Jim Cason |
948 |
1948-1956 |
2TM |
| 154. |
Julian Edelman (26) |
947 |
2009-2012 |
nwe |
| 155. |
Kevin Faulk |
943 |
1999-2011 |
nwe |
| 156. |
Brandon Banks (25) |
937 |
2010-2012 |
was |
| 157. |
Terry Metcalf |
936 |
1973-1981 |
2TM |
| 158. |
Danny Amendola (27) |
934 |
2009-2012 |
ram |
| 159. |
Hugh McElhenny+ |
920 |
1952-1964 |
4TM |
|
Keith Moody |
920 |
1976-1980 |
2TM |
| 161. |
Al Carmichael |
912 |
1953-1961 |
2TM |
| 162. |
John Sciarra |
909 |
1978-1983 |
phi |
|
Jim Leonhard (30) |
909 |
2005-2012 |
4TM |
| 164. |
Steve Breaston (29) |
906 |
2007-2012 |
2TM |
| 165. |
Dick Christy |
905 |
1958-1963 |
3TM |
| 166. |
Don R. Paul |
902 |
1950-1958 |
2TM |
| 167. |
Dino Hall |
901 |
1979-1983 |
cle |
|
Billy Grimes |
901 |
1949-1952 |
2TM |
| 169. |
Johnny Morris |
893 |
1958-1967 |
chi |
|
Floyd Little+ |
893 |
1967-1975 |
den |
| 171. |
Jeff Groth |
887 |
1979-1985 |
3TM |
| 172. |
Eric Parker |
881 |
2002-2006 |
sdg |
| 173. |
Nate Jacquet |
877 |
1997-2001 |
4TM |
| 174. |
Abner Haynes |
875 |
1960-1967 |
4TM |
| 175. |
Steve Schubert |
866 |
1974-1979 |
2TM |
| 176. |
Charlie Trippi+ |
864 |
1947-1955 |
crd |
| 177. |
Paul Skansi |
863 |
1983-1991 |
2TM |
| 178. |
Kenny Johnson |
854 |
1980-1989 |
2TM |
|
Willard Harrell |
854 |
1975-1984 |
2TM |
| 180. |
Jackie Wallace |
852 |
1974-1979 |
3TM |
| 181. |
Reno Mahe |
851 |
2003-2007 |
phi |
| 182. |
Bill Butler |
850 |
1959-1964 |
4TM |
|
Darius Reynaud (27) |
850 |
2008-2012 |
3TM |
|
Carl Taseff |
850 |
1951-1962 |
4TM |
| 185. |
Paul Johns |
843 |
1981-1984 |
sea |
| 186. |
Mel Renfro+ |
842 |
1964-1977 |
dal |
| 187. |
Kermit Alexander |
835 |
1963-1973 |
3TM |
| 188. |
Jacquez Green |
832 |
1998-2002 |
3TM |
| 189. |
Lew Barnes |
830 |
1986-1989 |
3TM |
|
Tommy Vigorito |
830 |
1981-1985 |
mia |
|
Chris Warren |
830 |
1990-2000 |
3TM |
| 192. |
Rod Harris |
826 |
1989-1991 |
3TM |
| 193. |
Jim Bertelsen |
821 |
1972-1976 |
ram |
| 194. |
Marc Mariani |
819 |
2010-2012 |
oti |
|
Phil Epps |
819 |
1982-1989 |
2TM |
| 196. |
Pete Athas |
818 |
1971-1976 |
4TM |
| 197. |
Vernon Turner |
817 |
1990-1995 |
4TM |
|
Jimmy Williams |
817 |
2001-2006 |
2TM |
| 199. |
Nate Clements (33) |
816 |
2001-2012 |
3TM |
| 200. |
Eric Weems (27) |
815 |
2007-2012 |
2TM |
| 201. |
Vitamin Smith |
814 |
1949-1953 |
ram |
| 202. |
Ernie Steele |
809 |
1942-1948 |
phi |
| 203. |
Alvin Pearman |
805 |
2005-2009 |
3TM |
| 204. |
Chuck Fenenbock |
801 |
1943-1948 |
3TM |
| 205. |
Mewelde Moore (30) |
792 |
2004-2012 |
3TM |
|
Jon Staggers |
792 |
1970-1975 |
3TM |
| 207. |
Hank Poteat |
788 |
2000-2009 |
5TM |
| 208. |
Dale Carter |
787 |
1992-2005 |
5TM |
|
Bill Baird |
787 |
1963-1969 |
nyj |
| 210. |
Tommy Casanova |
784 |
1972-1977 |
cin |
| 211. |
Ray Mathews |
779 |
1951-1960 |
2TM |
| 212. |
Joe Arenas |
774 |
1951-1957 |
sfo |
| 213. |
Ken Jenkins |
773 |
1983-1986 |
2TM |
| 214. |
Reggie Bush (27) |
772 |
2006-2012 |
2TM |
| 215. |
Manfred Moore |
770 |
1974-1977 |
4TM |
| 216. |
Dan Sandifer |
767 |
1948-1953 |
6TM |
| 217. |
Scott Schwedes |
765 |
1987-1990 |
2TM |
| 218. |
Evan Cooper |
763 |
1984-1989 |
2TM |
| 219. |
Yale Lary+ |
758 |
1952-1964 |
det |
| 220. |
Jeff Ogden |
749 |
1998-2002 |
3TM |
| 221. |
Terrell Buckley |
748 |
1992-2005 |
6TM |
| 222. |
Frank Seno |
747 |
1943-1949 |
3TM |
| 223. |
Al Dodd |
744 |
1967-1974 |
3TM |
| 224. |
Lynn Swann+ |
739 |
1974-1982 |
pit |
|
Ed Podolak |
739 |
1969-1977 |
kan |
| 226. |
Virgil Livers |
738 |
1975-1979 |
chi |
| 227. |
Jim Smith |
737 |
1977-1985 |
2TM |
| 228. |
James Jones |
736 |
1980-1985 |
dal |
| 229. |
Brandon Tate (25) |
734 |
2009-2012 |
2TM |
|
Rolland Lawrence |
734 |
1973-1980 |
atl |
| 231. |
Andy Farkas |
731 |
1938-1945 |
2TM |
| 232. |
J.R. Boone |
725 |
1948-1953 |
3TM |
| 233. |
Pat Studstill |
716 |
1961-1972 |
3TM |
| 234. |
Jeff Query |
712 |
1989-1995 |
3TM |
| 235. |
Cliff Lewis |
710 |
1946-1951 |
cle |
| 236. |
Charles Woodson (36) |
708 |
1998-2012 |
2TM |
| 237. |
Cullen Bryant |
707 |
1973-1987 |
2TM |
| 238. |
Bobby Mitchell+ |
699 |
1958-1968 |
2TM |
| 239. |
Buddy Young |
698 |
1947-1955 |
4TM |
| 240. |
Iheanyi Uwaezuoke |
696 |
1996-2000 |
4TM |
| 241. |
Mickey Sutton |
695 |
1986-1990 |
3TM |
| 242. |
Vance Johnson |
689 |
1985-1995 |
den |
| 243. |
Jerry LeVias |
687 |
1969-1974 |
2TM |
| 244. |
Lamont Brightful |
681 |
2002-2004 |
2TM |
|
Kirk Springs |
681 |
1981-1985 |
nyj |
| 246. |
Derrick Shepard |
679 |
1987-1991 |
3TM |
| 247. |
Ira Matthews |
678 |
1979-1981 |
rai |
| 248. |
Captain Munnerlyn (24) |
677 |
2009-2012 |
car |
| 249. |
Don Griffin |
667 |
1986-1996 |
3TM |
| 250. |
Bobby Wade |
660 |
2003-2009 |
4TM |