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Year-by-Year Yards per Punt Return Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | Y/R | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Reggie Bush (23) | 21.9 | NOR |
| 2007 | Roscoe Parrish (25) | 16.3 | BUF |
| 2006 | Pacman Jones (23) | 12.9 | TEN |
| 2005 | Reno Mahe (25) | 12.8 | PHI |
| 2004 | Eddie Drummond (24) | 13.2 | DET |
| 2003 | Dante Hall (25) | 16.3 | KAN |
| 2002 | Jimmy Williams (23) | 16.8 | SFO |
| 2001 | Troy Brown (30) | 14.2 | NWE |
| 2000 | Jeff Ogden (25) | 17.0 | MIA |
| 1999 | Charlie Rogers (23) | 14.5 | SEA |
| 1998 | Deion Sanders (31) | 15.6 | DAL |
| 1997 | Jermaine Lewis (23) | 15.6 | BAL |
| 1996 | Amani Toomer (22) | 16.6 | NYG |
| 1995 | David Palmer (23) | 13.2 | MIN |
| 1994 | Brian Mitchell (26) | 14.1 | WAS |
| 1993 | Tyrone Hughes (23) | 13.6 | NOR |
| 1992 | Johnny Bailey (25) | 13.2 | PHO |
| 1991 | Mel J. Gray (30) | 15.4 | DET |
| 1990 | Clarence Verdin (27) | 12.8 | IND |
| 1989 | Walter Stanley (27) | 13.8 | DET |
| 1988 | John Taylor (26) | 12.6 | SFO |
| 1987 | Mel J. Gray (26) | 14.7 | NOR |
| 1986 | Bobby Joe Edmonds (22) | 12.3 | SEA |
| 1985 | Irving Fryar (23) | 14.1 | NWE |
| 1984 | Mike Martin (24) | 15.7 | CIN |
| 1983 | Henry Ellard (22) | 13.6 | RAM |
| 1982 | Rick Upchurch (30) | 16.1 | DEN |
| 1981 | LeRoy Irvin (24) | 13.4 | RAM |
| 1980 | J.T. Smith (25) | 14.5 | KAN |
| 1979 | John Sciarra (25) | 11.4 | PHI |
| 1978 | Rick Upchurch (26) | 13.7 | DEN |
| 1977 | Billy Johnson (25) | 15.4 | HOU |
| 1976 | Rick Upchurch (24) | 13.7 | DEN |
| 1975 | Billy Johnson (23) | 15.3 | HOU |
| 1974 | Lemar Parrish (27) | 18.8 | CIN |
| 1973 | Bruce Taylor (25) | 13.8 | SFO |
| 1972 | Ken Ellis (25) | 15.4 | GNB |
| 1971 | Speedy Duncan (29) | 10.6 | WAS |
| 1970 | Ed Podolak (23) | 13.5 | KAN |
| 1969 | Alvin Haymond (27) | 13.2 | RAM |
| Bill Thompson (23) | 11.5 | DEN | |
| 1968 | Bob Hayes (26) | 20.8 | DAL |
| Noland Smith (25) | 15.0 | KAN | |
| 1967 | Floyd Little (25) | 16.9 | DEN |
| Ben Davis (22) | 12.7 | CLE | |
| 1966 | Speedy Duncan (24) | 13.2 | SDG |
| Johnny Roland (23) | 11.1 | STL | |
| 1965 | Leroy Kelly+ (23) | 15.6 | CLE |
| Speedy Duncan (23) | 15.5 | SDG | |
| 1964 | Tom Watkins (27) | 14.9 | DET |
| Claude Gibson (25) | 14.4 | OAK | |
| 1963 | Dick James (29) | 13.4 | WAS |
| Claude Gibson (24) | 11.8 | OAK | |
| 1962 | Dick Christy (27) | 16.7 | NYT |
| Pat Studstill (24) | 15.8 | DET | |
| 1961 | Dick Christy (26) | 21.3 | NYT |
| Willie Wood+ (25) | 16.1 | GNB | |
| 1960 | Abner Haynes (23) | 15.4 | DTX |
| Abe Woodson (26) | 13.4 | SFO | |
| 1959 | Johnny Morris (24) | 12.2 | CHI |
| 1958 | Jon Arnett (23) | 12.4 | RAM |
| 1957 | Bert Zagers (24) | 15.5 | WAS |
| 1956 | Ken Konz (28) | 14.4 | CLE |
| 1955 | Ollie Matson+ (25) | 18.8 | CRD |
| 1954 | Veryl Switzer (22) | 12.8 | GNB |
| 1953 | Charlie Trippi+ (31) | 11.4 | CRD |
| 1952 | Jack Christiansen+ (24) | 21.5 | DET |
| 1951 | Buddy Young (25) | 19.3 | NYY |
| 1950 | Herb Rich (22) | 23.0 | BAL |
| 1949 | Red Cochran (27) | 20.9 | CRD |
| Sam Cathcart (25) | 17.0 | SFO | |
| 1948 | Rex Bumgardner (25) | 21.0 | BUF |
| Jerry Davis (24) | 20.9 | CRD | |
| 1947 | Frank Seno (26) | 17.8 | BOS |
| Chuck Fenenbock (30) | 12.4 | LAD | |
| 1946 | Chuck Fenenbock (29) | 18.7 | LAD |
| Bill Dudley+ (27) | 14.3 | PIT | |
| 1945 | Dave Ryan (22) | 14.7 | DET |
| 1944 | Ernie Steele (27) | 16.5 | PHI |
| 1943 | Frankie Sinkwich (23) | 20.7 | DET |
| 1942 | Andy Tomasic (23) | 16.6 | PIT |
| 1941 | Dick Todd (27) | 17.0 | WAS |