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Year-by-Year Punt Return Yards Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | Yds | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | DeSean Jackson (22) | 341 | PHI |
| 2007 | Nate Burleson (26) | 658 | SEA |
| 2006 | Devin Hester (24) | 600 | CHI |
| 2005 | Mark Jones (25) | 492 | TAM |
| 2004 | B.J. Sams (24) | 575 | BAL |
| 2003 | Allen Rossum (28) | 545 | ATL |
| 2002 | Michael Lewis (31) | 625 | NOR |
| 2001 | Jermaine Lewis (27) | 519 | BAL |
| 2000 | Derrick Mason (26) | 662 | TEN |
| 1999 | Tamarick Vanover (25) | 627 | KAN |
| 1998 | Reggie Barlow (25) | 555 | JAX |
| 1997 | Leon Johnson (23) | 619 | NYJ |
| 1996 | Desmond Howard (26) | 875 | GNB |
| 1995 | Tamarick Vanover (21) | 540 | KAN |
| 1994 | Tim Brown (28) | 487 | RAI |
| 1993 | Tyrone Hughes (23) | 503 | NOR |
| 1992 | Kelvin Martin (27) | 532 | DAL |
| 1991 | Brian Mitchell (23) | 600 | WAS |
| 1990 | Dave Meggett (24) | 467 | NYG |
| 1989 | Dave Meggett (23) | 582 | NYG |
| 1988 | John Taylor (26) | 556 | SFO |
| 1987 | Vai Sikahema (25) | 550 | STL |
| 1986 | Vai Sikahema (24) | 522 | STL |
| 1985 | Fulton Walker (27) | 692 | 2TM |
| 1984 | Louis Lipps (22) | 656 | PIT |
| 1983 | Greg Pruitt (32) | 666 | RAI |
| 1982 | Leon Bright (27) | 325 | NYG |
| 1981 | LeRoy Irvin (24) | 615 | RAM |
| 1980 | J.T. Smith (25) | 581 | KAN |
| 1979 | J.T. Smith (24) | 612 | KAN |
| 1978 | Jackie Wallace (27) | 618 | RAM |
| 1977 | Rick Upchurch (25) | 653 | DEN |
| 1976 | Eddie Brown (24) | 646 | WAS |
| 1975 | Neal Colzie (21) | 655 | OAK |
| 1974 | Lynn Swann+ (22) | 577 | PIT |
| 1973 | Bill Thompson (27) | 366 | DEN |
| 1972 | Bruce Laird (22) | 303 | BAL |
| 1971 | Jake Scott (26) | 318 | MIA |
| 1970 | Bruce Taylor (22) | 516 | SFO |
| 1969 | Alvin Haymond (27) | 435 | RAM |
| Jerry LeVias (23) | 292 | HOU | |
| 1968 | George Atkinson (21) | 490 | OAK |
| Chuck Latourette (23) | 345 | STL | |
| 1967 | Rodger Bird (24) | 612 | OAK |
| Bob Hayes (25) | 276 | DAL | |
| 1966 | Alvin Haymond (24) | 347 | BAL |
| Rodger Bird (23) | 323 | OAK | |
| 1965 | Speedy Duncan (23) | 464 | SDG |
| Alvin Haymond (23) | 403 | BAL | |
| 1964 | Claude Gibson (25) | 419 | OAK |
| Mel Renfro+ (23) | 418 | DAL | |
| 1963 | Tom Watkins (26) | 399 | DET |
| Claude Gibson (24) | 307 | OAK | |
| 1962 | Pat Studstill (24) | 457 | DET |
| Dick Christy (27) | 250 | NYT | |
| 1961 | Dick Christy (26) | 383 | NYT |
| Johnny Sample (24) | 283 | PIT | |
| 1960 | Abner Haynes (23) | 215 | DTX |
| Abe Woodson (26) | 174 | SFO | |
| 1959 | Billy Stacy (23) | 281 | CRD |
| 1958 | Jon Arnett (23) | 223 | RAM |
| 1957 | Bert Zagers (24) | 217 | WAS |
| 1956 | Carl Taseff (28) | 233 | BAL |
| 1955 | Ollie Matson+ (25) | 245 | CRD |
| 1954 | Veryl Switzer (22) | 306 | GNB |
| 1953 | Woodley Lewis (28) | 267 | RAM |
| 1952 | Emlen Tunnell+ (27) | 411 | NYG |
| 1951 | Emlen Tunnell+ (26) | 489 | NYG |
| 1950 | Billy Grimes (23) | 555 | GNB |
| 1949 | Vitamin Smith (26) | 427 | RAM |
| Jim Cason (22) | 351 | SFO | |
| 1948 | George McAfee+ (30) | 417 | CHI |
| Herm Wedemeyer (24) | 368 | LAD | |
| 1947 | Walt Slater (27) | 435 | PIT |
| Glenn Dobbs (27) | 215 | 2TM | |
| 1946 | Bill Dudley+ (27) | 385 | PIT |
| Chuck Fenenbock (29) | 299 | LAD | |
| 1945 | Steve Bagarus (26) | 251 | WAS |
| 1944 | Bob Davis (30) | 271 | BOS |
| 1943 | Frankie Sinkwich (23) | 228 | DET |
| 1942 | Bill Dudley+ (23) | 271 | PIT |
| 1941 | Whizzer White (24) | 262 | DET |