NFL Punt Return Yards Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1941)

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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See leaders through past seasons

Leaders

Leaders Table
Year Player Yds Tm
2023Britain Covey (26)417PHI
2022Marcus Jones (23)362NWE
2021Ray-Ray McCloud (24)367PIT
2020Gunner Olszewski (23)346NWE
2019Deonte Harty (21)338NOR
2018Tarik Cohen (23)411CHI
2017Jamal Agnew (22)447DET
2016Tyreek Hill (22)592KAN
2015Darren Sproles (32)446PHI
2014Darren Sproles (31)506PHI
2013Dexter McCluster (24)686KAN
2012Trindon Holliday (26)4812TM
2011Patrick Peterson (21)699ARI
2010Devin Hester+ (27)564CHI
2009Quan Cosby (26)474CIN
2008Johnnie Lee Higgins (25)570OAK
2007Nate Burleson (26)658SEA
2006Devin Hester+ (23)600CHI
2005Mark Jones (24)492TAM
2004B.J. Sams (23)575BAL
2003Allen Rossum (27)545ATL
2002Michael Lewis (30)625NOR
2001Jermaine Lewis (26)519BAL
2000Derrick Mason (26)662TEN
1999Tamarick Vanover (25)627KAN
1998Reggie Barlow (25)555JAX
1997Leon Johnson (23)619NYJ
1996Desmond Howard (26)875GNB
1995Tamarick Vanover (21)540KAN
1994Tim Brown+ (28)487RAI
1993Tyrone Hughes (23)503NOR
1992Kelvin Martin (27)532DAL
1991Brian Mitchell (23)600WAS
1990Dave Meggett (24)467NYG
1989Dave Meggett (23)582NYG
1988John Taylor (26)556SFO
1987Vai Sikahema (25)550STL
1986Vai Sikahema (24)522STL
1985Fulton Walker (27)6922TM
1984Louis Lipps (22)656PIT
1983Greg Pruitt (32)666RAI
1982Leon Bright (27)325NYG
1981LeRoy Irvin (23)615RAM
1980J.T. Smith (24)581KAN
1979J.T. Smith (23)612KAN
1978Jackie Wallace (27)618RAM
1977Rick Upchurch (25)653DEN
1976Eddie Brown (24)646WAS
1975Neal Colzie (21)655OAK
1974Lynn Swann+ (22)577PIT
1973Bill Thompson (26)366DEN
1972Bruce Laird (22)303BAL
1971Jake Scott (26)318MIA
1970Bruce Taylor (22)516SFO
1969Alvin Haymond (27)435RAM
1969Jerry LeVias (23)292HOU
1968George Atkinson (21)490OAK
1968Chuck Latourette (23)345STL
1967Rodger Bird (24)612OAK
1967Bob Hayes+ (24)276DAL
1966Alvin Haymond (24)347BAL
1966Rodger Bird (23)323OAK
1965Speedy Duncan (23)464SDG
1965Alvin Haymond (23)403BAL
1964Claude Gibson (25)419OAK
1964Mel Renfro+ (22)418DAL
1963Tom Watkins (25)399DET
1963Claude Gibson (24)307OAK
1962Pat Studstill (24)457DET
1962Dick Christy (26)250NYT
1961Dick Christy (25)383NYT
1961Johnny Sample (25)283PIT
1960Abner Haynes (22)215DTX
1960Abe Woodson (26)174SFO
1959Billy Stacy (23)281CRD
1958Jon Arnett (23)223RAM
1957Bert Zagers (24)217WAS
1956Carl Taseff (27)233BAL
1955Ollie Matson+ (25)245CRD
1954Veryl Switzer (22)306GNB
1953Woodley Lewis (28)267RAM
1952Emlen Tunnell+ (27)411NYG
1951Emlen Tunnell+ (26)489NYG
1950Billy Grimes (23)555GNB
1949Vitamin Smith (25)427RAM
1949Jim Cason (22)351SFO
1948George McAfee+ (30)417CHI
1948Herm Wedemeyer (24)368LAD
1947Walt Slater (27)435PIT
1947Glenn Dobbs (27)2152TM
1946Bill Dudley+ (24)385PIT
1946Chuck Fenenbock (28)299LAD
1945Steve Bagarus (26)251WAS
1944Bob Davis (30)271BOS
1943Frankie Sinkwich (22)228DET
1942Bill Dudley+ (20)271PIT
1941Whizzer White (24)262DET