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Year-by-Year Punt Returns Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | Ret | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | DeSean Jackson (22) | 33 | PHI |
| 2007 | Nate Burleson (26) | 58 | SEA |
| 2006 | Devin Hester (24) | 47 | CHI |
| 2005 | Mark Jones (25) | 51 | TAM |
| 2004 | B.J. Sams (24) | 55 | BAL |
| 2003 | Antwaan Randle El (24) | 45 | PIT |
| Lamont Brightful (24) | 45 | BAL | |
| 2002 | Steve Smith (23) | 55 | CAR |
| 2001 | Jermaine Lewis (27) | 42 | BAL |
| 2000 | Derrick Mason (26) | 51 | TEN |
| 1999 | Jermaine Lewis (25) | 57 | BAL |
| 1998 | R.W. McQuarters (22) | 47 | SFO |
| 1997 | Todd Kinchen (28) | 52 | ATL |
| 1996 | Desmond Howard (26) | 58 | GNB |
| 1995 | Todd Kinchen (26) | 53 | STL |
| 1994 | Dewell Brewer (24) | 42 | IND |
| 1993 | Patrick Robinson (24) | 43 | CIN |
| 1992 | Eric Metcalf (24) | 44 | CLE |
| 1991 | Rod Harris (25) | 53 | PHI |
| 1990 | Dave Meggett (24) | 43 | NYG |
| 1989 | Gerald McNeil (27) | 49 | CLE |
| 1988 | Leo Lewis (32) | 58 | MIN |
| 1987 | Vai Sikahema (25) | 44 | STL |
| 1986 | Lew Barnes (24) | 57 | CHI |
| 1985 | Fulton Walker (27) | 62 | 2TM |
| 1984 | Jeff Fisher (26) | 57 | CHI |
| 1983 | Greg Pruitt (32) | 58 | RAI |
| 1982 | Leon Bright (27) | 37 | NYG |
| 1981 | Wally Henry (27) | 54 | PHI |
| 1980 | Danny Reece (25) | 57 | TAM |
| 1979 | Danny Reece (24) | 70 | TAM |
| 1978 | Jackie Wallace (27) | 52 | RAM |
| 1977 | Eddie Brown (25) | 57 | WAS |
| 1976 | Rolland Lawrence (25) | 54 | ATL |
| 1975 | Larry Jones (24) | 53 | WAS |
| 1974 | Donnie Walker (24) | 43 | BUF |
| 1973 | George Atkinson (26) | 41 | OAK |
| 1972 | Bruce Laird (22) | 34 | BAL |
| 1971 | Bruce Taylor (23) | 34 | SFO |
| 1970 | Alvin Haymond (28) | 53 | RAM |
| 1969 | Charlie West (23) | 39 | MIN |
| Jerry LeVias (23) | 35 | HOU | |
| 1968 | George Atkinson (21) | 36 | OAK |
| Chuck Latourette (23) | 28 | STL | |
| Roy Jefferson (25) | 28 | PIT | |
| 1967 | Rodger Bird (24) | 46 | OAK |
| Doug Cunningham (22) | 27 | SFO | |
| 1966 | Alvin Haymond (24) | 40 | BAL |
| Rodger Bird (23) | 37 | OAK | |
| 1965 | Alvin Haymond (23) | 41 | BAL |
| Claude Gibson (26) | 31 | OAK | |
| 1964 | Hagood Clarke (22) | 33 | BUF |
| Mel Renfro+ (23) | 32 | DAL | |
| 1963 | Tom Watkins (26) | 32 | DET |
| Claude Gibson (24) | 26 | OAK | |
| 1962 | Pat Studstill (24) | 29 | DET |
| Ron Burton (26) | 21 | BOS | |
| 1961 | Johnny Sample (24) | 26 | PIT |
| Fred Bruney (30) | 23 | BOS | |
| 1960 | Bill Stits (29) | 18 | NYG |
| Al Carmichael (32) | 15 | DEN | |
| 1959 | Billy Stacy (23) | 29 | CRD |
| 1958 | Carl Taseff (30) | 29 | BAL |
| 1957 | Tommy McDonald+ (23) | 26 | PHI |
| 1956 | Carl Taseff (28) | 27 | BAL |
| 1955 | Bert Rechichar (25) | 30 | BAL |
| 1954 | Chet Hanulak (21) | 27 | CLE |
| 1953 | Emlen Tunnell+ (28) | 38 | NYG |
| 1952 | Bibbles Bawel (22) | 34 | PHI |
| 1951 | Emlen Tunnell+ (26) | 34 | NYG |
| 1950 | George McAfee+ (32) | 33 | CHI |
| 1949 | Pete Layden (30) | 29 | NYY |
| Vitamin Smith (26) | 27 | RAM | |
| 1948 | George McAfee+ (30) | 30 | CHI |
| Cliff Lewis (25) | 26 | CLE | |
| 1947 | Walt Slater (27) | 28 | PIT |
| Glenn Dobbs (27) | 19 | 2TM | |
| 1946 | Bill Dudley+ (27) | 27 | PIT |
| Ken Casanega (25) | 18 | SFO | |
| Bob Seymour (30) | 18 | LAD | |
| 1945 | Steve Bagarus (26) | 21 | WAS |
| 1944 | Bob Davis (30) | 22 | BOS |
| 1943 | Andy Farkas (27) | 15 | WAS |
| 1942 | Merl Condit (25) | 21 | BKN |
| 1941 | Whizzer White (24) | 19 | DET |