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Year-by-Year Kick & Punt Return Yards Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | RtY | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Josh Cribbs (24) | 2,214 | CLE |
| 2006 | Chris Carr (23) | 1,978 | OAK |
| 2005 | Chris Carr (22) | 1,938 | OAK |
| 2004 | Dante Hall (26) | 1,950 | KAN |
| 2003 | Dante Hall (25) | 1,950 | KAN |
| 2002 | Michael Lewis (31) | 2,432 | NOR |
| 2001 | Steve Smith (22) | 1,795 | CAR |
| 2000 | MarTay Jenkins (25) | 2,187 | ARI |
| 1999 | Glyn Milburn (28) | 1,772 | CHI |
| 1998 | Roell Preston (26) | 1,895 | GNB |
| 1997 | Kevin Williams (26) | 1,920 | ARI |
| 1996 | Tyrone Hughes (26) | 1,943 | NOR |
| 1995 | Tyrone Hughes (25) | 1,879 | NOR |
| 1994 | Brian Mitchell (26) | 1,930 | WAS |
| 1993 | Tyrone Hughes (23) | 1,256 | NOR |
| 1992 | Mel J. Gray (31) | 1,181 | DET |
| 1991 | Mel J. Gray (30) | 1,314 | DET |
| 1990 | Mel J. Gray (29) | 1,300 | DET |
| 1989 | Vai Sikahema (27) | 1,307 | PHO |
| 1988 | Tim Brown (22) | 1,542 | RAI |
| 1987 | Vai Sikahema (25) | 1,311 | STL |
| 1986 | Vai Sikahema (24) | 1,369 | STL |
| 1985 | Mike Martin (25) | 1,372 | CIN |
| 1984 | Mike Nelms (29) | 1,288 | WAS |
| 1983 | Ricky Smith (23) | 1,314 | NWE |
| 1982 | James Brooks (24) | 887 | SDG |
| 1981 | Stump Mitchell (22) | 1,737 | STL |
| 1980 | Eddie Payton (29) | 1,435 | MIN |
| 1979 | Nesby Glasgow (22) | 1,478 | BAL |
| 1978 | Bruce Harper (23) | 1,658 | NYJ |
| 1977 | Bruce Harper (22) | 1,460 | NYJ |
| 1976 | Eddie Brown (24) | 1,384 | WAS |
| 1975 | Larry Jones (24) | 1,493 | WAS |
| 1974 | Billy Johnson (22) | 1,194 | HOU |
| 1973 | Mack Herron (25) | 1,374 | NWE |
| 1972 | Bruce Laird (22) | 1,146 | BAL |
| 1971 | Dave Hampton (24) | 1,314 | GNB |
| 1970 | Alvin Haymond (28) | 1,398 | RAM |
| 1969 | Mercury Morris (22) | 1,308 | MIA |
| Alvin Haymond (27) | 810 | RAM | |
| 1968 | Chuck Latourette (23) | 1,582 | STL |
| George Atkinson (21) | 1,292 | OAK | |
| 1967 | Noland Smith (24) | 1,360 | KAN |
| Doug Cunningham (22) | 1,075 | SFO | |
| 1966 | Kermit Alexander (25) | 1,182 | SFO |
| Bobby Jancik (26) | 937 | HOU | |
| 1965 | Speedy Duncan (23) | 1,076 | SDG |
| Alvin Haymond (23) | 1,017 | BAL | |
| 1964 | Mel Renfro+ (23) | 1,435 | DAL |
| Odell Barry (23) | 1,394 | DEN | |
| 1963 | Bobby Jancik (23) | 1,462 | HOU |
| Timmy Brown (26) | 1,097 | PHI | |
| 1962 | Abe Woodson (28) | 1,336 | SFO |
| Dick Christy (27) | 1,074 | NYT | |
| 1961 | Abe Woodson (27) | 954 | SFO |
| Dick Christy (26) | 743 | NYT | |
| 1960 | Jack Larscheid (27) | 958 | OAK |
| Abe Woodson (26) | 672 | SFO | |
| 1959 | Bill Butler (22) | 635 | GNB |
| 1958 | Jimmy Sears (27) | 850 | CRD |
| 1957 | Al Carmichael (29) | 880 | GNB |
| 1956 | Al Carmichael (28) | 1,092 | GNB |
| 1955 | Joe Scudero (25) | 940 | WAS |
| 1954 | Woodley Lewis (29) | 918 | RAM |
| 1953 | Woodley Lewis (28) | 1,097 | RAM |
| 1952 | Johnny Williams (25) | 852 | WAS |
| 1951 | Joe Arenas (26) | 814 | SFO |
| 1950 | Billy Grimes (23) | 1,155 | GNB |
| 1949 | Herm Wedemeyer (25) | 823 | BCL |
| Red Cochran (27) | 724 | CRD | |
| 1948 | Dan Sandifer (21) | 830 | WAS |
| Monk Gafford (28) | 689 | BDA | |
| 1947 | Eddie Saenz (25) | 1,105 | WAS |
| Chet Mutryn (26) | 878 | BUF | |
| 1946 | Chuck Fenenbock (29) | 778 | LAD |
| Bill Dudley+ (27) | 665 | PIT | |
| 1945 | Steve Bagarus (26) | 576 | WAS |
| 1944 | John Grigas (24) | 511 | CRD |
| 1943 | Ken Heineman (25) | 522 | BKN |
| 1942 | Bill Dudley+ (23) | 569 | PIT |
| 1941 | Whizzer White (24) | 547 | DET |