NFL Kick & 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

View Current Leaderboard

See leaders through past seasons

Leaders

Leaders Table
Year Player RtY Tm
2023Keisean Nixon (26)877GNB
2022Keisean Nixon (25)1,149GNB
2021Ray-Ray McCloud (24)1,143PIT
2020Andre Roberts (32)1,247BUF
2019Deonte Harty (21)982NOR
2018Andre Roberts (30)1,498NYJ
2017Pharoh Cooper (22)1,331LAR
2016Alex Erickson (23)1,005CIN
2015Tyler Lockett (22)1,231SEA
2014Devin Hester+ (31)1,368ATL
2013Devin Hester+ (30)1,692CHI
2012Darius Reynaud (27)1,650TEN
2011Leon Washington (29)1,548SEA
2010Marc Mariani (23)1,859TEN
2009Josh Cribbs (26)1,994CLE
2008Josh Wilson (23)1,753SEA
2007Josh Cribbs (24)2,214CLE
2006Chris Carr (23)1,978OAK
2005Chris Carr (22)1,938OAK
2004Dante Hall (25)1,950KAN
2003Dante Hall (24)1,950KAN
2002Michael Lewis (30)2,432NOR
2001Steve Smith Sr. (22)1,795CAR
2000MarTay Jenkins (25)2,187ARI
1999Glyn Milburn (28)1,772CHI
1998Roell Preston (26)1,895GNB
1997Kevin Williams (26)1,920ARI
1996Tyrone Hughes (26)1,943NOR
1995Tyrone Hughes (25)1,879NOR
1994Brian Mitchell (26)1,930WAS
1993Tyrone Hughes (23)1,256NOR
1992Mel Gray (31)1,181DET
1991Mel Gray (30)1,314DET
1990Mel Gray (29)1,300DET
1989Vai Sikahema (27)1,307PHO
1988Tim Brown+ (22)1,542RAI
1987Vai Sikahema (25)1,311STL
1986Vai Sikahema (24)1,369STL
1985Mike Martin (24)1,372CIN
1984Mike Nelms (29)1,288WAS
1983Ricky Smith (23)1,314NWE
1982James Brooks (23)887SDG
1981Stump Mitchell (22)1,737STL
1980Eddie Payton (29)1,435MIN
1979Nesby Glasgow (22)1,478BAL
1978Bruce Harper (23)1,658NYJ
1977Bruce Harper (22)1,460NYJ
1976Eddie Brown (24)1,384WAS
1975Larry Jones (24)1,493WAS
1974Billy Johnson (22)1,194HOU
1973Mack Herron (25)1,374NWE
1972Bruce Laird (22)1,146BAL
1971Dave Hampton (24)1,314GNB
1970Alvin Haymond (28)1,398RAM
1969Mercury Morris (22)1,308MIA
1969Alvin Haymond (27)810RAM
1968Chuck Latourette (23)1,582STL
1968George Atkinson (21)1,292OAK
1967Noland Smith (23)1,360KAN
1967Doug Cunningham (21)1,075SFO
1966Kermit Alexander (25)1,182SFO
1966Bobby Jancik (26)937HOU
1965Speedy Duncan (23)1,076SDG
1965Alvin Haymond (23)1,017BAL
1964Mel Renfro+ (22)1,435DAL
1964Odell Barry (22)1,394DEN
1963Bobby Jancik (23)1,462HOU
1963Timmy Brown (26)1,097PHI
1962Abe Woodson (28)1,336SFO
1962Dick Christy (26)1,074NYT
1961Abe Woodson (27)954SFO
1961Dick Christy (25)743NYT
1960Jack Larscheid (27)958OAK
1960Abe Woodson (26)672SFO
1959Bill Butler (22)635GNB
1958Jimmy Sears (27)850CRD
1957Al Carmichael (28)880GNB
1956Al Carmichael (27)1,092GNB
1955Joe Scudero (25)940WAS
1954Woodley Lewis (29)918RAM
1953Woodley Lewis (28)1,097RAM
1952Johnny Williams (25)852WAS
1951Joe Arenas (25)814SFO
1950Billy Grimes (23)1,155GNB
1949Herm Wedemeyer (25)823BCL
1949Red Cochran (27)724CRD
1948Dan Sandifer (21)830WAS
1948Monk Gafford (27)689BDA
1947Eddie Saenz (24)1,105WAS
1947Chet Mutryn (26)878BUF
1946Chuck Fenenbock (28)778LAD
1946Bill Dudley+ (24)665PIT
1945Steve Bagarus (26)576WAS
1944John Grigas (24)511CRD
1943Ken Heineman (25)522BKN
1942Bill Dudley+ (20)569PIT
1941Whizzer White (24)547DET