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

All-Time Kick & Punt Return Yards Leaders

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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Leaders

Leaders Table
Year	Player	RtY	Tm
2025	Chimere Dike (24)	1,986	TEN
2024	KaVontae Turpin (28)	1,091	DAL
2023	Keisean Nixon (26)	877	GNB
2022	Keisean Nixon (25)	1,149	GNB
2021	Ray-Ray McCloud (25)	1,143	PIT
2020	Andre Roberts (32)	1,247	BUF
2019	Deonte Harty (22)	982	NOR
2018	Andre Roberts (30)	1,498	NYJ
2017	Pharoh Cooper (22)	1,331	LAR
2016	Alex Erickson (24)	1,005	CIN
2015	Tyler Lockett (23)	1,231	SEA
2014	Devin Hester+ (32)	1,368	ATL
2013	Devin Hester+ (31)	1,692	CHI
2012	Darius Reynaud (28)	1,650	TEN
2011	Leon Washington (29)	1,548	SEA
2010	Marc Mariani (23)	1,859	TEN
2009	Josh Cribbs (26)	1,994	CLE
2008	Josh Wilson (23)	1,753	SEA
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 Sr. (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 Gray (31)	1,181	DET
1991	Mel Gray (30)	1,314	DET
1990	Mel 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
1969	Alvin Haymond (27)	810	RAM
1968	Chuck Latourette (23)	1,582	STL
1968	George Atkinson (21)	1,292	OAK
1967	Noland Smith (24)	1,360	KAN
1967	Doug Cunningham (22)	1,075	SFO
1966	Kermit Alexander Jr. (25)	1,182	SFO
1966	Bobby Jancik (26)	937	HOU
1965	Speedy Duncan (23)	1,076	SDG
1965	Alvin Haymond (23)	1,017	BAL
1964	Mel Renfro+ (23)	1,435	DAL
1964	Odell Barry (23)	1,394	DEN
1963	Bobby Jancik (23)	1,462	HOU
1963	Timmy Brown (26)	1,097	PHI
1962	Abe Woodson (28)	1,336	SFO
1962	Dick Christy (27)	1,074	NYT
1961	Abe Woodson (27)	954	SFO
1961	Dick Christy (26)	743	NYT
1960	Jack Larscheid (27)	958	OAK
1960	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
1949	Red Cochran (27)	724	CRD
1948	Dan Sandifer (21)	830	WAS
1948	Monk Gafford (28)	689	BDA
1947	Eddie Saenz (25)	1,105	WAS
1947	Chet Mutryn (26)	878	BUF
1946	Chuck Fenenbock (28)	778	LAD
1946	Bill Dudley+ (25)	665	PIT
1945	Steve Bagarus (26)	576	WAS
1944	John Grigas (24)	511	CRD
1943	Ken Heineman (25)	522	BKN
1942	Bill Dudley+ (21)	569	PIT
1941	Whizzer White (24)	547	DET

Leaders Index

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

All-Time Kick & Punt Return Yards Leaders

Leaders

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