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Year-by-Year Kick & Punt Returns Leaders
For some seasons (1960-1969 & 1947-1950) leaders for both leagues are shown.
| Year | Player (age), + - HOFer, Bold - Active | Rt | Teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Johnnie Lee Higgins (25) | 31 | OAK |
| 2007 | Steve Breaston (24) | 104 | ARI |
| 2006 | Chris Carr (23) | 104 | OAK |
| 2005 | Chris Carr (22) | 107 | OAK |
| Dante Hall (27) | 107 | KAN | |
| 2004 | B.J. Sams (24) | 114 | BAL |
| 2003 | Allen Rossum (28) | 101 | ATL |
| 2002 | Michael Lewis (31) | 114 | NOR |
| 2001 | Steve Smith (22) | 90 | CAR |
| 2000 | Glyn Milburn (29) | 98 | CHI |
| 1999 | Tamarick Vanover (25) | 95 | KAN |
| 1998 | Brian Mitchell (30) | 103 | WAS |
| 1997 | Glyn Milburn (26) | 102 | DET |
| 1996 | Tyrone Hughes (26) | 100 | NOR |
| 1995 | Tamarick Vanover (21) | 94 | KAN |
| Tyrone Hughes (25) | 94 | NOR | |
| 1994 | Brian Mitchell (26) | 90 | WAS |
| 1993 | Clarence Verdin (30) | 80 | IND |
| 1992 | Vai Sikahema (30) | 66 | PHI |
| Kelvin Martin (27) | 66 | DAL | |
| 1991 | Rod Harris (25) | 81 | PHI |
| 1990 | Mel J. Gray (29) | 75 | DET |
| 1989 | Vai Sikahema (27) | 80 | PHO |
| 1988 | Tim Brown (22) | 90 | RAI |
| 1987 | Vai Sikahema (25) | 78 | STL |
| 1986 | Gerald McNeil (24) | 87 | CLE |
| 1985 | Fulton Walker (27) | 83 | 2TM |
| 1984 | Mike Nelms (29) | 91 | WAS |
| 1983 | Greg Pruitt (32) | 89 | RAI |
| 1982 | Mike Nelms (27) | 55 | WAS |
| 1981 | Stump Mitchell (22) | 97 | STL |
| 1980 | Eddie Payton (29) | 87 | MIN |
| 1979 | Nesby Glasgow (22) | 94 | BAL |
| 1978 | Kevin Miller (23) | 88 | MIN |
| 1977 | Eddie Brown (25) | 91 | WAS |
| 1976 | Eddie Brown (24) | 78 | WAS |
| 1975 | Larry Jones (24) | 100 | WAS |
| 1974 | Howard Stevens (24) | 70 | NOR |
| 1973 | Mack Herron (25) | 68 | NWE |
| 1972 | Bruce Laird (22) | 63 | BAL |
| 1971 | Willie Belton (23) | 58 | ATL |
| 1970 | Alvin Haymond (28) | 88 | RAM |
| 1969 | Jerry LeVias (23) | 73 | HOU |
| Bob Campbell (22) | 54 | PIT | |
| 1968 | Chuck Latourette (23) | 74 | STL |
| George Atkinson (21) | 68 | OAK | |
| 1967 | Noland Smith (24) | 67 | KAN |
| Ron Smith (24) | 59 | ATL | |
| 1966 | Kermit Alexander (25) | 67 | SFO |
| Rodger Bird (23) | 56 | OAK | |
| 1965 | Kermit Alexander (24) | 67 | SFO |
| Speedy Duncan (23) | 56 | SDG | |
| 1964 | Mel Renfro+ (23) | 72 | DAL |
| Odell Barry (23) | 63 | DEN | |
| 1963 | Bobby Jancik (23) | 58 | HOU |
| Bill Butler (26) | 54 | MIN | |
| 1962 | Abe Woodson (28) | 56 | SFO |
| Dick Christy (27) | 53 | NYT | |
| 1961 | Johnny Sample (24) | 49 | PIT |
| Al Frazier (26) | 36 | DEN | |
| 1960 | Jack Larscheid (27) | 42 | OAK |
| Leon Burton (25) | 42 | NYT | |
| Ted Dean (22) | 42 | PHI | |
| 1959 | Tommy McDonald+ (25) | 45 | PHI |
| 1958 | Jimmy Sears (27) | 46 | CRD |
| 1957 | Al Carmichael (29) | 56 | GNB |
| 1956 | Al Carmichael (28) | 54 | GNB |
| 1955 | Sid Watson (23) | 50 | PIT |
| Joe Scudero (25) | 50 | WAS | |
| 1954 | Woodley Lewis (29) | 56 | RAM |
| 1953 | Woodley Lewis (28) | 67 | RAM |
| 1952 | Emlen Tunnell+ (27) | 45 | NYG |
| 1951 | Joe Arenas (26) | 42 | SFO |
| 1950 | Billy Grimes (23) | 55 | GNB |
| 1949 | Herm Wedemeyer (25) | 46 | BCL |
| Dan Sandifer (22) | 42 | WAS | |
| 1948 | Dan Sandifer (21) | 46 | WAS |
| Monk Gafford (28) | 37 | BDA | |
| 1947 | Eddie Saenz (25) | 53 | WAS |
| Chuck Fenenbock (30) | 35 | LAD | |
| 1946 | Bill Dudley+ (27) | 41 | PIT |
| Chuck Fenenbock (29) | 33 | LAD | |
| 1945 | Steve Bagarus (26) | 33 | WAS |
| 1944 | Bob Davis (30) | 29 | BOS |
| 1943 | Ken Heineman (25) | 26 | BKN |
| 1942 | Bill Dudley+ (23) | 31 | PIT |
| 1941 | Whizzer White (24) | 30 | DET |