NFL Punt Returns Year-by-Year Leaders (since 1941)Subscribe Now (First Month Free)

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 Ret Tm
2023Brandon Powell (27)37MIN
2023Ihmir Smith-Marsette (24)37CAR
2022Dax Milne (23)40WAS
2021Ray-Ray McCloud (24)38PIT
2020Nyheim Hines (23)30IND
2019Deonte Harty (21)36NOR
2018Tarik Cohen (23)33CHI
2017Alex Erickson (24)39CIN
2017Marcus Sherels (29)39MIN
2016Tavon Austin (26)44LAR
2015Jeremy Kerley (26)48NYJ
2014Darren Sproles (31)39PHI
2013Dexter McCluster (24)58KAN
2012Patrick Peterson (22)51ARI
2011Brandon Tate (23)51CIN
2010Tramon Williams (27)41GNB
2009Quan Cosby (26)40CIN
2008DeSean Jackson (21)50PHI
2007Nate Burleson (26)58SEA
2006Devin Hester+ (23)47CHI
2005Mark Jones (24)51TAM
2004B.J. Sams (23)55BAL
2003Lamont Brightful (24)45BAL
2003Antwaan Randle El (24)45PIT
2002Steve Smith Sr. (23)55CAR
2001Jermaine Lewis (26)42BAL
2000Derrick Mason (26)51TEN
1999Jermaine Lewis (24)57BAL
1998R.W. McQuarters (21)47SFO
1997Todd Kinchen (28)52ATL
1996Desmond Howard (26)58GNB
1995Todd Kinchen (26)53STL
1994Dewell Brewer (24)42IND
1993Patrick Robinson (23)43CIN
1992Eric Metcalf (24)44CLE
1991Rod Harris (24)53PHI
1990Dave Meggett (24)43NYG
1989Gerald McNeil (27)49CLE
1988Leo Lewis (31)58MIN
1987Vai Sikahema (25)44STL
1986Lew Barnes (23)57CHI
1985Fulton Walker (27)622TM
1984Jeff Fisher (26)57CHI
1983Greg Pruitt (32)58RAI
1982Leon Bright (27)37NYG
1981Wally Henry (26)54PHI
1980Danny Reece (25)57TAM
1979Danny Reece (24)70TAM
1978Jackie Wallace (27)52RAM
1977Eddie Brown (25)57WAS
1976Rolland Lawrence (25)54ATL
1975Larry Jones (24)53WAS
1974Donnie Walker (23)43BUF
1973George Atkinson (26)41OAK
1972Bruce Laird (22)34BAL
1971Bruce Taylor (23)34SFO
1970Alvin Haymond (28)53RAM
1969Charlie West (23)39MIN
1969Jerry LeVias (23)35HOU
1968George Atkinson (21)36OAK
1968Roy Jefferson (24)28PIT
1968Chuck Latourette (23)28STL
1967Rodger Bird (24)46OAK
1967Doug Cunningham (21)27SFO
1966Alvin Haymond (24)40BAL
1966Rodger Bird (23)37OAK
1965Alvin Haymond (23)41BAL
1965Claude Gibson (26)31OAK
1964Hagood Clarke (22)33BUF
1964Mel Renfro+ (22)32DAL
1963Tom Watkins (25)32DET
1963Claude Gibson (24)26OAK
1962Pat Studstill (24)29DET
1962Ron Burton (26)21BOS
1961Johnny Sample (25)26PIT
1961Fred Bruney (29)23BOS
1960Bill Stits (29)18NYG
1960Al Carmichael (31)15DEN
1959Billy Stacy (23)29CRD
1958Carl Taseff (29)29BAL
1957Tommy McDonald+ (23)26PHI
1956Carl Taseff (27)27BAL
1955Bert Rechichar (25)30BAL
1954Chet Hanulak (21)27CLE
1953Emlen Tunnell+ (28)38NYG
1952Bibbles Bawel (21)34PHI
1951Emlen Tunnell+ (26)34NYG
1950George McAfee+ (32)33CHI
1949Pete Layden (29)29NYY
1949Vitamin Smith (25)27RAM
1948George McAfee+ (30)30CHI
1948Cliff Lewis (25)26CLE
1947Walt Slater (27)28PIT
1947Glenn Dobbs (27)192TM
1946Bill Dudley+ (24)27PIT
1946Ken Casanega (25)18SFO
1946Bob Seymour (30)18LAD
1945Steve Bagarus (26)21WAS
1944Bob Davis (30)22BOS
1943Andy Farkas (27)15WAS
1942Merl Condit (25)21BKN
1941Whizzer White (24)19DET