From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is a list of National Football League kickoff returners based on their career kickoff return yards.

Brian Mitchell is the all-time leader with 14,014 kickoff return yards over 14 seasons. He played for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants.

Career leaders

Key
^ Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
* Denotes player who is still active

Through 2022 season

Rank Player Pos. Team(s) by season Returns Yards Average Ref
1 Brian Mitchell RB Washington Redskins ( 1990– 1999)
Philadelphia Eagles ( 2000– 2002)
New York Giants ( 2003) 		607 14,014 23.1 [1] [2] [3]
2 Allen Rossum DB Philadelphia Eagles ( 1998– 1999)
Green Bay Packers ( 2000– 2001)
Atlanta Falcons ( 2002– 2006)
Pittsburgh Steelers ( 2007)
San Francisco 49ers ( 2008– 2009)
Dallas Cowboys ( 2009) 		514 11,947 23.2 [1] [2] [4]
3 Josh Cribbs WR Cleveland Browns ( 2005– 2012)
New York Jets ( 2013)
Indianapolis Colts ( 2014) 		426 11,113 26.1 [1] [2] [5]
4 Mel Gray RB/ WR New Orleans Saints ( 1986– 1988)
Detroit Lions ( 1989– 1994)
Houston / Tennessee Oilers ( 1995– 1997)
Philadelphia Eagles ( 1997)
 421 10,250 24.3 [1] [2] [6]
5 Dante Hall WR Kansas City Chiefs ( 2000– 2006)
St. Louis Rams ( 2007– 2008) 		426 10,136 23.8 [1] [2] [7]
6 Glyn Milburn RB/ WR Denver Broncos ( 1993– 1995)
Detroit Lions ( 1996– 1997)
Chicago Bears ( 1998– 2001)
San Diego Chargers ( 2001) 		407 9,788 24 [1] [2] [8]
7 Michael Bates RB/ WR Seattle Seahawks ( 1993– 1995)
Carolina Panthers ( 1995, 1996– 2000)
Cleveland Browns ( 1995)
Washington Redskins ( 2001)
Carolina Panthers ( 2002– 2003)
New York Jets ( 2003)
Dallas Cowboys ( 2003) 		373 9,110 24.4 [1] [2] [9]
8 Darren Sproles RB San Diego Chargers ( 2005– 2010)
New Orleans Saints ( 2011– 2013)
Philadelphia Eagles ( 2014– 2019) 		332 8,352 25.2 [1] [2] [10]
9 Desmond Howard WR Washington Redskins ( 1992– 1994)
Jacksonville Jaguars ( 1995)
Green Bay Packers ( 1996, 1999)
Oakland Raiders ( 1997– 1998)
Detroit Lions ( 1999– 2002) 		359 7,959 22.2 [1] [2] [11]
10 Cordarrelle Patterson* RB/ WR Minnesota Vikings ( 2013– 2016)
Oakland Raiders ( 2017)
New England Patriots ( 2018)
Chicago Bears ( 2019– 2020)
Atlanta Falcons ( 2021–present) 		266 7,836 29.5 [1] [2] [12]
11 Leon Washington RB New York Jets ( 2006– 2009)
Seattle Seahawks ( 2010– 2012)
New England Patriots ( 2013)
Tennessee Titans ( 2013– 2014) 		292 7,553 25.9 [1] [2] [13]
12 Devin Hester^ WR Chicago Bears ( 2006– 2013)
Atlanta Falcons ( 2014– 2015)
Baltimore Ravens ( 2016)
Seattle Seahawks ( 2016) 		295 7,333 24.9 [1] [2] [14]
13 Kevin Williams WR Dallas Cowboys ( 1993– 1996)
Arizona Cardinals ( 1997)
Buffalo Bills ( 1998– 1999)
San Francisco 49ers ( 2000) 		322 7,309 22.7 [1] [2] [15]
14 Tyrone Hughes DB New Orleans Saints ( 1993– 1996))
Chicago Bears ( 1997)
Dallas Cowboys ( 1998) 		283 6,999 24.7 [1] [2] [16]
15 Ron Smith DB Chicago Bears ( 1965, ( 1970– 1972)
Atlanta Falcons ( 1966– 1967)
Los Angeles Rams ( 1968– 1969)
San Diego Chargers ( 1973)
Oakland Raiders ( 1974) 		275 6,922 25.2 [1] [2] [17]
16 Ted Ginn Jr. WR Miami Dolphins ( 2007– 2009)
San Francisco 49ers ( 2010– 2012)
Carolina Panthers ( 2013, 2015– 2016)
Arizona Cardinals ( 2014)
New Orleans Saints ( 2017– 2019)
Chicago Bears ( 2020) 		307 6,899 22.5 [1] [2] [18]
17 Andre Roberts* WR Arizona Cardinals ( 2010– 2013)
Washington Redskins ( 2014– 2015)
Detroit Lions ( 2016)
Atlanta Falcons ( 2017)
New York Jets ( 2018)
Buffalo Bills ( 2019– 2020)
Houston Texans ( 2021)
Los Angeles Chargers ( 2021)
Carolina Panthers ( 2022–present)
 260 6,751 26 [1] [2] [19]
18 Chris Carr DB Oakland Raiders ( 2005– 2007)
Tennessee Titans ( 2008)
Baltimore Ravens ( 2009– 2011)
San Diego Chargers ( 2012)
New Orleans Saints ( 2013) 		256 6,276 24.5 [1] [2] [20]
19 Michael Lewis WR New Orleans Saints ( 2001– 2006)
San Francisco 49ers ( 2007) 		248 5,989 24.1 [1] [2] [21]
20 Brandon Tate WR New England Patriots ( 2009– 2010)
Cincinnati Bengals ( 2011– 2015)
Buffalo Bills ( 2016– 2017)
New Orleans Saints ( 2018) 		247 5,890 23.8 [1] [2] [22]
21 Eric Metcalf RB/ WR Cleveland Browns ( 1989– 1994)
Atlanta Falcons ( 1995– 1996)
San Diego Chargers ( 1997)
Arizona Cardinals ( 1998)
Carolina Panthers ( 1999)
Washington Redskins ( 2001)
Green Bay Packers ( 2002) 		280 5,813 20.8 [1] [2] [23]
22 Eddie Drummond WR Detroit Lions (2002–2006)
Kansas City Chiefs (2007) 		250 5,811 23.2 [1] [2] [24]
23 Dave Meggett RB New York Giants ( 1989– 1994)
New England Patriots ( 1995– 1997)
New York Jets ( 1998) 		252 5,566 22.1 [1] [2] [25]
24 Abe Woodson DB San Francisco 49ers ( 1958– 1964)
St. Louis Cardinals ( 1965– 1966) 		193 5,538 28.7 [1] [2] [26]
25 Corey Harris DB Houston Oilers ( 1992)
Green Bay Packers (1992– 1994)
Seattle Seahawks ( 1995– 1996)
Miami Dolphins ( 1997)
Baltimore Ravens ( 1998– 2001)
Detroit Lions ( 2002– 2003) 		238 5,528 23.2 [1] [2] [27]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "NFL Kick Return Yards Career Leaders (since 1941)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "NFL Career Kickoff Return Yards Leaders". footballdb.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Brian Mitchell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Allen Rossum Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Josh Cribbs Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Mel Gray Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Dante Hall Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Glyn Milburn Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Michael Bates Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Darren Sproles Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Desmond Howard Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Cordarrelle Patterson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Leon Washington Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Devin Hester Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Kevin Williams Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Tyrone Hughes Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Ron Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Ted Ginn Jr. Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Andre Roberts Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  20. ^ "Chris Carr Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Michael Lewis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Brandon Tate Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Eric Metcalf Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Eddie Drummond Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Dave Meggett Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Abe Woodson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Corey Harris Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=List_of_NFL_career_kickoff_return_yards_leaders&oldid=1216776012"