What Kickoff Return Yds is

Kickoff return yards. Field position gained on the exchange after the opponent scores or opens a half.

Higher is better. It is shown per game, so a team's number does not depend on games played. Source: P + N.

Through Week 7 of 2026, the Bengals lead at 133.6; the league average is 107.7.

League snapshot — 2026

League leader

CIN · 133.6

League average

107.7

Best to worst

63.60

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	CIN	133.6	5
2	MIA	133.4	5
3	BUF	131.5	6
4	WAS	129.5	6
5	ARI	126.5	6
6	IND	125.8	6
7	HOU	125.3	6
8	CLE	123	6
9	NO	121	6
10	TB	120.3	6
11	LV	119	6
12	DAL	116	6
13	DET	112.2	5
14	LAC	108.5	6
15	PIT	108.3	6
16	NYG	108	6
17	CAR	105.6	5
18	JAX	104.5	6
19	GB	103.8	6
20	TEN	101.3	6
21	MIN	101.2	5
22	LAR	98.67	6
23	ATL	98.17	6
24	NE	95.33	6
25	KC	95	5
26	SF	93.17	6
27	NYJ	92.50	6
28	CHI	88.67	6
29	DEN	88.17	6
30	SEA	84.17	6
31	BAL	83.50	6
32	PHI	70	6

At a glance — 2026

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

CIN · 133.6

League laggard

PHI · 70

League average

107.7

Spread (max − min)

63.60

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	CIN	133.6	25.92	100%
2	MIA	133.4	25.72	96.8%
3	BUF	131.5	23.82	93.5%
4	WAS	129.5	21.82	90.3%
5	ARI	126.5	18.82	87.1%
6	IND	125.8	18.15	83.9%
7	HOU	125.3	17.65	80.6%
8	CLE	123	15.32	77.4%
9	NO	121	13.32	74.2%
10	TB	120.3	12.65	71%
11	LV	119	11.32	67.7%
12	DAL	116	8.32	64.5%
13	DET	112.2	4.52	61.3%
14	LAC	108.5	0.82	58.1%
15	PIT	108.3	0.65	54.8%
16	NYG	108	0.32	51.6%
17	CAR	105.6	-2.08	48.4%
18	JAX	104.5	-3.18	45.2%
19	GB	103.8	-3.85	41.9%
20	TEN	101.3	-6.35	38.7%
21	MIN	101.2	-6.48	35.5%
22	LAR	98.67	-9.02	32.3%
23	ATL	98.17	-9.52	29%
24	NE	95.33	-12.35	25.8%
25	KC	95	-12.68	22.6%
26	SF	93.17	-14.52	19.4%
27	NYJ	92.50	-15.18	16.1%
28	CHI	88.67	-19.02	12.9%
29	DEN	88.17	-19.52	9.7%
30	SEA	84.17	-23.52	6.5%
31	BAL	83.50	-24.18	3.2%
32	PHI	70	-37.68	0%

Kickoff Return Yds in 2026 vs 2025

Bengals lead at 133.6 — they ranked #3 last year. Eagles are last at 70 — #28 last year.

The league average is 107.7, up 8.66 from 99.02 last year.

Biggest riser: Texans, #29 → #7. Biggest faller: Jets, #1 → #27.

Spread between first and last: 63.60; 20 teams are within 16.30 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

HOU · +42.57

Biggest faller

NYJ · −37.50

Most consistent

DEN · +0.46

League trend 2026 vs 2025

▲ 8.66

Rank	Team	2026	2025	Δ
1	HOU	125.3	82.76	+42.57
2	TB	120.3	87.29	+33.04
3	MIA	133.4	100.9	+32.46
4	CLE	123	93.35	+29.65
5	CAR	105.6	76.71	+28.89
6	BUF	131.5	108.4	+23.15
7	NO	121	97.94	+23.06
8	PIT	108.3	89.65	+18.69
9	WAS	129.5	112.8	+16.68
10	GB	103.8	88.76	+15.07
11	CIN	133.6	121.1	+12.54
12	IND	125.8	113.4	+12.48
13	LAC	108.5	96.06	+12.44
14	SF	93.17	81.47	+11.70
15	LAR	98.67	87	+11.67
16	JAX	104.5	93.59	+10.91
17	LV	119	108.5	+10.47
18	ARI	126.5	116.4	+10.09
19	NE	95.33	85.35	+9.98
20	DET	112.2	103.3	+8.91
21	SEA	84.17	75.71	+8.46
22	ATL	98.17	90.06	+8.11
23	TEN	101.3	98.18	+3.16
24	DEN	88.17	87.71	+0.46
25	MIN	101.2	102.4	−1.21
26	NYG	108	114.2	−6.24
27	KC	95	101.6	−6.59
28	DAL	116	123.4	−7.35
29	PHI	70	83	−13
30	CHI	88.67	105.4	−16.75
31	BAL	83.50	112.4	−28.91
32	NYJ	92.50	130	−37.50

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

WAS · 69.70

Multi-year laggard

DEN · 42.48

Biggest improver

MIA · +19.11/yr

Biggest decliner

CHI · +3.93/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	WAS	69.70	+14.19	40.31	53.18	53.06	35.35	63.65	112.8	129.5
2	NYJ	68.08	+8.45	50.69	80.65	39.18	31.88	51.65	130	92.50
3	IND	68.03	+9.58	69.44	47.53	70.41	11.76	37.88	113.4	125.8
4	CHI	67.25	+3.93	71.56	69.41	58.59	31.94	45.18	105.4	88.67
5	CIN	66.86	+16.11	47.75	38.94	37.25	22.76	66.65	121.1	133.6
6	BUF	66.05	+11.12	62.25	46.47	56.75	20.53	36.53	108.4	131.5
7	DAL	65.74	+12.94	60.31	42.29	30.94	23.12	64.18	123.4	116
8	CLE	63.64	+11.20	49.69	48.71	55.47	15.35	59.88	93.35	123
9	NO	62.43	+12.19	47.56	49.29	35	27.41	58.82	97.94	121
10	TEN	60.75	+10.07	47.94	45.76	46.59	21.88	63.59	98.18	101.3
11	DET	60.69	+9.17	52.81	51.76	52.29	24.76	27.71	103.3	112.2
12	HOU	60.16	+10.72	45.13	59.18	30.18	36.06	42.47	82.76	125.3
13	NYG	59.84	+12.56	49.25	40.18	32.65	14.65	59.94	114.2	108
14	ARI	59.46	+15.83	32.81	35.94	40.35	22.47	41.71	116.4	126.5
15	GB	58.98	+9.72	38.94	31.24	70.88	46.06	33.18	88.76	103.8
16	JAX	58.60	+10.47	38.38	47	42.41	40.47	43.88	93.59	104.5
17	CAR	58.35	+9.93	45.88	36.47	43.94	37.47	62.35	76.71	105.6
18	LAC	58.14	+8.34	57.75	57.41	30.12	22.94	34.18	96.06	108.5
19	MIN	57.27	+8.54	45.13	49.94	54.12	28.06	20.06	102.4	101.2
20	SEA	56.75	+7.17	39.31	52.59	42.82	40	62.65	75.71	84.17
21	LV	55.60	+14.81	26.13	40.82	39.29	15.41	40	108.5	119
22	PIT	55.27	+10.09	41.88	49.94	30	33.24	33.82	89.65	108.3
23	BAL	54.69	+10.09	38.31	43.35	38.76	18.76	47.71	112.4	83.50
24	KC	54.19	+10.35	40.38	41.29	40.71	14.18	46.18	101.6	95
25	TB	54.12	+13.45	34.13	34.82	35	19.24	48	87.29	120.3
26	NE	53.50	+8.82	44.81	32	50.35	27.71	38.94	85.35	95.33
27	ATL	52.89	+10.34	25.56	58.76	37.29	13.88	46.53	90.06	98.17
28	MIA	52.83	+19.11	13.44	19.41	32.29	25.94	44.41	100.9	133.4
29	SF	51.12	+10.22	32.50	37.76	35.24	25.71	52	81.47	93.17
30	LAR	50.36	+10.72	32.25	40.35	39	8.53	46.71	87	98.67
31	PHI	48.00	+6.89	40.50	37.06	39	14.94	51.47	83	70
32	DEN	42.48	+10.64	34.81	17.12	24.71	23.41	21.41	87.71	88.17

Multi-year heatmap

32 teams across 7 seasons. Cells colored by quintile within each season; click a column header to jump to that year.

Team	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
CIN	47.75	38.94	37.25	22.76	66.65	121.1	133.6
MIA	13.44	19.41	32.29	25.94	44.41	100.9	133.4
BUF	62.25	46.47	56.75	20.53	36.53	108.4	131.5
WAS	40.31	53.18	53.06	35.35	63.65	112.8	129.5
ARI	32.81	35.94	40.35	22.47	41.71	116.4	126.5
IND	69.44	47.53	70.41	11.76	37.88	113.4	125.8
HOU	45.13	59.18	30.18	36.06	42.47	82.76	125.3
CLE	49.69	48.71	55.47	15.35	59.88	93.35	123
NO	47.56	49.29	35	27.41	58.82	97.94	121
TB	34.13	34.82	35	19.24	48	87.29	120.3
LV	26.13	40.82	39.29	15.41	40	108.5	119
DAL	60.31	42.29	30.94	23.12	64.18	123.4	116
DET	52.81	51.76	52.29	24.76	27.71	103.3	112.2
LAC	57.75	57.41	30.12	22.94	34.18	96.06	108.5
PIT	41.88	49.94	30	33.24	33.82	89.65	108.3
NYG	49.25	40.18	32.65	14.65	59.94	114.2	108
CAR	45.88	36.47	43.94	37.47	62.35	76.71	105.6
JAX	38.38	47	42.41	40.47	43.88	93.59	104.5
GB	38.94	31.24	70.88	46.06	33.18	88.76	103.8
TEN	47.94	45.76	46.59	21.88	63.59	98.18	101.3
MIN	45.13	49.94	54.12	28.06	20.06	102.4	101.2
LAR	32.25	40.35	39	8.53	46.71	87	98.67
ATL	25.56	58.76	37.29	13.88	46.53	90.06	98.17
NE	44.81	32	50.35	27.71	38.94	85.35	95.33
KC	40.38	41.29	40.71	14.18	46.18	101.6	95
SF	32.50	37.76	35.24	25.71	52	81.47	93.17
NYJ	50.69	80.65	39.18	31.88	51.65	130	92.50
CHI	71.56	69.41	58.59	31.94	45.18	105.4	88.67
DEN	34.81	17.12	24.71	23.41	21.41	87.71	88.17
SEA	39.31	52.59	42.82	40	62.65	75.71	84.17
BAL	38.31	43.35	38.76	18.76	47.71	112.4	83.50
PHI	40.50	37.06	39	14.94	51.47	83	70

Kickoff Return Yds since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Jets (77.38), 2019 Giants (72.06), 2020 Bears (71.56), 2021 Jets (80.65), 2022 Packers (70.88), 2023 Packers (46.06), 2024 Bengals (66.65), 2025 Jets (130), 2026 Bengals (133.6).

Jets have led this stat 3 of 9 seasons.

The best season on record is Bengals 2026 at 133.6; the worst Rams 2023 at 8.53.

The league average has risen from 43.42 in 2018 to 107.7 in 2026.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2026.

About this stat

Stat ID: off_special_teams_st_kickoff_return_yards
Side: offensive
Family: Special Teams
Data source: P + N
Polarity: higher is better (or neutral)
Display grain: count
Algorithm eligibility: Stat-page only: this stat is not available in the Algorithm Builder.