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.

In 2019 the Giants led at 72.06; the league average was 41.22.

League snapshot — 2019

League leader

NYG · 72.06

League average

41.22

Best to worst

52.81

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	NYG	72.06	16
2	CIN	68.19	16
3	KC	57.94	16
4	CHI	56.44	16
5	WAS	52.06	16
6	CLE	51.88	16
7	LV	50.69	16
8	NYJ	50.44	16
9	BUF	50.13	16
10	MIA	49.75	16
11	ARI	47.75	16
12	LAC	45.38	16
13	IND	44.19	16
14	CAR	42.31	16
15	NO	42.25	16
16	GB	41.69	16
17	PHI	40.81	16
18	TEN	39.88	16
19	JAX	39.25	16
20	NE	35.94	16
21	ATL	35.69	16
22	DET	35.25	16
23	DEN	33.38	16
24	PIT	32.81	16
25	TB	30.88	16
26	BAL	30.81	16
27	SEA	27	16
28	SF	25.56	16
29	LAR	25.25	16
30	MIN	23.75	16
31	DAL	20.31	16
32	HOU	19.25	16

At a glance — 2019

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

NYG · 72.06

League laggard

HOU · 19.25

League average

41.22

Spread (max − min)

52.81

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	NYG	72.06	30.85	100%
2	CIN	68.19	26.97	96.8%
3	KC	57.94	16.72	93.5%
4	CHI	56.44	15.22	90.3%
5	WAS	52.06	10.85	87.1%
6	CLE	51.88	10.66	83.9%
7	LV	50.69	9.47	80.6%
8	NYJ	50.44	9.22	77.4%
9	BUF	50.13	8.91	74.2%
10	MIA	49.75	8.53	71%
11	ARI	47.75	6.53	67.7%
12	LAC	45.38	4.16	64.5%
13	IND	44.19	2.97	61.3%
14	CAR	42.31	1.10	58.1%
15	NO	42.25	1.03	54.8%
16	GB	41.69	0.47	51.6%
17	PHI	40.81	-0.40	48.4%
18	TEN	39.88	-1.34	45.2%
19	JAX	39.25	-1.97	41.9%
20	NE	35.94	-5.28	38.7%
21	ATL	35.69	-5.53	35.5%
22	DET	35.25	-5.97	32.3%
23	DEN	33.38	-7.84	29%
24	PIT	32.81	-8.40	25.8%
25	TB	30.88	-10.34	22.6%
26	BAL	30.81	-10.40	19.4%
27	SEA	27	-14.22	16.1%
28	SF	25.56	-15.65	12.9%
29	LAR	25.25	-15.97	9.7%
30	MIN	23.75	-17.47	6.5%
31	DAL	20.31	-20.90	3.2%
32	HOU	19.25	-21.97	0%

Kickoff Return Yds in 2019 vs 2018

Giants lead at 72.06 — they ranked #2 last year. Texans are last at 19.25 — #28 last year.

The league average is 41.22, down 2.21 from 43.42 last year.

Biggest riser: Bears, #30 → #4. Biggest faller: 49ers, #5 → #28.

Spread between first and last: 52.81; 22 teams are within 12.74 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2019 vs 2018

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

CHI · +28.94

Biggest faller

SF · −33.44

Most consistent

BUF · −0.31

League trend 2019 vs 2018

▼ -2.21

Rank	Team	2019	2018	Δ
1	CHI	56.44	27.50	+28.94
2	IND	44.19	21.06	+23.13
3	WAS	52.06	35.63	+16.44
4	ARI	47.75	33.50	+14.25
5	LV	50.69	41.44	+9.25
6	NO	42.25	35	+7.25
7	JAX	39.25	33.25	+6
8	CAR	42.31	36.38	+5.94
9	DET	35.25	30.13	+5.13
10	LAC	45.38	40.81	+4.56
11	NYG	72.06	68.56	+3.50
12	DAL	20.31	17.69	+2.63
13	GB	41.69	40.25	+1.44
14	CIN	68.19	66.94	+1.25
15	BUF	50.13	50.44	−0.31
16	KC	57.94	60.94	−3
17	CLE	51.88	55.25	−3.38
18	DEN	33.38	37.75	−4.38
19	PHI	40.81	45.31	−4.50
20	PIT	32.81	38.69	−5.88
21	TEN	39.88	46.06	−6.19
22	ATL	35.69	43.06	−7.38
23	TB	30.88	39.44	−8.56
24	MIA	49.75	58.63	−8.88
25	MIN	23.75	33.75	−10
26	HOU	19.25	30.44	−11.19
27	NE	35.94	47.19	−11.25
28	BAL	30.81	44.19	−13.38
29	SEA	27	41.81	−14.81
30	LAR	25.25	52.13	−26.88
31	NYJ	50.44	77.38	−26.94
32	SF	25.56	59	−33.44

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

WAS · 71.34

Multi-year laggard

DEN · 43.62

Biggest improver

MIA · +19.11/yr

Biggest decliner

CHI · +4.00/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	WAS	71.34	+15.43	40.31	53.18	53.06	35.35	63.65	112.8	141
2	IND	68.80	+10.16	69.44	47.53	70.41	11.76	37.88	113.4	131.2
3	CHI	67.36	+4.00	71.56	69.41	58.59	31.94	45.18	105.4	89.40
4	NYJ	67.06	+7.69	50.69	80.65	39.18	31.88	51.65	130	85.40
5	CIN	66.86	+16.11	47.75	38.94	37.25	22.76	66.65	121.1	133.6
6	BUF	66.04	+11.11	62.25	46.47	56.75	20.53	36.53	108.4	131.4
7	CLE	65.92	+12.92	49.69	48.71	55.47	15.35	59.88	93.35	139
8	DAL	64.86	+12.28	60.31	42.29	30.94	23.12	64.18	123.4	109.8
9	NO	62.66	+12.37	47.56	49.29	35	27.41	58.82	97.94	122.6
10	ARI	61.21	+17.15	32.81	35.94	40.35	22.47	41.71	116.4	138.8
11	DET	60.69	+9.17	52.81	51.76	52.29	24.76	27.71	103.3	112.2
12	GB	60.49	+10.85	38.94	31.24	70.88	46.06	33.18	88.76	114.4
13	HOU	60.40	+10.90	45.13	59.18	30.18	36.06	42.47	82.76	127
14	TEN	60.28	+9.71	47.94	45.76	46.59	21.88	63.59	98.18	98
15	CAR	59.87	+11.07	45.88	36.47	43.94	37.47	62.35	76.71	116.3
16	NYG	59.73	+12.47	49.25	40.18	32.65	14.65	59.94	114.2	107.2
17	LAC	57.92	+8.18	57.75	57.41	30.12	22.94	34.18	96.06	107
18	MIN	57.27	+8.54	45.13	49.94	54.12	28.06	20.06	102.4	101.2
19	SEA	56.95	+7.32	39.31	52.59	42.82	40	62.65	75.71	85.60
20	JAX	56.90	+9.19	38.38	47	42.41	40.47	43.88	93.59	92.60
21	BAL	55.84	+10.96	38.31	43.35	38.76	18.76	47.71	112.4	91.60
22	KC	54.80	+10.81	40.38	41.29	40.71	14.18	46.18	101.6	99.25
23	PIT	54.07	+9.20	41.88	49.94	30	33.24	33.82	89.65	100
24	TB	53.55	+13.03	34.13	34.82	35	19.24	48	87.29	116.4
25	LV	53.17	+12.99	26.13	40.82	39.29	15.41	40	108.5	102
26	MIA	52.83	+19.11	13.44	19.41	32.29	25.94	44.41	100.9	133.4
27	NE	52.54	+8.09	44.81	32	50.35	27.71	38.94	85.35	88.60
28	ATL	52.21	+9.83	25.56	58.76	37.29	13.88	46.53	90.06	93.40
29	LAR	51.81	+11.81	32.25	40.35	39	8.53	46.71	87	108.8
30	SF	51.44	+10.46	32.50	37.76	35.24	25.71	52	81.47	95.40
31	PHI	47.31	+6.37	40.50	37.06	39	14.94	51.47	83	65.20
32	DEN	43.62	+11.50	34.81	17.12	24.71	23.41	21.41	87.71	96.20

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
WAS	40.31	53.18	53.06	35.35	63.65	112.8	141
CLE	49.69	48.71	55.47	15.35	59.88	93.35	139
ARI	32.81	35.94	40.35	22.47	41.71	116.4	138.8
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	131.4
IND	69.44	47.53	70.41	11.76	37.88	113.4	131.2
HOU	45.13	59.18	30.18	36.06	42.47	82.76	127
NO	47.56	49.29	35	27.41	58.82	97.94	122.6
TB	34.13	34.82	35	19.24	48	87.29	116.4
CAR	45.88	36.47	43.94	37.47	62.35	76.71	116.3
GB	38.94	31.24	70.88	46.06	33.18	88.76	114.4
DET	52.81	51.76	52.29	24.76	27.71	103.3	112.2
DAL	60.31	42.29	30.94	23.12	64.18	123.4	109.8
LAR	32.25	40.35	39	8.53	46.71	87	108.8
NYG	49.25	40.18	32.65	14.65	59.94	114.2	107.2
LAC	57.75	57.41	30.12	22.94	34.18	96.06	107
LV	26.13	40.82	39.29	15.41	40	108.5	102
MIN	45.13	49.94	54.12	28.06	20.06	102.4	101.2
PIT	41.88	49.94	30	33.24	33.82	89.65	100
KC	40.38	41.29	40.71	14.18	46.18	101.6	99.25
TEN	47.94	45.76	46.59	21.88	63.59	98.18	98
DEN	34.81	17.12	24.71	23.41	21.41	87.71	96.20
SF	32.50	37.76	35.24	25.71	52	81.47	95.40
ATL	25.56	58.76	37.29	13.88	46.53	90.06	93.40
JAX	38.38	47	42.41	40.47	43.88	93.59	92.60
BAL	38.31	43.35	38.76	18.76	47.71	112.4	91.60
CHI	71.56	69.41	58.59	31.94	45.18	105.4	89.40
NE	44.81	32	50.35	27.71	38.94	85.35	88.60
SEA	39.31	52.59	42.82	40	62.65	75.71	85.60
NYJ	50.69	80.65	39.18	31.88	51.65	130	85.40
PHI	40.50	37.06	39	14.94	51.47	83	65.20

Kickoff Return Yds since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Jets (77.38), 2019 Giants (72.06).

The best season on record is Jets 2018 at 77.38; the worst Cowboys 2018 at 17.69.

The league average has fallen from 43.42 in 2018 to 41.22 in 2019.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2019.

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.