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 2020 the Bears led at 71.56; the league average was 43.67.

League snapshot — 2020

League leader

CHI · 71.56

League average

43.67

Best to worst

58.13

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	CHI	71.56	16
2	IND	69.44	16
3	BUF	62.25	16
4	DAL	60.31	16
5	LAC	57.75	16
6	DET	52.81	16
7	NYJ	50.69	16
8	CLE	49.69	16
9	NYG	49.25	16
10	TEN	47.94	16
11	CIN	47.75	16
12	NO	47.56	16
13	CAR	45.88	16
14	HOU	45.13	16
15	MIN	45.13	16
16	NE	44.81	16
17	PIT	41.88	16
18	PHI	40.50	16
19	KC	40.38	16
20	WAS	40.31	16
21	SEA	39.31	16
22	GB	38.94	16
23	JAX	38.38	16
24	BAL	38.31	16
25	DEN	34.81	16
26	TB	34.13	16
27	ARI	32.81	16
28	SF	32.50	16
29	LAR	32.25	16
30	LV	26.13	16
31	ATL	25.56	16
32	MIA	13.44	16

At a glance — 2020

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

CHI · 71.56

League laggard

MIA · 13.44

League average

43.67

Spread (max − min)

58.13

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	CHI	71.56	27.89	100%
2	IND	69.44	25.76	96.8%
3	BUF	62.25	18.58	93.5%
4	DAL	60.31	16.64	90.3%
5	LAC	57.75	14.08	87.1%
6	DET	52.81	9.14	83.9%
7	NYJ	50.69	7.01	80.6%
8	CLE	49.69	6.01	77.4%
9	NYG	49.25	5.58	74.2%
10	TEN	47.94	4.26	71%
11	CIN	47.75	4.08	67.7%
12	NO	47.56	3.89	64.5%
13	CAR	45.88	2.20	61.3%
14	HOU	45.13	1.45	58.1%
15	MIN	45.13	1.45	54.8%
16	NE	44.81	1.14	51.6%
17	PIT	41.88	-1.80	48.4%
18	PHI	40.50	-3.17	45.2%
19	KC	40.38	-3.30	41.9%
20	WAS	40.31	-3.36	38.7%
21	SEA	39.31	-4.36	35.5%
22	GB	38.94	-4.74	32.3%
23	JAX	38.38	-5.30	29%
24	BAL	38.31	-5.36	25.8%
25	DEN	34.81	-8.86	22.6%
26	TB	34.13	-9.55	19.4%
27	ARI	32.81	-10.86	16.1%
28	SF	32.50	-11.17	12.9%
29	LAR	32.25	-11.42	9.7%
30	LV	26.13	-17.55	6.5%
31	ATL	25.56	-18.11	3.2%
32	MIA	13.44	-30.24	0%

Kickoff Return Yds in 2020 vs 2019

Bears lead at 71.56 — they ranked #4 last year. Dolphins are last at 13.44 — #10 last year.

The league average is 43.67, up 2.46 from 41.22 last year.

Biggest riser: Cowboys, #31 → #4. Biggest faller: Raiders, #7 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 58.13; 24 teams are within 12.18 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2020 vs 2019

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

DAL · +40

Biggest faller

MIA · −36.31

Most consistent

NYJ · +0.25

League trend 2020 vs 2019

▲ 2.46

Rank	Team	2020	2019	Δ
1	DAL	60.31	20.31	+40
2	HOU	45.13	19.25	+25.88
3	IND	69.44	44.19	+25.25
4	MIN	45.13	23.75	+21.38
5	DET	52.81	35.25	+17.56
6	CHI	71.56	56.44	+15.13
7	LAC	57.75	45.38	+12.38
8	SEA	39.31	27	+12.31
9	BUF	62.25	50.13	+12.13
10	PIT	41.88	32.81	+9.06
11	NE	44.81	35.94	+8.88
12	TEN	47.94	39.88	+8.06
13	BAL	38.31	30.81	+7.50
14	LAR	32.25	25.25	+7
15	SF	32.50	25.56	+6.94
16	NO	47.56	42.25	+5.31
17	CAR	45.88	42.31	+3.56
18	TB	34.13	30.88	+3.25
19	DEN	34.81	33.38	+1.44
20	NYJ	50.69	50.44	+0.25
21	PHI	40.50	40.81	−0.31
22	JAX	38.38	39.25	−0.88
23	CLE	49.69	51.88	−2.19
24	GB	38.94	41.69	−2.75
25	ATL	25.56	35.69	−10.13
26	WAS	40.31	52.06	−11.75
27	ARI	32.81	47.75	−14.94
28	KC	40.38	57.94	−17.56
29	CIN	47.75	68.19	−20.44
30	NYG	49.25	72.06	−22.81
31	LV	26.13	50.69	−24.56
32	MIA	13.44	49.75	−36.31

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
CHI	71.56	69.41	58.59	31.94	45.18	105.4	89.40
IND	69.44	47.53	70.41	11.76	37.88	113.4	131.2
BUF	62.25	46.47	56.75	20.53	36.53	108.4	131.4
DAL	60.31	42.29	30.94	23.12	64.18	123.4	109.8
LAC	57.75	57.41	30.12	22.94	34.18	96.06	107
DET	52.81	51.76	52.29	24.76	27.71	103.3	112.2
NYJ	50.69	80.65	39.18	31.88	51.65	130	85.40
CLE	49.69	48.71	55.47	15.35	59.88	93.35	139
NYG	49.25	40.18	32.65	14.65	59.94	114.2	107.2
TEN	47.94	45.76	46.59	21.88	63.59	98.18	98
CIN	47.75	38.94	37.25	22.76	66.65	121.1	133.6
NO	47.56	49.29	35	27.41	58.82	97.94	122.6
CAR	45.88	36.47	43.94	37.47	62.35	76.71	116.3
HOU	45.13	59.18	30.18	36.06	42.47	82.76	127
MIN	45.13	49.94	54.12	28.06	20.06	102.4	101.2
NE	44.81	32	50.35	27.71	38.94	85.35	88.60
PIT	41.88	49.94	30	33.24	33.82	89.65	100
PHI	40.50	37.06	39	14.94	51.47	83	65.20
KC	40.38	41.29	40.71	14.18	46.18	101.6	99.25
WAS	40.31	53.18	53.06	35.35	63.65	112.8	141
SEA	39.31	52.59	42.82	40	62.65	75.71	85.60
GB	38.94	31.24	70.88	46.06	33.18	88.76	114.4
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
DEN	34.81	17.12	24.71	23.41	21.41	87.71	96.20
TB	34.13	34.82	35	19.24	48	87.29	116.4
ARI	32.81	35.94	40.35	22.47	41.71	116.4	138.8
SF	32.50	37.76	35.24	25.71	52	81.47	95.40
LAR	32.25	40.35	39	8.53	46.71	87	108.8
LV	26.13	40.82	39.29	15.41	40	108.5	102
ATL	25.56	58.76	37.29	13.88	46.53	90.06	93.40
MIA	13.44	19.41	32.29	25.94	44.41	100.9	133.4

Kickoff Return Yds since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Jets (77.38), 2019 Giants (72.06), 2020 Bears (71.56).

The best season on record is Jets 2018 at 77.38; the worst Dolphins 2020 at 13.44.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2020.

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.