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 2021 the Jets led at 80.65; the league average was 44.90.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

NYJ · 80.65

League average

44.90

Best to worst

63.53

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	NYJ	80.65	17
2	CHI	69.41	17
3	HOU	59.18	17
4	ATL	58.76	17
5	LAC	57.41	17
6	WAS	53.18	17
7	SEA	52.59	17
8	DET	51.76	17
9	MIN	49.94	17
10	PIT	49.94	17
11	NO	49.29	17
12	CLE	48.71	17
13	IND	47.53	17
14	JAX	47	17
15	BUF	46.47	17
16	TEN	45.76	17
17	BAL	43.35	17
18	DAL	42.29	17
19	KC	41.29	17
20	LV	40.82	17
21	LAR	40.35	17
22	NYG	40.18	17
23	CIN	38.94	17
24	SF	37.76	17
25	PHI	37.06	17
26	CAR	36.47	17
27	ARI	35.94	17
28	TB	34.82	17
29	NE	32	17
30	GB	31.24	17
31	MIA	19.41	17
32	DEN	17.12	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

NYJ · 80.65

League laggard

DEN · 17.12

League average

44.90

Spread (max − min)

63.53

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	NYJ	80.65	35.75	100%
2	CHI	69.41	24.52	96.8%
3	HOU	59.18	14.28	93.5%
4	ATL	58.76	13.87	90.3%
5	LAC	57.41	12.52	87.1%
6	WAS	53.18	8.28	83.9%
7	SEA	52.59	7.69	80.6%
8	DET	51.76	6.87	77.4%
9	MIN	49.94	5.05	74.2%
10	PIT	49.94	5.05	71%
11	NO	49.29	4.40	67.7%
12	CLE	48.71	3.81	64.5%
13	IND	47.53	2.63	61.3%
14	JAX	47	2.10	58.1%
15	BUF	46.47	1.58	54.8%
16	TEN	45.76	0.87	51.6%
17	BAL	43.35	-1.54	48.4%
18	DAL	42.29	-2.60	45.2%
19	KC	41.29	-3.60	41.9%
20	LV	40.82	-4.07	38.7%
21	LAR	40.35	-4.54	35.5%
22	NYG	40.18	-4.72	32.3%
23	CIN	38.94	-5.95	29%
24	SF	37.76	-7.13	25.8%
25	PHI	37.06	-7.84	22.6%
26	CAR	36.47	-8.42	19.4%
27	ARI	35.94	-8.95	16.1%
28	TB	34.82	-10.07	12.9%
29	NE	32	-12.90	9.7%
30	GB	31.24	-13.66	6.5%
31	MIA	19.41	-25.48	3.2%
32	DEN	17.12	-27.78	0%

Kickoff Return Yds in 2021 vs 2020

Jets lead at 80.65 — they ranked #7 last year. Broncos are last at 17.12 — #25 last year.

The league average is 44.90, up 1.22 from 43.67 last year.

Biggest riser: Falcons, #31 → #4. Biggest faller: Cowboys, #4 → #18.

Spread between first and last: 63.53; 23 teams are within 12.45 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

ATL · +33.20

Biggest faller

IND · −21.91

Most consistent

LAC · −0.34

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▲ 1.22

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	ATL	58.76	25.56	+33.20
2	NYJ	80.65	50.69	+29.96
3	LV	40.82	26.13	+14.70
4	HOU	59.18	45.13	+14.05
5	SEA	52.59	39.31	+13.28
6	WAS	53.18	40.31	+12.86
7	JAX	47	38.38	+8.63
8	LAR	40.35	32.25	+8.10
9	PIT	49.94	41.88	+8.07
10	MIA	19.41	13.44	+5.97
11	SF	37.76	32.50	+5.26
12	BAL	43.35	38.31	+5.04
13	MIN	49.94	45.13	+4.82
14	ARI	35.94	32.81	+3.13
15	NO	49.29	47.56	+1.73
16	KC	41.29	40.38	+0.92
17	TB	34.82	34.13	+0.70
18	LAC	57.41	57.75	−0.34
19	CLE	48.71	49.69	−0.98
20	DET	51.76	52.81	−1.05
21	CHI	69.41	71.56	−2.15
22	TEN	45.76	47.94	−2.17
23	PHI	37.06	40.50	−3.44
24	GB	31.24	38.94	−7.70
25	CIN	38.94	47.75	−8.81
26	NYG	40.18	49.25	−9.07
27	CAR	36.47	45.88	−9.40
28	NE	32	44.81	−12.81
29	BUF	46.47	62.25	−15.78
30	DEN	17.12	34.81	−17.69
31	DAL	42.29	60.31	−18.02
32	IND	47.53	69.44	−21.91

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
NYJ	50.69	80.65	39.18	31.88	51.65	130	85.40
CHI	71.56	69.41	58.59	31.94	45.18	105.4	89.40
HOU	45.13	59.18	30.18	36.06	42.47	82.76	127
ATL	25.56	58.76	37.29	13.88	46.53	90.06	93.40
LAC	57.75	57.41	30.12	22.94	34.18	96.06	107
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
DET	52.81	51.76	52.29	24.76	27.71	103.3	112.2
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
NO	47.56	49.29	35	27.41	58.82	97.94	122.6
CLE	49.69	48.71	55.47	15.35	59.88	93.35	139
IND	69.44	47.53	70.41	11.76	37.88	113.4	131.2
JAX	38.38	47	42.41	40.47	43.88	93.59	92.60
BUF	62.25	46.47	56.75	20.53	36.53	108.4	131.4
TEN	47.94	45.76	46.59	21.88	63.59	98.18	98
BAL	38.31	43.35	38.76	18.76	47.71	112.4	91.60
DAL	60.31	42.29	30.94	23.12	64.18	123.4	109.8
KC	40.38	41.29	40.71	14.18	46.18	101.6	99.25
LV	26.13	40.82	39.29	15.41	40	108.5	102
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
CIN	47.75	38.94	37.25	22.76	66.65	121.1	133.6
SF	32.50	37.76	35.24	25.71	52	81.47	95.40
PHI	40.50	37.06	39	14.94	51.47	83	65.20
CAR	45.88	36.47	43.94	37.47	62.35	76.71	116.3
ARI	32.81	35.94	40.35	22.47	41.71	116.4	138.8
TB	34.13	34.82	35	19.24	48	87.29	116.4
NE	44.81	32	50.35	27.71	38.94	85.35	88.60
GB	38.94	31.24	70.88	46.06	33.18	88.76	114.4
MIA	13.44	19.41	32.29	25.94	44.41	100.9	133.4
DEN	34.81	17.12	24.71	23.41	21.41	87.71	96.20

Kickoff Return Yds since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Jets (77.38), 2019 Giants (72.06), 2020 Bears (71.56), 2021 Jets (80.65).

Jets have led this stat 2 of 4 seasons.

The best season on record is Jets 2021 at 80.65; the worst Dolphins 2020 at 13.44.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

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.