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 8 of 2026, the Bengals lead at 137.3; the league average is 106.4.

League snapshot — 2026

League leader

CIN · 137.3

League average

106.4

Best to worst

56.57

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	CIN	137.3	7
2	MIA	134.3	7
3	ARI	128.9	8
4	IND	128.4	8
5	HOU	121	7
6	CLE	119.5	8
7	NO	117.9	7
8	WAS	117.3	7
9	LV	117	8
10	DAL	116.3	8
11	BUF	115.9	7
12	CAR	115.9	7
13	NYG	109.7	7
14	ATL	106.3	8
15	SF	105.7	7
16	TEN	103.6	8
17	BAL	103.5	8
18	DET	103.1	7
19	KC	102.9	7
20	TB	102.8	8
21	PIT	101.5	8
22	LAC	99.71	7
23	GB	99.50	8
24	JAX	95.57	7
25	DEN	95.13	8
26	LAR	94	8
27	NE	90.13	8
28	CHI	89.14	7
29	MIN	89.14	7
30	NYJ	81.13	8
31	PHI	80.75	8
32	SEA	80.71	7

At a glance — 2026

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

CIN · 137.3

League laggard

SEA · 80.71

League average

106.4

Spread (max − min)

56.57

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	CIN	137.3	30.93	100%
2	MIA	134.3	27.93	96.8%
3	ARI	128.9	22.52	93.5%
4	IND	128.4	22.02	90.3%
5	HOU	121	14.64	87.1%
6	CLE	119.5	13.14	83.9%
7	NO	117.9	11.50	80.6%
8	WAS	117.3	10.93	77.4%
9	LV	117	10.64	74.2%
10	DAL	116.3	9.89	71%
11	BUF	115.9	9.50	67.7%
12	CAR	115.9	9.50	64.5%
13	NYG	109.7	3.36	61.3%
14	ATL	106.3	-0.11	58.1%
15	SF	105.7	-0.64	54.8%
16	TEN	103.6	-2.73	51.6%
17	BAL	103.5	-2.86	48.4%
18	DET	103.1	-3.21	45.2%
19	KC	102.9	-3.50	41.9%
20	TB	102.8	-3.61	38.7%
21	PIT	101.5	-4.86	35.5%
22	LAC	99.71	-6.64	32.3%
23	GB	99.50	-6.86	29%
24	JAX	95.57	-10.78	25.8%
25	DEN	95.13	-11.23	22.6%
26	LAR	94	-12.36	19.4%
27	NE	90.13	-16.23	16.1%
28	CHI	89.14	-17.21	12.9%
29	MIN	89.14	-17.21	9.7%
30	NYJ	81.13	-25.23	6.5%
31	PHI	80.75	-25.61	3.2%
32	SEA	80.71	-25.64	0%

Kickoff Return Yds in 2026 vs 2025

Bengals lead at 137.3 — they ranked #3 last year. Seahawks are last at 80.71 — #32 last year.

The league average is 106.4, up 7.33 from 99.02 last year.

Biggest riser: Texans, #29 → #5. Biggest faller: Jets, #1 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 56.57; 22 teams are within 14.94 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

CAR · +39.15

Biggest faller

NYJ · −48.88

Most consistent

DET · −0.15

League trend 2026 vs 2025

▲ 7.33

Rank	Team	2026	2025	Δ
1	CAR	115.9	76.71	+39.15
2	HOU	121	82.76	+38.24
3	MIA	134.3	100.9	+33.34
4	CLE	119.5	93.35	+26.15
5	SF	105.7	81.47	+24.24
6	NO	117.9	97.94	+19.92
7	CIN	137.3	121.1	+16.23
8	ATL	106.3	90.06	+16.19
9	TB	102.8	87.29	+15.46
10	IND	128.4	113.4	+15.02
11	ARI	128.9	116.4	+12.46
12	PIT	101.5	89.65	+11.85
13	GB	99.50	88.76	+10.74
14	LV	117	108.5	+8.47
15	BUF	115.9	108.4	+7.50
16	DEN	95.13	87.71	+7.42
17	LAR	94	87	+7
18	TEN	103.6	98.18	+5.45
19	SEA	80.71	75.71	+5.01
20	NE	90.13	85.35	+4.77
21	WAS	117.3	112.8	+4.46
22	LAC	99.71	96.06	+3.66
23	JAX	95.57	93.59	+1.98
24	KC	102.9	101.6	+1.27
25	DET	103.1	103.3	−0.15
26	PHI	80.75	83	−2.25
27	NYG	109.7	114.2	−4.52
28	DAL	116.3	123.4	−7.10
29	BAL	103.5	112.4	−8.91
30	MIN	89.14	102.4	−13.27
31	CHI	89.14	105.4	−16.27
32	NYJ	81.13	130	−48.88

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

IND · 68.39

Multi-year laggard

DEN · 43.47

Biggest improver

MIA · +19.20/yr

Biggest decliner

CHI · +3.98/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	IND	68.39	+9.85	69.44	47.53	70.41	11.76	37.88	113.4	128.4
2	WAS	67.95	+12.89	40.31	53.18	53.06	35.35	63.65	112.8	117.3
3	CIN	67.39	+16.51	47.75	38.94	37.25	22.76	66.65	121.1	137.3
4	CHI	67.32	+3.98	71.56	69.41	58.59	31.94	45.18	105.4	89.14
5	NYJ	66.45	+7.23	50.69	80.65	39.18	31.88	51.65	130	81.13
6	DAL	65.78	+12.97	60.31	42.29	30.94	23.12	64.18	123.4	116.3
7	BUF	63.82	+9.44	62.25	46.47	56.75	20.53	36.53	108.4	115.9
8	CLE	63.14	+10.83	49.69	48.71	55.47	15.35	59.88	93.35	119.5
9	NO	61.98	+11.86	47.56	49.29	35	27.41	58.82	97.94	117.9
10	TEN	61.08	+10.32	47.94	45.76	46.59	21.88	63.59	98.18	103.6
11	NYG	60.09	+12.74	49.25	40.18	32.65	14.65	59.94	114.2	109.7
12	CAR	59.81	+11.03	45.88	36.47	43.94	37.47	62.35	76.71	115.9
13	ARI	59.80	+16.09	32.81	35.94	40.35	22.47	41.71	116.4	128.9
14	HOU	59.54	+10.25	45.13	59.18	30.18	36.06	42.47	82.76	121
15	DET	59.40	+8.20	52.81	51.76	52.29	24.76	27.71	103.3	103.1
16	GB	58.37	+9.25	38.94	31.24	70.88	46.06	33.18	88.76	99.50
17	BAL	57.54	+12.24	38.31	43.35	38.76	18.76	47.71	112.4	103.5
18	JAX	57.33	+9.51	38.38	47	42.41	40.47	43.88	93.59	95.57
19	LAC	56.88	+7.40	57.75	57.41	30.12	22.94	34.18	96.06	99.71
20	SEA	56.26	+6.80	39.31	52.59	42.82	40	62.65	75.71	80.71
21	MIN	55.55	+7.25	45.13	49.94	54.12	28.06	20.06	102.4	89.14
22	LV	55.31	+14.60	26.13	40.82	39.29	15.41	40	108.5	117
23	KC	55.31	+11.20	40.38	41.29	40.71	14.18	46.18	101.6	102.9
24	PIT	54.29	+9.36	41.88	49.94	30	33.24	33.82	89.65	101.5
25	ATL	54.05	+11.21	25.56	58.76	37.29	13.88	46.53	90.06	106.3
26	MIA	52.96	+19.20	13.44	19.41	32.29	25.94	44.41	100.9	134.3
27	SF	52.91	+11.56	32.50	37.76	35.24	25.71	52	81.47	105.7
28	NE	52.76	+8.26	44.81	32	50.35	27.71	38.94	85.35	90.13
29	TB	51.60	+11.56	34.13	34.82	35	19.24	48	87.29	102.8
30	LAR	49.69	+10.22	32.25	40.35	39	8.53	46.71	87	94
31	PHI	49.53	+8.04	40.50	37.06	39	14.94	51.47	83	80.75
32	DEN	43.47	+11.39	34.81	17.12	24.71	23.41	21.41	87.71	95.13

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	137.3
MIA	13.44	19.41	32.29	25.94	44.41	100.9	134.3
ARI	32.81	35.94	40.35	22.47	41.71	116.4	128.9
IND	69.44	47.53	70.41	11.76	37.88	113.4	128.4
HOU	45.13	59.18	30.18	36.06	42.47	82.76	121
CLE	49.69	48.71	55.47	15.35	59.88	93.35	119.5
NO	47.56	49.29	35	27.41	58.82	97.94	117.9
WAS	40.31	53.18	53.06	35.35	63.65	112.8	117.3
LV	26.13	40.82	39.29	15.41	40	108.5	117
DAL	60.31	42.29	30.94	23.12	64.18	123.4	116.3
BUF	62.25	46.47	56.75	20.53	36.53	108.4	115.9
CAR	45.88	36.47	43.94	37.47	62.35	76.71	115.9
NYG	49.25	40.18	32.65	14.65	59.94	114.2	109.7
ATL	25.56	58.76	37.29	13.88	46.53	90.06	106.3
SF	32.50	37.76	35.24	25.71	52	81.47	105.7
TEN	47.94	45.76	46.59	21.88	63.59	98.18	103.6
BAL	38.31	43.35	38.76	18.76	47.71	112.4	103.5
DET	52.81	51.76	52.29	24.76	27.71	103.3	103.1
KC	40.38	41.29	40.71	14.18	46.18	101.6	102.9
TB	34.13	34.82	35	19.24	48	87.29	102.8
PIT	41.88	49.94	30	33.24	33.82	89.65	101.5
LAC	57.75	57.41	30.12	22.94	34.18	96.06	99.71
GB	38.94	31.24	70.88	46.06	33.18	88.76	99.50
JAX	38.38	47	42.41	40.47	43.88	93.59	95.57
DEN	34.81	17.12	24.71	23.41	21.41	87.71	95.13
LAR	32.25	40.35	39	8.53	46.71	87	94
NE	44.81	32	50.35	27.71	38.94	85.35	90.13
CHI	71.56	69.41	58.59	31.94	45.18	105.4	89.14
MIN	45.13	49.94	54.12	28.06	20.06	102.4	89.14
NYJ	50.69	80.65	39.18	31.88	51.65	130	81.13
PHI	40.50	37.06	39	14.94	51.47	83	80.75
SEA	39.31	52.59	42.82	40	62.65	75.71	80.71

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 (137.3).

Jets have led this stat 3 of 9 seasons.

The best season on record is Bengals 2026 at 137.3; the worst Rams 2023 at 8.53.

The league average has risen from 43.42 in 2018 to 106.4 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.