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 6 of 2026, the Commanders lead at 141; the league average is 108.6.

League snapshot — 2026

League leader

WAS · 141

League average

108.6

Best to worst

75.80

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	WAS	141	5
2	CLE	139	5
3	ARI	138.8	5
4	CIN	133.6	5
5	MIA	133.4	5
6	BUF	131.4	5
7	IND	131.2	5
8	HOU	127	5
9	NO	122.6	5
10	TB	116.4	5
11	CAR	116.3	4
12	GB	114.4	5
13	DET	112.2	5
14	DAL	109.8	5
15	LAR	108.8	5
16	NYG	107.2	5
17	LAC	107	5
18	LV	102	5
19	MIN	101.2	5
20	PIT	100	5
21	KC	99.25	4
22	TEN	98	5
23	DEN	96.20	5
24	SF	95.40	5
25	ATL	93.40	5
26	JAX	92.60	5
27	BAL	91.60	5
28	CHI	89.40	5
29	NE	88.60	5
30	SEA	85.60	5
31	NYJ	85.40	5
32	PHI	65.20	5

At a glance — 2026

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

WAS · 141

League laggard

PHI · 65.20

League average

108.6

Spread (max − min)

75.80

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	WAS	141	32.44	100%
2	CLE	139	30.44	96.8%
3	ARI	138.8	30.24	93.5%
4	CIN	133.6	25.04	90.3%
5	MIA	133.4	24.84	87.1%
6	BUF	131.4	22.84	83.9%
7	IND	131.2	22.64	80.6%
8	HOU	127	18.44	77.4%
9	NO	122.6	14.04	74.2%
10	TB	116.4	7.84	71%
11	CAR	116.3	7.69	67.7%
12	GB	114.4	5.84	64.5%
13	DET	112.2	3.64	61.3%
14	DAL	109.8	1.24	58.1%
15	LAR	108.8	0.24	54.8%
16	NYG	107.2	-1.36	51.6%
17	LAC	107	-1.56	48.4%
18	LV	102	-6.56	45.2%
19	MIN	101.2	-7.36	41.9%
20	PIT	100	-8.56	38.7%
21	KC	99.25	-9.31	35.5%
22	TEN	98	-10.56	32.3%
23	DEN	96.20	-12.36	29%
24	SF	95.40	-13.16	25.8%
25	ATL	93.40	-15.16	22.6%
26	JAX	92.60	-15.96	19.4%
27	BAL	91.60	-16.96	16.1%
28	CHI	89.40	-19.16	12.9%
29	NE	88.60	-19.96	9.7%
30	SEA	85.60	-22.96	6.5%
31	NYJ	85.40	-23.16	3.2%
32	PHI	65.20	-43.36	0%

Kickoff Return Yds in 2026 vs 2025

Commanders lead at 141 — they ranked #7 last year. Eagles are last at 65.20 — #28 last year.

The league average is 108.6, up 9.54 from 99.02 last year.

Biggest riser: Texans, #29 → #8. Biggest faller: Jets, #1 → #31.

Spread between first and last: 75.80; 20 teams are within 18.59 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

CLE · +45.65

Biggest faller

NYJ · −44.60

Most consistent

TEN · −0.18

League trend 2026 vs 2025

▲ 9.54

Rank	Team	2026	2025	Δ
1	CLE	139	93.35	+45.65
2	HOU	127	82.76	+44.24
3	CAR	116.3	76.71	+39.54
4	MIA	133.4	100.9	+32.46
5	TB	116.4	87.29	+29.11
6	WAS	141	112.8	+28.18
7	GB	114.4	88.76	+25.64
8	NO	122.6	97.94	+24.66
9	BUF	131.4	108.4	+23.05
10	ARI	138.8	116.4	+22.39
11	LAR	108.8	87	+21.80
12	IND	131.2	113.4	+17.85
13	SF	95.40	81.47	+13.93
14	CIN	133.6	121.1	+12.54
15	LAC	107	96.06	+10.94
16	PIT	100	89.65	+10.35
17	SEA	85.60	75.71	+9.89
18	DET	112.2	103.3	+8.91
19	DEN	96.20	87.71	+8.49
20	ATL	93.40	90.06	+3.34
21	NE	88.60	85.35	+3.25
22	TEN	98	98.18	−0.18
23	JAX	92.60	93.59	−0.99
24	MIN	101.2	102.4	−1.21
25	KC	99.25	101.6	−2.34
26	LV	102	108.5	−6.53
27	NYG	107.2	114.2	−7.04
28	DAL	109.8	123.4	−13.55
29	CHI	89.40	105.4	−16.01
30	PHI	65.20	83	−17.80
31	BAL	91.60	112.4	−20.81
32	NYJ	85.40	130	−44.60

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), 2020 Bears (71.56), 2021 Jets (80.65), 2022 Packers (70.88), 2023 Packers (46.06), 2024 Bengals (66.65), 2025 Jets (130), 2026 Commanders (141).

Jets have led this stat 3 of 9 seasons.

The best season on record is Commanders 2026 at 141; the worst Rams 2023 at 8.53.

The league average has risen from 43.42 in 2018 to 108.6 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.