What Kickoff Returns is

Kickoff returns taken, as opposed to touchbacks. Under the current rules this is partly a scheme choice — some teams return nearly everything, others almost nothing.

Higher is better. It is shown per game, so a team's number does not depend on games played. Source: P + N.

In 2018 the Jets led at 2.88; the league average was 1.89.

League snapshot — 2018

League leader

NYJ · 2.88

League average

1.89

Best to worst

2.06

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	NYJ	2.88	16
2	NYG	2.81	16
3	CLE	2.75	16
4	CIN	2.69	16
5	KC	2.50	16
6	LAR	2.44	16
7	MIA	2.44	16
8	BUF	2.38	16
9	SF	2.25	16
10	PHI	2.06	16
11	BAL	2	16
12	PIT	2	16
13	ATL	1.94	16
14	TB	1.94	16
15	DEN	1.88	16
16	GB	1.88	16
17	LV	1.81	16
18	SEA	1.81	16
19	WAS	1.81	16
20	LAC	1.75	16
21	NE	1.75	16
22	CAR	1.63	16
23	JAX	1.63	16
24	ARI	1.56	16
25	CHI	1.44	16
26	NO	1.44	16
27	TEN	1.44	16
28	MIN	1.38	16
29	DET	1.25	16
30	HOU	1.25	16
31	IND	1.06	16
32	DAL	0.81	16

At a glance — 2018

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

NYJ · 2.88

League laggard

DAL · 0.81

League average

1.89

Spread (max − min)

2.06

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	NYJ	2.88	0.98	100%
2	NYG	2.81	0.92	96.8%
3	CLE	2.75	0.86	93.5%
4	CIN	2.69	0.79	90.3%
5	KC	2.50	0.61	87.1%
6	LAR	2.44	0.54	83.9%
7	MIA	2.44	0.54	80.6%
8	BUF	2.38	0.48	77.4%
9	SF	2.25	0.36	74.2%
10	PHI	2.06	0.17	71%
11	BAL	2	0.11	67.7%
12	PIT	2	0.11	64.5%
13	ATL	1.94	0.04	61.3%
14	TB	1.94	0.04	58.1%
15	DEN	1.88	-0.02	54.8%
16	GB	1.88	-0.02	51.6%
17	LV	1.81	-0.08	48.4%
18	SEA	1.81	-0.08	45.2%
19	WAS	1.81	-0.08	41.9%
20	LAC	1.75	-0.14	38.7%
21	NE	1.75	-0.14	35.5%
22	CAR	1.63	-0.27	32.3%
23	JAX	1.63	-0.27	29%
24	ARI	1.56	-0.33	25.8%
25	CHI	1.44	-0.46	22.6%
26	NO	1.44	-0.46	19.4%
27	TEN	1.44	-0.46	16.1%
28	MIN	1.38	-0.52	12.9%
29	DET	1.25	-0.64	9.7%
30	HOU	1.25	-0.64	6.5%
31	IND	1.06	-0.83	3.2%
32	DAL	0.81	-1.08	0%

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

CIN · 2.72

Multi-year laggard

DEN · 1.85

Biggest improver

MIA · +0.66/yr

Biggest decliner

CHI · +0.12/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	CIN	2.72	+0.58	1.94	1.94	1.81	1	2.29	4.76	5.29
2	CHI	2.67	+0.12	2.94	3	2.24	1.35	1.59	4	3.57
3	WAS	2.67	+0.41	1.94	2.12	2.41	1.41	2.18	4.18	4.43
4	CLE	2.64	+0.35	2.25	2.35	2.41	0.65	2.41	3.94	4.50
5	TEN	2.59	+0.29	2.38	2.35	2.18	1.06	2.35	3.82	4
6	NYJ	2.58	+0.17	2.56	2.94	1.82	1.41	1.71	4.35	3.25
7	NO	2.55	+0.46	1.88	2.18	1.59	1.29	2.18	3.88	4.86
8	DAL	2.51	+0.47	2.31	1.71	1.29	1.06	2	4.82	4.38
9	IND	2.51	+0.31	2.69	1.94	2.53	0.53	1.29	3.94	4.63
10	CAR	2.48	+0.47	1.81	1.65	1.82	1.41	2.47	3.18	5
11	ARI	2.44	+0.56	1.50	1.71	1.82	1.06	1.47	4.65	4.88
12	BUF	2.43	+0.33	2.25	1.94	2.25	1	1.41	3.88	4.29
13	NYG	2.43	+0.39	2.25	1.94	1.53	0.76	2.12	4.12	4.29
14	LAC	2.42	+0.28	2.63	2.29	1.59	1.06	1.24	3.88	4.29
15	GB	2.41	+0.25	2.06	1.76	2.76	1.82	1.18	3.53	3.75
16	HOU	2.40	+0.33	2.25	2.53	1.29	1.35	1.35	3.18	4.86
17	PIT	2.33	+0.37	1.81	2.24	1.41	1.41	1.47	3.71	4.25
18	DET	2.32	+0.30	2.13	2.12	2	1.12	0.88	3.88	4.14
19	ATL	2.32	+0.40	1.25	2.71	1.65	0.82	1.76	3.94	4.13
20	JAX	2.28	+0.26	1.88	2.12	1.71	1.71	1.71	3.41	3.43
21	BAL	2.26	+0.46	1.44	1.88	1.59	0.76	1.76	4.35	4
22	PHI	2.25	+0.32	1.94	2	1.76	0.76	1.94	3.47	3.88
23	KC	2.21	+0.37	1.56	1.76	2.12	0.71	1.71	3.88	3.71
24	SEA	2.17	+0.18	1.75	2.24	1.76	1.53	2.24	2.71	3
25	LAR	2.17	+0.36	1.56	2	1.94	0.53	1.71	3.47	4
26	LV	2.17	+0.39	1.38	2.06	1.88	0.65	1.35	4	3.88
27	MIA	2.16	+0.66	0.75	1.12	1.71	1.06	1.53	3.82	5.14
28	NE	2.16	+0.29	1.94	1.47	2.12	1.06	1.53	3.35	3.63
29	TB	2.15	+0.37	1.56	1.76	1.65	0.94	1.82	3.59	3.75
30	SF	2.15	+0.31	1.69	2	1.53	1.18	1.82	3	3.86
31	MIN	2.13	+0.20	2.06	1.88	2.12	1.12	0.82	3.94	3
32	DEN	1.85	+0.36	1.69	1.06	1.41	0.94	0.76	3.47	3.63

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	1.94	1.94	1.81	1	2.29	4.76	5.29
MIA	0.75	1.12	1.71	1.06	1.53	3.82	5.14
CAR	1.81	1.65	1.82	1.41	2.47	3.18	5
ARI	1.50	1.71	1.82	1.06	1.47	4.65	4.88
HOU	2.25	2.53	1.29	1.35	1.35	3.18	4.86
NO	1.88	2.18	1.59	1.29	2.18	3.88	4.86
IND	2.69	1.94	2.53	0.53	1.29	3.94	4.63
CLE	2.25	2.35	2.41	0.65	2.41	3.94	4.50
WAS	1.94	2.12	2.41	1.41	2.18	4.18	4.43
DAL	2.31	1.71	1.29	1.06	2	4.82	4.38
BUF	2.25	1.94	2.25	1	1.41	3.88	4.29
LAC	2.63	2.29	1.59	1.06	1.24	3.88	4.29
NYG	2.25	1.94	1.53	0.76	2.12	4.12	4.29
PIT	1.81	2.24	1.41	1.41	1.47	3.71	4.25
DET	2.13	2.12	2	1.12	0.88	3.88	4.14
ATL	1.25	2.71	1.65	0.82	1.76	3.94	4.13
BAL	1.44	1.88	1.59	0.76	1.76	4.35	4
LAR	1.56	2	1.94	0.53	1.71	3.47	4
TEN	2.38	2.35	2.18	1.06	2.35	3.82	4
LV	1.38	2.06	1.88	0.65	1.35	4	3.88
PHI	1.94	2	1.76	0.76	1.94	3.47	3.88
SF	1.69	2	1.53	1.18	1.82	3	3.86
GB	2.06	1.76	2.76	1.82	1.18	3.53	3.75
TB	1.56	1.76	1.65	0.94	1.82	3.59	3.75
KC	1.56	1.76	2.12	0.71	1.71	3.88	3.71
DEN	1.69	1.06	1.41	0.94	0.76	3.47	3.63
NE	1.94	1.47	2.12	1.06	1.53	3.35	3.63
CHI	2.94	3	2.24	1.35	1.59	4	3.57
JAX	1.88	2.12	1.71	1.71	1.71	3.41	3.43
NYJ	2.56	2.94	1.82	1.41	1.71	4.35	3.25
MIN	2.06	1.88	2.12	1.12	0.82	3.94	3
SEA	1.75	2.24	1.76	1.53	2.24	2.71	3

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2018.

About this stat

Stat ID: off_special_teams_st_kickoff_returns
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.