Offensive: Special Teams · Kickoff Returns
Kickoff returns taken. Modern rules make this partly a scheme choice.
P + N🔒
About this stat ↓League snapshot — 2021
- League leaderCHI 3
- League average2.02
- Best to worst1.94
All 32 teams, higher is better.
At a glance — 2021
Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.
League leader
CHI · 3
League laggard
DEN · 1.06
League average
2.02
Spread (max − min)
1.94
All teams — 2021
| Rank | Team | Value | Δ vs avg | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHI | 3 | 0.98 | 100% |
| 2 | NYJ | 2.94 | 0.92 | 96.8% |
| 3 | ATL | 2.71 | 0.68 | 93.5% |
| 4 | HOU | 2.53 | 0.51 | 90.3% |
| 5 | CLE | 2.35 | 0.33 | 87.1% |
| 6 | TEN | 2.35 | 0.33 | 83.9% |
| 7 | LAC | 2.29 | 0.27 | 80.6% |
| 8 | PIT | 2.24 | 0.21 | 77.4% |
| 9 | SEA | 2.24 | 0.21 | 74.2% |
| 10 | NO | 2.18 | 0.15 | 71% |
| 11 | DET | 2.12 | 0.09 | 67.7% |
| 12 | JAX | 2.12 | 0.09 | 64.5% |
| 13 | WAS | 2.12 | 0.09 | 61.3% |
| 14 | LV | 2.06 | 0.03 | 58.1% |
| 15 | LAR | 2 | -0.02 | 54.8% |
| 16 | PHI | 2 | -0.02 | 51.6% |
| 17 | SF | 2 | -0.02 | 48.4% |
| 18 | BUF | 1.94 | -0.08 | 45.2% |
| 19 | CIN | 1.94 | -0.08 | 41.9% |
| 20 | IND | 1.94 | -0.08 | 38.7% |
| 21 | NYG | 1.94 | -0.08 | 35.5% |
| 22 | BAL | 1.88 | -0.14 | 32.3% |
| 23 | MIN | 1.88 | -0.14 | 29% |
| 24 | GB | 1.76 | -0.26 | 25.8% |
| 25 | KC | 1.76 | -0.26 | 22.6% |
| 26 | TB | 1.76 | -0.26 | 19.4% |
| 27 | ARI | 1.71 | -0.32 | 16.1% |
| 28 | DAL | 1.71 | -0.32 | 12.9% |
| 29 | CAR | 1.65 | -0.38 | 9.7% |
| 30 | NE | 1.47 | -0.55 | 6.5% |
| 31 | MIA | 1.12 | -0.91 | 3.2% |
| 32 | DEN | 1.06 | -0.97 | 0% |
Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020
Biggest movers from last season.
Biggest riser
ATL · +1.46
Biggest faller
IND · −0.75
Most consistent
CIN · +0.00
League trend 2021 vs 2020
▲ 0.09
YoY by team — 2021 vs 2020
| Rank | Team | 2021 | 2020 | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ATL | 2.71 | 1.25 | +1.46 |
| 2 | LV | 2.06 | 1.38 | +0.68 |
| 3 | SEA | 2.24 | 1.75 | +0.49 |
| 4 | BAL | 1.88 | 1.44 | +0.44 |
| 5 | LAR | 2 | 1.56 | +0.44 |
| 6 | PIT | 2.24 | 1.81 | +0.42 |
| 7 | NYJ | 2.94 | 2.56 | +0.38 |
| 8 | MIA | 1.12 | 0.75 | +0.37 |
| 9 | SF | 2 | 1.69 | +0.31 |
| 10 | NO | 2.18 | 1.88 | +0.30 |
| 11 | HOU | 2.53 | 2.25 | +0.28 |
| 12 | JAX | 2.12 | 1.88 | +0.24 |
| 13 | ARI | 1.71 | 1.50 | +0.21 |
| 14 | KC | 1.76 | 1.56 | +0.20 |
| 15 | TB | 1.76 | 1.56 | +0.20 |
| 16 | WAS | 2.12 | 1.94 | +0.18 |
| 17 | CLE | 2.35 | 2.25 | +0.10 |
| 18 | CHI | 3 | 2.94 | +0.06 |
| 19 | PHI | 2 | 1.94 | +0.06 |
| 20 | CIN | 1.94 | 1.94 | +0.00 |
| 21 | DET | 2.12 | 2.13 | −0.01 |
| 22 | TEN | 2.35 | 2.38 | −0.02 |
| 23 | CAR | 1.65 | 1.81 | −0.17 |
| 24 | MIN | 1.88 | 2.06 | −0.18 |
| 25 | GB | 1.76 | 2.06 | −0.30 |
| 26 | BUF | 1.94 | 2.25 | −0.31 |
| 27 | NYG | 1.94 | 2.25 | −0.31 |
| 28 | LAC | 2.29 | 2.63 | −0.33 |
| 29 | NE | 1.47 | 1.94 | −0.47 |
| 30 | DAL | 1.71 | 2.31 | −0.61 |
| 31 | DEN | 1.06 | 1.69 | −0.63 |
| 32 | IND | 1.94 | 2.69 | −0.75 |
Multi-year context
7-year window (2019–2025)
Multi-year leader
CHI · 2.46
Multi-year laggard
DEN · 1.52
Biggest improver
DAL · +0.34/yr
Biggest decliner
LAC · +0.04/yr
Multi-year averages
| Rank | Team | Avg | Slope/yr | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CHI | 2.46 | +0.05 | 2.13 | 2.94 | 3 | 2.24 | 1.35 | 1.59 | 4 |
| 2 | NYJ | 2.44 | +0.10 | 2.31 | 2.56 | 2.94 | 1.82 | 1.41 | 1.71 | 4.35 |
| 3 | CLE | 2.34 | +0.12 | 2.38 | 2.25 | 2.35 | 2.41 | 0.65 | 2.41 | 3.94 |
| 4 | CIN | 2.34 | +0.22 | 2.63 | 1.94 | 1.94 | 1.81 | 1 | 2.29 | 4.76 |
| 5 | WAS | 2.33 | +0.22 | 2.06 | 1.94 | 2.12 | 2.41 | 1.41 | 2.18 | 4.18 |
| 6 | TEN | 2.29 | +0.16 | 1.88 | 2.38 | 2.35 | 2.18 | 1.06 | 2.35 | 3.82 |
| 7 | NYG | 2.25 | +0.06 | 3.06 | 2.25 | 1.94 | 1.53 | 0.76 | 2.12 | 4.12 |
| 8 | GB | 2.16 | +0.10 | 2 | 2.06 | 1.76 | 2.76 | 1.82 | 1.18 | 3.53 |
| 9 | LAC | 2.12 | +0.04 | 2.19 | 2.63 | 2.29 | 1.59 | 1.06 | 1.24 | 3.88 |
| 10 | IND | 2.12 | +0.06 | 1.94 | 2.69 | 1.94 | 2.53 | 0.53 | 1.29 | 3.94 |
| 11 | NO | 2.11 | +0.22 | 1.75 | 1.88 | 2.18 | 1.59 | 1.29 | 2.18 | 3.88 |
| 12 | BUF | 2.11 | +0.11 | 2 | 2.25 | 1.94 | 2.25 | 1 | 1.41 | 3.88 |
| 13 | ARI | 2.07 | +0.23 | 2.25 | 1.50 | 1.71 | 1.82 | 1.06 | 1.47 | 4.65 |
| 14 | DAL | 2.06 | +0.34 | 1.25 | 2.31 | 1.71 | 1.29 | 1.06 | 2 | 4.82 |
| 15 | CAR | 2.04 | +0.17 | 1.94 | 1.81 | 1.65 | 1.82 | 1.41 | 2.47 | 3.18 |
| 16 | JAX | 2.02 | +0.16 | 1.63 | 1.88 | 2.12 | 1.71 | 1.71 | 1.71 | 3.41 |
| 17 | KC | 2.01 | +0.14 | 2.31 | 1.56 | 1.76 | 2.12 | 0.71 | 1.71 | 3.88 |
| 18 | PIT | 1.98 | +0.15 | 1.81 | 1.81 | 2.24 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.47 | 3.71 |
| 19 | ATL | 1.96 | +0.22 | 1.56 | 1.25 | 2.71 | 1.65 | 0.82 | 1.76 | 3.94 |
| 20 | PHI | 1.96 | +0.13 | 1.81 | 1.94 | 2 | 1.76 | 0.76 | 1.94 | 3.47 |
| 21 | SEA | 1.94 | +0.15 | 1.38 | 1.75 | 2.24 | 1.76 | 1.53 | 2.24 | 2.71 |
| 22 | DET | 1.94 | +0.14 | 1.44 | 2.13 | 2.12 | 2 | 1.12 | 0.88 | 3.88 |
| 23 | LV | 1.93 | +0.14 | 2.19 | 1.38 | 2.06 | 1.88 | 0.65 | 1.35 | 4 |
| 24 | BAL | 1.93 | +0.27 | 1.69 | 1.44 | 1.88 | 1.59 | 0.76 | 1.76 | 4.35 |
| 25 | NE | 1.87 | +0.14 | 1.63 | 1.94 | 1.47 | 2.12 | 1.06 | 1.53 | 3.35 |
| 26 | MIN | 1.86 | +0.19 | 1.06 | 2.06 | 1.88 | 2.12 | 1.12 | 0.82 | 3.94 |
| 27 | TB | 1.84 | +0.21 | 1.56 | 1.56 | 1.76 | 1.65 | 0.94 | 1.82 | 3.59 |
| 28 | HOU | 1.83 | +0.14 | 0.88 | 2.25 | 2.53 | 1.29 | 1.35 | 1.35 | 3.18 |
| 29 | SF | 1.78 | +0.17 | 1.25 | 1.69 | 2 | 1.53 | 1.18 | 1.82 | 3 |
| 30 | LAR | 1.76 | +0.21 | 1.13 | 1.56 | 2 | 1.94 | 0.53 | 1.71 | 3.47 |
| 31 | MIA | 1.75 | +0.22 | 2.25 | 0.75 | 1.12 | 1.71 | 1.06 | 1.53 | 3.82 |
| 32 | DEN | 1.52 | +0.16 | 1.31 | 1.69 | 1.06 | 1.41 | 0.94 | 0.76 | 3.47 |
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 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHI | 2.13 | 2.94 | 3 | 2.24 | 1.35 | 1.59 | 4 |
| NYJ | 2.31 | 2.56 | 2.94 | 1.82 | 1.41 | 1.71 | 4.35 |
| ATL | 1.56 | 1.25 | 2.71 | 1.65 | 0.82 | 1.76 | 3.94 |
| HOU | 0.88 | 2.25 | 2.53 | 1.29 | 1.35 | 1.35 | 3.18 |
| CLE | 2.38 | 2.25 | 2.35 | 2.41 | 0.65 | 2.41 | 3.94 |
| TEN | 1.88 | 2.38 | 2.35 | 2.18 | 1.06 | 2.35 | 3.82 |
| LAC | 2.19 | 2.63 | 2.29 | 1.59 | 1.06 | 1.24 | 3.88 |
| PIT | 1.81 | 1.81 | 2.24 | 1.41 | 1.41 | 1.47 | 3.71 |
| SEA | 1.38 | 1.75 | 2.24 | 1.76 | 1.53 | 2.24 | 2.71 |
| NO | 1.75 | 1.88 | 2.18 | 1.59 | 1.29 | 2.18 | 3.88 |
| DET | 1.44 | 2.13 | 2.12 | 2 | 1.12 | 0.88 | 3.88 |
| JAX | 1.63 | 1.88 | 2.12 | 1.71 | 1.71 | 1.71 | 3.41 |
| WAS | 2.06 | 1.94 | 2.12 | 2.41 | 1.41 | 2.18 | 4.18 |
| LV | 2.19 | 1.38 | 2.06 | 1.88 | 0.65 | 1.35 | 4 |
| LAR | 1.13 | 1.56 | 2 | 1.94 | 0.53 | 1.71 | 3.47 |
| PHI | 1.81 | 1.94 | 2 | 1.76 | 0.76 | 1.94 | 3.47 |
| SF | 1.25 | 1.69 | 2 | 1.53 | 1.18 | 1.82 | 3 |
| BUF | 2 | 2.25 | 1.94 | 2.25 | 1 | 1.41 | 3.88 |
| CIN | 2.63 | 1.94 | 1.94 | 1.81 | 1 | 2.29 | 4.76 |
| IND | 1.94 | 2.69 | 1.94 | 2.53 | 0.53 | 1.29 | 3.94 |
| NYG | 3.06 | 2.25 | 1.94 | 1.53 | 0.76 | 2.12 | 4.12 |
| BAL | 1.69 | 1.44 | 1.88 | 1.59 | 0.76 | 1.76 | 4.35 |
| MIN | 1.06 | 2.06 | 1.88 | 2.12 | 1.12 | 0.82 | 3.94 |
| GB | 2 | 2.06 | 1.76 | 2.76 | 1.82 | 1.18 | 3.53 |
| KC | 2.31 | 1.56 | 1.76 | 2.12 | 0.71 | 1.71 | 3.88 |
| TB | 1.56 | 1.56 | 1.76 | 1.65 | 0.94 | 1.82 | 3.59 |
| ARI | 2.25 | 1.50 | 1.71 | 1.82 | 1.06 | 1.47 | 4.65 |
| DAL | 1.25 | 2.31 | 1.71 | 1.29 | 1.06 | 2 | 4.82 |
| CAR | 1.94 | 1.81 | 1.65 | 1.82 | 1.41 | 2.47 | 3.18 |
| NE | 1.63 | 1.94 | 1.47 | 2.12 | 1.06 | 1.53 | 3.35 |
| MIA | 2.25 | 0.75 | 1.12 | 1.71 | 1.06 | 1.53 | 3.82 |
| DEN | 1.31 | 1.69 | 1.06 | 1.41 | 0.94 | 0.76 | 3.47 |
Distribution
How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.
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 excluded from the Algorithm Builder per §11.36.