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 2021 the Bears led at 3; the league average was 2.02.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

CHI · 3

League average

2.02

Best to worst

1.94

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	CHI	3	17
2	NYJ	2.94	17
3	ATL	2.71	17
4	HOU	2.53	17
5	CLE	2.35	17
6	TEN	2.35	17
7	LAC	2.29	17
8	PIT	2.24	17
9	SEA	2.24	17
10	NO	2.18	17
11	DET	2.12	17
12	JAX	2.12	17
13	WAS	2.12	17
14	LV	2.06	17
15	LAR	2	17
16	PHI	2	17
17	SF	2	17
18	BUF	1.94	17
19	CIN	1.94	17
20	IND	1.94	17
21	NYG	1.94	17
22	BAL	1.88	17
23	MIN	1.88	17
24	GB	1.76	17
25	KC	1.76	17
26	TB	1.76	17
27	ARI	1.71	17
28	DAL	1.71	17
29	CAR	1.65	17
30	NE	1.47	17
31	MIA	1.12	17
32	DEN	1.06	17

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

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%

Kickoff Returns in 2021 vs 2020

Bears lead at 3 — they ranked #1 last year. Broncos are last at 1.06 — #23 last year.

The league average is 2.02, up 0.09 from 1.94 last year.

Biggest riser: Falcons, #31 → #3. Biggest faller: Cowboys, #6 → #28.

Spread between first and last: 1.94; 25 teams are within 0.42 of the average.

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

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 (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

WAS · 2.80

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	WAS	2.80	+0.51	1.94	2.12	2.41	1.41	2.18	4.18	5.40
2	CLE	2.72	+0.41	2.25	2.35	2.41	0.65	2.41	3.94	5
3	CIN	2.68	+0.55	1.94	1.94	1.81	1	2.29	4.76	5
4	CHI	2.67	+0.12	2.94	3	2.24	1.35	1.59	4	3.60
5	NYJ	2.60	+0.19	2.56	2.94	1.82	1.41	1.71	4.35	3.40
6	NO	2.60	+0.50	1.88	2.18	1.59	1.29	2.18	3.88	5.20
7	TEN	2.56	+0.26	2.38	2.35	2.18	1.06	2.35	3.82	3.80
8	BUF	2.51	+0.38	2.25	1.94	2.25	1	1.41	3.88	4.80
9	ARI	2.49	+0.59	1.50	1.71	1.82	1.06	1.47	4.65	5.20
10	CAR	2.48	+0.47	1.81	1.65	1.82	1.41	2.47	3.18	5
11	IND	2.47	+0.28	2.69	1.94	2.53	0.53	1.29	3.94	4.40
12	GB	2.47	+0.30	2.06	1.76	2.76	1.82	1.18	3.53	4.20
13	DAL	2.46	+0.43	2.31	1.71	1.29	1.06	2	4.82	4
14	HOU	2.45	+0.36	2.25	2.53	1.29	1.35	1.35	3.18	5.20
15	LAC	2.44	+0.29	2.63	2.29	1.59	1.06	1.24	3.88	4.40
16	NYG	2.39	+0.36	2.25	1.94	1.53	0.76	2.12	4.12	4
17	DET	2.36	+0.33	2.13	2.12	2	1.12	0.88	3.88	4.40
18	PIT	2.35	+0.38	1.81	2.24	1.41	1.41	1.47	3.71	4.40
19	ATL	2.28	+0.37	1.25	2.71	1.65	0.82	1.76	3.94	3.80
20	JAX	2.27	+0.26	1.88	2.12	1.71	1.71	1.71	3.41	3.40
21	LAR	2.26	+0.42	1.56	2	1.94	0.53	1.71	3.47	4.60
22	TB	2.22	+0.42	1.56	1.76	1.65	0.94	1.82	3.59	4.20
23	KC	2.21	+0.37	1.56	1.76	2.12	0.71	1.71	3.88	3.75
24	SEA	2.20	+0.21	1.75	2.24	1.76	1.53	2.24	2.71	3.20
25	BAL	2.20	+0.41	1.44	1.88	1.59	0.76	1.76	4.35	3.60
26	MIN	2.19	+0.24	2.06	1.88	2.12	1.12	0.82	3.94	3.40
27	MIA	2.17	+0.66	0.75	1.12	1.71	1.06	1.53	3.82	5.20
28	NE	2.15	+0.29	1.94	1.47	2.12	1.06	1.53	3.35	3.60
29	LV	2.13	+0.36	1.38	2.06	1.88	0.65	1.35	4	3.60
30	SF	2.12	+0.29	1.69	2	1.53	1.18	1.82	3	3.60
31	PHI	2.07	+0.18	1.94	2	1.76	0.76	1.94	3.47	2.60
32	DEN	1.85	+0.35	1.69	1.06	1.41	0.94	0.76	3.47	3.60

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
CHI	2.94	3	2.24	1.35	1.59	4	3.60
NYJ	2.56	2.94	1.82	1.41	1.71	4.35	3.40
ATL	1.25	2.71	1.65	0.82	1.76	3.94	3.80
HOU	2.25	2.53	1.29	1.35	1.35	3.18	5.20
CLE	2.25	2.35	2.41	0.65	2.41	3.94	5
TEN	2.38	2.35	2.18	1.06	2.35	3.82	3.80
LAC	2.63	2.29	1.59	1.06	1.24	3.88	4.40
PIT	1.81	2.24	1.41	1.41	1.47	3.71	4.40
SEA	1.75	2.24	1.76	1.53	2.24	2.71	3.20
NO	1.88	2.18	1.59	1.29	2.18	3.88	5.20
DET	2.13	2.12	2	1.12	0.88	3.88	4.40
JAX	1.88	2.12	1.71	1.71	1.71	3.41	3.40
WAS	1.94	2.12	2.41	1.41	2.18	4.18	5.40
LV	1.38	2.06	1.88	0.65	1.35	4	3.60
LAR	1.56	2	1.94	0.53	1.71	3.47	4.60
PHI	1.94	2	1.76	0.76	1.94	3.47	2.60
SF	1.69	2	1.53	1.18	1.82	3	3.60
BUF	2.25	1.94	2.25	1	1.41	3.88	4.80
CIN	1.94	1.94	1.81	1	2.29	4.76	5
IND	2.69	1.94	2.53	0.53	1.29	3.94	4.40
NYG	2.25	1.94	1.53	0.76	2.12	4.12	4
BAL	1.44	1.88	1.59	0.76	1.76	4.35	3.60
MIN	2.06	1.88	2.12	1.12	0.82	3.94	3.40
GB	2.06	1.76	2.76	1.82	1.18	3.53	4.20
KC	1.56	1.76	2.12	0.71	1.71	3.88	3.75
TB	1.56	1.76	1.65	0.94	1.82	3.59	4.20
ARI	1.50	1.71	1.82	1.06	1.47	4.65	5.20
DAL	2.31	1.71	1.29	1.06	2	4.82	4
CAR	1.81	1.65	1.82	1.41	2.47	3.18	5
NE	1.94	1.47	2.12	1.06	1.53	3.35	3.60
MIA	0.75	1.12	1.71	1.06	1.53	3.82	5.20
DEN	1.69	1.06	1.41	0.94	0.76	3.47	3.60

Kickoff Returns since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Jets (2.88), 2019 Giants (3.06), 2020 Bears (2.94), 2021 Bears (3).

Bears have led this stat 2 of 4 seasons.

The best season on record is Giants 2019 at 3.06; the worst Dolphins 2020 at 0.75.

The league average has risen from 1.89 in 2018 to 2.02 in 2021.

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 not available in the Algorithm Builder.