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 2024 the Panthers led at 2.47; the league average was 1.69.

League snapshot — 2024

League leader

CAR · 2.47

League average

1.69

Best to worst

1.71

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	CAR	2.47	17
2	CLE	2.41	17
3	TEN	2.35	17
4	CIN	2.29	17
5	SEA	2.24	17
6	NO	2.18	17
7	WAS	2.18	17
8	NYG	2.12	17
9	DAL	2	17
10	PHI	1.94	17
11	SF	1.82	17
12	TB	1.82	17
13	ATL	1.76	17
14	BAL	1.76	17
15	JAX	1.71	17
16	KC	1.71	17
17	LAR	1.71	17
18	NYJ	1.71	17
19	CHI	1.59	17
20	MIA	1.53	17
21	NE	1.53	17
22	ARI	1.47	17
23	PIT	1.47	17
24	BUF	1.41	17
25	HOU	1.35	17
26	LV	1.35	17
27	IND	1.29	17
28	LAC	1.24	17
29	GB	1.18	17
30	DET	0.88	17
31	MIN	0.82	17
32	DEN	0.76	17

At a glance — 2024

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

CAR · 2.47

League laggard

DEN · 0.76

League average

1.69

Spread (max − min)

1.71

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	CAR	2.47	0.78	100%
2	CLE	2.41	0.72	96.8%
3	TEN	2.35	0.66	93.5%
4	CIN	2.29	0.60	90.3%
5	SEA	2.24	0.55	87.1%
6	NO	2.18	0.49	83.9%
7	WAS	2.18	0.49	80.6%
8	NYG	2.12	0.43	77.4%
9	DAL	2	0.31	74.2%
10	PHI	1.94	0.25	71%
11	SF	1.82	0.13	67.7%
12	TB	1.82	0.13	64.5%
13	ATL	1.76	0.08	61.3%
14	BAL	1.76	0.08	58.1%
15	JAX	1.71	0.02	54.8%
16	KC	1.71	0.02	51.6%
17	LAR	1.71	0.02	48.4%
18	NYJ	1.71	0.02	45.2%
19	CHI	1.59	-0.10	41.9%
20	MIA	1.53	-0.16	38.7%
21	NE	1.53	-0.16	35.5%
22	ARI	1.47	-0.22	32.3%
23	PIT	1.47	-0.22	29%
24	BUF	1.41	-0.28	25.8%
25	HOU	1.35	-0.34	22.6%
26	LV	1.35	-0.34	19.4%
27	IND	1.29	-0.40	16.1%
28	LAC	1.24	-0.45	12.9%
29	GB	1.18	-0.51	9.7%
30	DET	0.88	-0.81	6.5%
31	MIN	0.82	-0.87	3.2%
32	DEN	0.76	-0.92	0%

Kickoff Returns in 2024 vs 2023

Panthers lead at 2.47 — they ranked #4 last year. Broncos are last at 0.76 — #22 last year.

The league average is 1.69, up 0.61 from 1.08 last year.

Biggest riser: Browns, #29 → #2. Biggest faller: Packers, #1 → #29.

Spread between first and last: 1.71; 20 teams are within 0.45 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2024 vs 2023

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

CLE · +1.76

Biggest faller

GB · −0.65

Most consistent

HOU · 0

League trend 2024 vs 2023

▲ 0.61

Rank	Team	2024	2023	Δ
1	CLE	2.41	0.65	+1.76
2	NYG	2.12	0.76	+1.35
3	TEN	2.35	1.06	+1.29
4	CIN	2.29	1	+1.29
5	PHI	1.94	0.76	+1.18
6	LAR	1.71	0.53	+1.18
7	CAR	2.47	1.41	+1.06
8	BAL	1.76	0.76	+1
9	KC	1.71	0.71	+1.00
10	ATL	1.76	0.82	+0.94
11	DAL	2	1.06	+0.94
12	TB	1.82	0.94	+0.88
13	NO	2.18	1.29	+0.88
14	IND	1.29	0.53	+0.76
15	WAS	2.18	1.41	+0.76
16	SEA	2.24	1.53	+0.71
17	LV	1.35	0.65	+0.71
18	SF	1.82	1.18	+0.65
19	MIA	1.53	1.06	+0.47
20	NE	1.53	1.06	+0.47
21	ARI	1.47	1.06	+0.41
22	BUF	1.41	1	+0.41
23	NYJ	1.71	1.41	+0.29
24	CHI	1.59	1.35	+0.24
25	LAC	1.24	1.06	+0.18
26	PIT	1.47	1.41	+0.06
27	HOU	1.35	1.35	0
28	JAX	1.71	1.71	0
29	DEN	0.76	0.94	−0.18
30	DET	0.88	1.12	−0.24
31	MIN	0.82	1.12	−0.29
32	GB	1.18	1.82	−0.65

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
CAR	1.81	1.65	1.82	1.41	2.47	3.18	5
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
CIN	1.94	1.94	1.81	1	2.29	4.76	5
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
WAS	1.94	2.12	2.41	1.41	2.18	4.18	5.40
NYG	2.25	1.94	1.53	0.76	2.12	4.12	4
DAL	2.31	1.71	1.29	1.06	2	4.82	4
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
TB	1.56	1.76	1.65	0.94	1.82	3.59	4.20
ATL	1.25	2.71	1.65	0.82	1.76	3.94	3.80
BAL	1.44	1.88	1.59	0.76	1.76	4.35	3.60
JAX	1.88	2.12	1.71	1.71	1.71	3.41	3.40
KC	1.56	1.76	2.12	0.71	1.71	3.88	3.75
LAR	1.56	2	1.94	0.53	1.71	3.47	4.60
NYJ	2.56	2.94	1.82	1.41	1.71	4.35	3.40
CHI	2.94	3	2.24	1.35	1.59	4	3.60
MIA	0.75	1.12	1.71	1.06	1.53	3.82	5.20
NE	1.94	1.47	2.12	1.06	1.53	3.35	3.60
ARI	1.50	1.71	1.82	1.06	1.47	4.65	5.20
PIT	1.81	2.24	1.41	1.41	1.47	3.71	4.40
BUF	2.25	1.94	2.25	1	1.41	3.88	4.80
HOU	2.25	2.53	1.29	1.35	1.35	3.18	5.20
LV	1.38	2.06	1.88	0.65	1.35	4	3.60
IND	2.69	1.94	2.53	0.53	1.29	3.94	4.40
LAC	2.63	2.29	1.59	1.06	1.24	3.88	4.40
GB	2.06	1.76	2.76	1.82	1.18	3.53	4.20
DET	2.13	2.12	2	1.12	0.88	3.88	4.40
MIN	2.06	1.88	2.12	1.12	0.82	3.94	3.40
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), 2022 Packers (2.76), 2023 Packers (1.82), 2024 Panthers (2.47).

Bears have led this stat 2 of 7 seasons.

The best season on record is Giants 2019 at 3.06; the worst Rams 2023 at 0.53.

The league average has fallen from 1.89 in 2018 to 1.69 in 2024.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2024.

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.