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.

Through Week 6 of 2026, the Commanders lead at 5.40; the league average is 4.17.

League snapshot — 2026

League leader

WAS · 5.40

League average

4.17

Best to worst

2.80

All 32 teams, higher is better.

At a glance — 2026

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

WAS · 5.40

League laggard

PHI · 2.60

League average

4.17

Spread (max − min)

2.80

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	WAS	5.40	1.23	100%
2	ARI	5.20	1.03	96.8%
3	HOU	5.20	1.03	93.5%
4	MIA	5.20	1.03	90.3%
5	NO	5.20	1.03	87.1%
6	CAR	5	0.83	83.9%
7	CIN	5	0.83	80.6%
8	CLE	5	0.83	77.4%
9	BUF	4.80	0.63	74.2%
10	LAR	4.60	0.43	71%
11	DET	4.40	0.23	67.7%
12	IND	4.40	0.23	64.5%
13	LAC	4.40	0.23	61.3%
14	PIT	4.40	0.23	58.1%
15	GB	4.20	0.03	54.8%
16	TB	4.20	0.03	51.6%
17	DAL	4	-0.17	48.4%
18	NYG	4	-0.17	45.2%
19	ATL	3.80	-0.37	41.9%
20	TEN	3.80	-0.37	38.7%
21	KC	3.75	-0.42	35.5%
22	BAL	3.60	-0.57	32.3%
23	CHI	3.60	-0.57	29%
24	DEN	3.60	-0.57	25.8%
25	LV	3.60	-0.57	22.6%
26	NE	3.60	-0.57	19.4%
27	SF	3.60	-0.57	16.1%
28	JAX	3.40	-0.77	12.9%
29	MIN	3.40	-0.77	9.7%
30	NYJ	3.40	-0.77	6.5%
31	SEA	3.20	-0.97	3.2%
32	PHI	2.60	-1.57	0%

Kickoff Returns in 2026 vs 2025

Commanders lead at 5.40 — they ranked #6 last year. Eagles are last at 2.60 — #26 last year.

The league average is 4.17, up 0.36 from 3.82 last year.

Biggest riser: Texans, #30 → #3. Biggest faller: Jets, #5 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 2.80; 19 teams are within 0.71 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

HOU · +2.02

Biggest faller

NYJ · −0.95

Most consistent

JAX · −0.01

League trend 2026 vs 2025

▲ 0.36

Rank	Team	2026	2025	Δ
1	HOU	5.20	3.18	+2.02
2	CAR	5	3.18	+1.82
3	MIA	5.20	3.82	+1.38
4	NO	5.20	3.88	+1.32
5	WAS	5.40	4.18	+1.22
6	LAR	4.60	3.47	+1.13
7	CLE	5	3.94	+1.06
8	BUF	4.80	3.88	+0.92
9	PIT	4.40	3.71	+0.69
10	GB	4.20	3.53	+0.67
11	TB	4.20	3.59	+0.61
12	SF	3.60	3	+0.60
13	ARI	5.20	4.65	+0.55
14	DET	4.40	3.88	+0.52
15	LAC	4.40	3.88	+0.52
16	SEA	3.20	2.71	+0.49
17	IND	4.40	3.94	+0.46
18	NE	3.60	3.35	+0.25
19	CIN	5	4.76	+0.24
20	DEN	3.60	3.47	+0.13
21	JAX	3.40	3.41	−0.01
22	TEN	3.80	3.82	−0.02
23	NYG	4	4.12	−0.12
24	KC	3.75	3.88	−0.13
25	ATL	3.80	3.94	−0.14
26	CHI	3.60	4	−0.40
27	LV	3.60	4	−0.40
28	MIN	3.40	3.94	−0.54
29	BAL	3.60	4.35	−0.75
30	DAL	4	4.82	−0.82
31	PHI	2.60	3.47	−0.87
32	NYJ	3.40	4.35	−0.95

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

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), 2025 Cowboys (4.82), 2026 Commanders (5.40).

Bears have led this stat 2 of 9 seasons.

The best season on record is Commanders 2026 at 5.40; the worst Rams 2023 at 0.53.

The league average has risen from 1.89 in 2018 to 4.17 in 2026.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2026.

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.