What Punt Return Yds is

Punt return yards. Field position won before the offense takes the field.

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 Bears led at 25.81; the league average was 15.09.

League snapshot — 2018

League leader

CHI · 25.81

League average

15.09

Best to worst

18.81

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	CHI	25.81	16
2	BAL	25.38	16
3	LAC	22.69	16
4	JAX	21	16
5	HOU	20.44	16
6	NYJ	20.25	16
7	MIN	19.69	16
8	LAR	19.50	16
9	ARI	18.44	16
10	LV	18.44	16
11	MIA	18.31	16
12	CLE	18.13	16
13	KC	16.31	16
14	PIT	15.75	16
15	CIN	14.81	16
16	TEN	14.81	16
17	NYG	14.44	16
18	PHI	13.63	16
19	IND	13.56	16
20	BUF	13	16
21	NE	12.44	16
22	GB	12.38	16
23	SF	11.25	16
24	DET	10.69	16
25	CAR	10.56	16
26	TB	10.19	16
27	NO	9.81	16
28	SEA	9.38	16
29	ATL	9.19	16
30	DEN	8.25	16
31	DAL	7.44	16
32	WAS	7	16

At a glance — 2018

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

CHI · 25.81

League laggard

WAS · 7

League average

15.09

Spread (max − min)

18.81

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	CHI	25.81	10.72	100%
2	BAL	25.38	10.28	96.8%
3	LAC	22.69	7.60	93.5%
4	JAX	21	5.91	90.3%
5	HOU	20.44	5.35	87.1%
6	NYJ	20.25	5.16	83.9%
7	MIN	19.69	4.60	80.6%
8	LAR	19.50	4.41	77.4%
9	ARI	18.44	3.35	74.2%
10	LV	18.44	3.35	71%
11	MIA	18.31	3.22	67.7%
12	CLE	18.13	3.03	64.5%
13	KC	16.31	1.22	61.3%
14	PIT	15.75	0.66	58.1%
15	CIN	14.81	-0.28	54.8%
16	TEN	14.81	-0.28	51.6%
17	NYG	14.44	-0.65	48.4%
18	PHI	13.63	-1.47	45.2%
19	IND	13.56	-1.53	41.9%
20	BUF	13	-2.09	38.7%
21	NE	12.44	-2.65	35.5%
22	GB	12.38	-2.72	32.3%
23	SF	11.25	-3.84	29%
24	DET	10.69	-4.40	25.8%
25	CAR	10.56	-4.53	22.6%
26	TB	10.19	-4.90	19.4%
27	NO	9.81	-5.28	16.1%
28	SEA	9.38	-5.72	12.9%
29	ATL	9.19	-5.90	9.7%
30	DEN	8.25	-6.84	6.5%
31	DAL	7.44	-7.65	3.2%
32	WAS	7	-8.09	0%

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

NE · 20.80

Multi-year laggard

LAC · 11.78

Biggest improver

MIN · +5.01/yr

Biggest decliner

NO · −2.12/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	NE	20.80	+0.10	22.31	18.59	24.59	12.47	25.12	21.35	21.20
2	DEN	20.34	+1.87	16.81	13.53	18.12	19.18	24	28.35	22.40
3	PHI	19.52	+2.11	14.38	14.18	19	24.53	15.12	14.06	35.40
4	DET	18.72	+1.67	13.63	14.12	15.53	19.47	28.18	17.12	23
5	BUF	18.12	−1.16	23.19	18.59	17.25	21.18	18.41	11.41	16.80
6	NO	17.61	−2.12	25.06	20.53	14.65	23.06	17.71	12.88	9.40
7	MIN	16.94	+5.01	4.50	12.18	9.82	17	9.65	17.82	47.60
8	TEN	16.91	+0.28	13	17.24	17.82	19.41	14.88	23.59	12.40
9	HOU	16.48	+1.14	9.88	11.29	21.41	17.18	20	21.18	14.40
10	PIT	16.27	−1.15	22.25	21.76	9.41	15.12	17	14.53	13.80
11	BAL	16.13	−0.69	15.25	21.18	12.59	24.53	12.53	11.65	15.20
12	NYJ	16.06	+2.63	5.38	12.12	14.12	18.76	15.65	26.82	19.60
13	CLE	15.97	−0.18	7.19	20	17.53	20.18	26.47	13.65	6.80
14	CIN	15.36	−1.07	14.50	15.35	21.25	20.35	14.82	13.06	8.20
15	TB	15.34	+0.48	11	14.71	23	13.76	9.35	17.18	18.40
16	SF	15.28	−1.06	14.13	16.41	20.94	16.06	17.29	17.12	5
17	WAS	15.18	+1.24	11.25	7.88	19.76	16.35	15.29	18.53	17.20
18	KC	15.04	+0.21	11.13	13.41	14.18	22.53	18.29	15.24	10.50
19	CHI	14.95	+0.49	11.88	19.88	11.76	11.06	17.88	13.59	18.60
20	LV	14.50	−0.27	16.56	18.18	9.18	14.65	15.59	10.18	17.20
21	NYG	14.20	+0.64	14.25	11.59	10.53	18.29	13.41	13.12	18.20
22	MIA	14.05	−0.57	22.31	11.18	6.65	15.59	15.82	16.41	10.40
23	SEA	14.03	+1.66	11.81	11.29	6.41	15.59	10.94	26.35	15.80
24	JAX	14.01	+0.20	12.81	9.35	13.53	17.47	18.71	21	5.20
25	LAR	13.57	+0.68	14.69	12.65	10.82	12.29	9.47	15.24	19.80
26	IND	13.45	−1.50	19.50	10.06	17	15.71	15.06	11.82	5
27	GB	13.37	+2.41	3.31	11.71	18.59	11.12	9.29	8.59	31
28	CAR	13.27	+1.09	7.56	12.53	12.88	19.12	10.41	10.35	20
29	ATL	12.99	+0.57	9.50	11.12	17.18	14.06	11.76	9.94	17.40
30	ARI	12.81	−0.38	8.81	14.29	17.06	16.82	11.88	12.76	8
31	DAL	12.50	−0.32	16.69	10.94	18	5.76	11.29	4.82	20
32	LAC	11.78	−0.34	6.25	6.35	19.94	22.65	15.47	8.76	3

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
MIN	4.50	12.18	9.82	17	9.65	17.82	47.60
PHI	14.38	14.18	19	24.53	15.12	14.06	35.40
GB	3.31	11.71	18.59	11.12	9.29	8.59	31
DET	13.63	14.12	15.53	19.47	28.18	17.12	23
DEN	16.81	13.53	18.12	19.18	24	28.35	22.40
NE	22.31	18.59	24.59	12.47	25.12	21.35	21.20
CAR	7.56	12.53	12.88	19.12	10.41	10.35	20
DAL	16.69	10.94	18	5.76	11.29	4.82	20
LAR	14.69	12.65	10.82	12.29	9.47	15.24	19.80
NYJ	5.38	12.12	14.12	18.76	15.65	26.82	19.60
CHI	11.88	19.88	11.76	11.06	17.88	13.59	18.60
TB	11	14.71	23	13.76	9.35	17.18	18.40
NYG	14.25	11.59	10.53	18.29	13.41	13.12	18.20
ATL	9.50	11.12	17.18	14.06	11.76	9.94	17.40
LV	16.56	18.18	9.18	14.65	15.59	10.18	17.20
WAS	11.25	7.88	19.76	16.35	15.29	18.53	17.20
BUF	23.19	18.59	17.25	21.18	18.41	11.41	16.80
SEA	11.81	11.29	6.41	15.59	10.94	26.35	15.80
BAL	15.25	21.18	12.59	24.53	12.53	11.65	15.20
HOU	9.88	11.29	21.41	17.18	20	21.18	14.40
PIT	22.25	21.76	9.41	15.12	17	14.53	13.80
TEN	13	17.24	17.82	19.41	14.88	23.59	12.40
KC	11.13	13.41	14.18	22.53	18.29	15.24	10.50
MIA	22.31	11.18	6.65	15.59	15.82	16.41	10.40
NO	25.06	20.53	14.65	23.06	17.71	12.88	9.40
CIN	14.50	15.35	21.25	20.35	14.82	13.06	8.20
ARI	8.81	14.29	17.06	16.82	11.88	12.76	8
CLE	7.19	20	17.53	20.18	26.47	13.65	6.80
JAX	12.81	9.35	13.53	17.47	18.71	21	5.20
IND	19.50	10.06	17	15.71	15.06	11.82	5
SF	14.13	16.41	20.94	16.06	17.29	17.12	5
LAC	6.25	6.35	19.94	22.65	15.47	8.76	3

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2018.

About this stat

Stat ID: off_special_teams_st_punt_return_yards
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.