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 2019 the Colts led at 26.13; the league average was 13.04.

League snapshot — 2019

League leader

IND · 26.13

League average

13.04

Best to worst

19.63

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	IND	26.13	16
2	NO	23.13	16
3	CHI	19.13	16
4	PIT	17.81	16
5	NYG	17.13	16
6	ATL	16.81	16
7	SF	16.50	16
8	DET	15.56	16
9	BUF	15.19	16
10	NYJ	15	16
11	NE	14.56	16
12	KC	14	16
13	HOU	13.38	16
14	DEN	13	16
15	BAL	12.88	16
16	MIN	11.94	16
17	LV	11.88	16
18	MIA	11.06	16
19	TB	10.75	16
20	CAR	10.69	16
21	LAR	10.69	16
22	ARI	10.63	16
23	CLE	10.56	16
24	TEN	10.56	16
25	CIN	10.25	16
26	PHI	10.19	16
27	JAX	9.94	16
28	SEA	9	16
29	DAL	8.19	16
30	LAC	7.44	16
31	GB	6.88	16
32	WAS	6.50	16

At a glance — 2019

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

IND · 26.13

League laggard

WAS · 6.50

League average

13.04

Spread (max − min)

19.63

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	IND	26.13	13.08	100%
2	NO	23.13	10.08	96.8%
3	CHI	19.13	6.08	93.5%
4	PIT	17.81	4.77	90.3%
5	NYG	17.13	4.08	87.1%
6	ATL	16.81	3.77	83.9%
7	SF	16.50	3.46	80.6%
8	DET	15.56	2.52	77.4%
9	BUF	15.19	2.15	74.2%
10	NYJ	15	1.96	71%
11	NE	14.56	1.52	67.7%
12	KC	14	0.96	64.5%
13	HOU	13.38	0.33	61.3%
14	DEN	13	-0.04	58.1%
15	BAL	12.88	-0.17	54.8%
16	MIN	11.94	-1.10	51.6%
17	LV	11.88	-1.17	48.4%
18	MIA	11.06	-1.98	45.2%
19	TB	10.75	-2.29	41.9%
20	CAR	10.69	-2.35	38.7%
21	LAR	10.69	-2.35	35.5%
22	ARI	10.63	-2.42	32.3%
23	CLE	10.56	-2.48	29%
24	TEN	10.56	-2.48	25.8%
25	CIN	10.25	-2.79	22.6%
26	PHI	10.19	-2.85	19.4%
27	JAX	9.94	-3.10	16.1%
28	SEA	9	-4.04	12.9%
29	DAL	8.19	-4.85	9.7%
30	LAC	7.44	-5.60	6.5%
31	GB	6.88	-6.17	3.2%
32	WAS	6.50	-6.54	0%

Punt Return Yds in 2019 vs 2018

Colts lead at 26.13 — they ranked #19 last year. Commanders are last at 6.50 — #32 last year.

The league average is 13.04, down 2.05 from 15.09 last year.

Biggest riser: Saints, #27 → #2. Biggest faller: Chargers, #3 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 19.63; 24 teams are within 4.37 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2019 vs 2018

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

NO · +13.31

Biggest faller

LAC · −15.25

Most consistent

CAR · +0.13

League trend 2019 vs 2018

▼ -2.05

Rank	Team	2019	2018	Δ
1	NO	23.13	9.81	+13.31
2	IND	26.13	13.56	+12.56
3	ATL	16.81	9.19	+7.63
4	SF	16.50	11.25	+5.25
5	DET	15.56	10.69	+4.88
6	DEN	13	8.25	+4.75
7	NYG	17.13	14.44	+2.69
8	BUF	15.19	13	+2.19
9	NE	14.56	12.44	+2.13
10	PIT	17.81	15.75	+2.06
11	DAL	8.19	7.44	+0.75
12	TB	10.75	10.19	+0.56
13	CAR	10.69	10.56	+0.13
14	SEA	9	9.38	−0.38
15	WAS	6.50	7	−0.50
16	KC	14	16.31	−2.31
17	PHI	10.19	13.63	−3.44
18	TEN	10.56	14.81	−4.25
19	CIN	10.25	14.81	−4.56
20	NYJ	15	20.25	−5.25
21	GB	6.88	12.38	−5.50
22	LV	11.88	18.44	−6.56
23	CHI	19.13	25.81	−6.69
24	HOU	13.38	20.44	−7.06
25	MIA	11.06	18.31	−7.25
26	CLE	10.56	18.13	−7.56
27	MIN	11.94	19.69	−7.75
28	ARI	10.63	18.44	−7.81
29	LAR	10.69	19.50	−8.81
30	JAX	9.94	21	−11.06
31	BAL	12.88	25.38	−12.50
32	LAC	7.44	22.69	−15.25

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

Punt Return Yds since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bears (25.81), 2019 Colts (26.13).

The best season on record is Colts 2019 at 26.13; the worst Commanders 2019 at 6.50.

The league average has fallen from 15.09 in 2018 to 13.04 in 2019.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2019.

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.