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 2020 the Saints led at 25.06; the league average was 13.46.

League snapshot — 2020

League leader

NO · 25.06

League average

13.46

Best to worst

21.75

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	NO	25.06	16
2	BUF	23.19	16
3	MIA	22.31	16
4	NE	22.31	16
5	PIT	22.25	16
6	IND	19.50	16
7	DEN	16.81	16
8	DAL	16.69	16
9	LV	16.56	16
10	BAL	15.25	16
11	LAR	14.69	16
12	CIN	14.50	16
13	PHI	14.38	16
14	NYG	14.25	16
15	SF	14.13	16
16	DET	13.63	16
17	TEN	13	16
18	JAX	12.81	16
19	CHI	11.88	16
20	SEA	11.81	16
21	WAS	11.25	16
22	KC	11.13	16
23	TB	11	16
24	HOU	9.88	16
25	ATL	9.50	16
26	ARI	8.81	16
27	CAR	7.56	16
28	CLE	7.19	16
29	LAC	6.25	16
30	NYJ	5.38	16
31	MIN	4.50	16
32	GB	3.31	16

At a glance — 2020

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

NO · 25.06

League laggard

GB · 3.31

League average

13.46

Spread (max − min)

21.75

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	NO	25.06	11.60	100%
2	BUF	23.19	9.73	96.8%
3	MIA	22.31	8.85	93.5%
4	NE	22.31	8.85	90.3%
5	PIT	22.25	8.79	87.1%
6	IND	19.50	6.04	83.9%
7	DEN	16.81	3.35	80.6%
8	DAL	16.69	3.23	77.4%
9	LV	16.56	3.10	74.2%
10	BAL	15.25	1.79	71%
11	LAR	14.69	1.23	67.7%
12	CIN	14.50	1.04	64.5%
13	PHI	14.38	0.91	61.3%
14	NYG	14.25	0.79	58.1%
15	SF	14.13	0.66	54.8%
16	DET	13.63	0.16	51.6%
17	TEN	13	-0.46	48.4%
18	JAX	12.81	-0.65	45.2%
19	CHI	11.88	-1.59	41.9%
20	SEA	11.81	-1.65	38.7%
21	WAS	11.25	-2.21	35.5%
22	KC	11.13	-2.34	32.3%
23	TB	11	-2.46	29%
24	HOU	9.88	-3.59	25.8%
25	ATL	9.50	-3.96	22.6%
26	ARI	8.81	-4.65	19.4%
27	CAR	7.56	-5.90	16.1%
28	CLE	7.19	-6.27	12.9%
29	LAC	6.25	-7.21	9.7%
30	NYJ	5.38	-8.09	6.5%
31	MIN	4.50	-8.96	3.2%
32	GB	3.31	-10.15	0%

Punt Return Yds in 2020 vs 2019

Saints lead at 25.06 — they ranked #2 last year. Packers are last at 3.31 — #31 last year.

The league average is 13.46, up 0.42 from 13.04 last year.

Biggest riser: Cowboys, #29 → #8. Biggest faller: Jets, #10 → #30.

Spread between first and last: 21.75; 20 teams are within 5.55 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2020 vs 2019

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

MIA · +11.25

Biggest faller

NYJ · −9.63

Most consistent

TB · +0.25

League trend 2020 vs 2019

▲ 0.42

Rank	Team	2020	2019	Δ
1	MIA	22.31	11.06	+11.25
2	DAL	16.69	8.19	+8.50
3	BUF	23.19	15.19	+8
4	NE	22.31	14.56	+7.75
5	WAS	11.25	6.50	+4.75
6	LV	16.56	11.88	+4.69
7	PIT	22.25	17.81	+4.44
8	CIN	14.50	10.25	+4.25
9	PHI	14.38	10.19	+4.19
10	LAR	14.69	10.69	+4
11	DEN	16.81	13	+3.81
12	JAX	12.81	9.94	+2.88
13	SEA	11.81	9	+2.81
14	TEN	13	10.56	+2.44
15	BAL	15.25	12.88	+2.38
16	NO	25.06	23.13	+1.94
17	TB	11	10.75	+0.25
18	LAC	6.25	7.44	−1.19
19	ARI	8.81	10.63	−1.81
20	DET	13.63	15.56	−1.94
21	SF	14.13	16.50	−2.38
22	KC	11.13	14	−2.88
23	NYG	14.25	17.13	−2.88
24	CAR	7.56	10.69	−3.13
25	CLE	7.19	10.56	−3.38
26	HOU	9.88	13.38	−3.50
27	GB	3.31	6.88	−3.56
28	IND	19.50	26.13	−6.63
29	CHI	11.88	19.13	−7.25
30	ATL	9.50	16.81	−7.31
31	MIN	4.50	11.94	−7.44
32	NYJ	5.38	15	−9.63

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

Punt Return Yds since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bears (25.81), 2019 Colts (26.13), 2020 Saints (25.06).

The best season on record is Colts 2019 at 26.13; the worst Packers 2020 at 3.31.

The league average has fallen from 15.09 in 2018 to 13.46 in 2020.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2020.

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.