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 2021 the Steelers led at 21.76; the league average was 14.19.

League snapshot — 2021

League leader

PIT · 21.76

League average

14.19

Best to worst

15.41

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	PIT	21.76	17
2	BAL	21.18	17
3	NO	20.53	17
4	CLE	20	17
5	CHI	19.88	17
6	BUF	18.59	17
7	NE	18.59	17
8	LV	18.18	17
9	TEN	17.24	17
10	SF	16.41	17
11	CIN	15.35	17
12	TB	14.71	17
13	ARI	14.29	17
14	PHI	14.18	17
15	DET	14.12	17
16	DEN	13.53	17
17	KC	13.41	17
18	LAR	12.65	17
19	CAR	12.53	17
20	MIN	12.18	17
21	NYJ	12.12	17
22	GB	11.71	17
23	NYG	11.59	17
24	HOU	11.29	17
25	SEA	11.29	17
26	MIA	11.18	17
27	ATL	11.12	17
28	DAL	10.94	17
29	IND	10.06	17
30	JAX	9.35	17
31	WAS	7.88	17
32	LAC	6.35	17

At a glance — 2021

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

PIT · 21.76

League laggard

LAC · 6.35

League average

14.19

Spread (max − min)

15.41

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	PIT	21.76	7.57	100%
2	BAL	21.18	6.98	96.8%
3	NO	20.53	6.34	93.5%
4	CLE	20	5.81	90.3%
5	CHI	19.88	5.69	87.1%
6	BUF	18.59	4.40	83.9%
7	NE	18.59	4.40	80.6%
8	LV	18.18	3.98	77.4%
9	TEN	17.24	3.04	74.2%
10	SF	16.41	2.22	71%
11	CIN	15.35	1.16	67.7%
12	TB	14.71	0.51	64.5%
13	ARI	14.29	0.10	61.3%
14	PHI	14.18	-0.02	58.1%
15	DET	14.12	-0.08	54.8%
16	DEN	13.53	-0.66	51.6%
17	KC	13.41	-0.78	48.4%
18	LAR	12.65	-1.55	45.2%
19	CAR	12.53	-1.66	41.9%
20	MIN	12.18	-2.02	38.7%
21	NYJ	12.12	-2.08	35.5%
22	GB	11.71	-2.49	32.3%
23	NYG	11.59	-2.60	29%
24	HOU	11.29	-2.90	25.8%
25	SEA	11.29	-2.90	22.6%
26	MIA	11.18	-3.02	19.4%
27	ATL	11.12	-3.08	16.1%
28	DAL	10.94	-3.25	12.9%
29	IND	10.06	-4.13	9.7%
30	JAX	9.35	-4.84	6.5%
31	WAS	7.88	-6.31	3.2%
32	LAC	6.35	-7.84	0%

Punt Return Yds in 2021 vs 2020

Steelers lead at 21.76 — they ranked #5 last year. Chargers are last at 6.35 — #29 last year.

The league average is 14.19, up 0.73 from 13.46 last year.

Biggest riser: Browns, #28 → #4. Biggest faller: Dolphins, #3 → #26.

Spread between first and last: 15.41; 20 teams are within 3.94 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2021 vs 2020

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

CLE · +12.81

Biggest faller

MIA · −11.14

Most consistent

LAC · +0.10

League trend 2021 vs 2020

▲ 0.73

Rank	Team	2021	2020	Δ
1	CLE	20	7.19	+12.81
2	GB	11.71	3.31	+8.39
3	CHI	19.88	11.88	+8.01
4	MIN	12.18	4.50	+7.68
5	NYJ	12.12	5.38	+6.74
6	BAL	21.18	15.25	+5.93
7	ARI	14.29	8.81	+5.48
8	CAR	12.53	7.56	+4.97
9	TEN	17.24	13	+4.24
10	TB	14.71	11	+3.71
11	KC	13.41	11.13	+2.29
12	SF	16.41	14.13	+2.29
13	ATL	11.12	9.50	+1.62
14	LV	18.18	16.56	+1.61
15	HOU	11.29	9.88	+1.42
16	CIN	15.35	14.50	+0.85
17	DET	14.12	13.63	+0.49
18	LAC	6.35	6.25	+0.10
19	PHI	14.18	14.38	−0.20
20	PIT	21.76	22.25	−0.49
21	SEA	11.29	11.81	−0.52
22	LAR	12.65	14.69	−2.04
23	NYG	11.59	14.25	−2.66
24	DEN	13.53	16.81	−3.28
25	WAS	7.88	11.25	−3.37
26	JAX	9.35	12.81	−3.46
27	NE	18.59	22.31	−3.72
28	NO	20.53	25.06	−4.53
29	BUF	18.59	23.19	−4.60
30	DAL	10.94	16.69	−5.75
31	IND	10.06	19.50	−9.44
32	MIA	11.18	22.31	−11.14

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
PIT	22.25	21.76	9.41	15.12	17	14.53	13.80
BAL	15.25	21.18	12.59	24.53	12.53	11.65	15.20
NO	25.06	20.53	14.65	23.06	17.71	12.88	9.40
CLE	7.19	20	17.53	20.18	26.47	13.65	6.80
CHI	11.88	19.88	11.76	11.06	17.88	13.59	18.60
BUF	23.19	18.59	17.25	21.18	18.41	11.41	16.80
NE	22.31	18.59	24.59	12.47	25.12	21.35	21.20
LV	16.56	18.18	9.18	14.65	15.59	10.18	17.20
TEN	13	17.24	17.82	19.41	14.88	23.59	12.40
SF	14.13	16.41	20.94	16.06	17.29	17.12	5
CIN	14.50	15.35	21.25	20.35	14.82	13.06	8.20
TB	11	14.71	23	13.76	9.35	17.18	18.40
ARI	8.81	14.29	17.06	16.82	11.88	12.76	8
PHI	14.38	14.18	19	24.53	15.12	14.06	35.40
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
KC	11.13	13.41	14.18	22.53	18.29	15.24	10.50
LAR	14.69	12.65	10.82	12.29	9.47	15.24	19.80
CAR	7.56	12.53	12.88	19.12	10.41	10.35	20
MIN	4.50	12.18	9.82	17	9.65	17.82	47.60
NYJ	5.38	12.12	14.12	18.76	15.65	26.82	19.60
GB	3.31	11.71	18.59	11.12	9.29	8.59	31
NYG	14.25	11.59	10.53	18.29	13.41	13.12	18.20
HOU	9.88	11.29	21.41	17.18	20	21.18	14.40
SEA	11.81	11.29	6.41	15.59	10.94	26.35	15.80
MIA	22.31	11.18	6.65	15.59	15.82	16.41	10.40
ATL	9.50	11.12	17.18	14.06	11.76	9.94	17.40
DAL	16.69	10.94	18	5.76	11.29	4.82	20
IND	19.50	10.06	17	15.71	15.06	11.82	5
JAX	12.81	9.35	13.53	17.47	18.71	21	5.20
WAS	11.25	7.88	19.76	16.35	15.29	18.53	17.20
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), 2020 Saints (25.06), 2021 Steelers (21.76).

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 14.19 in 2021.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2021.

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.