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 2023 the Ravens led at 24.53; the league average was 17.23.

League snapshot — 2023

League leader

BAL · 24.53

League average

17.23

Best to worst

18.76

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	BAL	24.53	17
2	PHI	24.53	17
3	NO	23.06	17
4	LAC	22.65	17
5	KC	22.53	17
6	BUF	21.18	17
7	CIN	20.35	17
8	CLE	20.18	17
9	DET	19.47	17
10	TEN	19.41	17
11	DEN	19.18	17
12	CAR	19.12	17
13	NYJ	18.76	17
14	NYG	18.29	17
15	JAX	17.47	17
16	HOU	17.18	17
17	MIN	17	17
18	ARI	16.82	17
19	WAS	16.35	17
20	SF	16.06	17
21	IND	15.71	17
22	MIA	15.59	17
23	SEA	15.59	17
24	PIT	15.12	17
25	LV	14.65	17
26	ATL	14.06	17
27	TB	13.76	17
28	NE	12.47	17
29	LAR	12.29	17
30	GB	11.12	17
31	CHI	11.06	17
32	DAL	5.76	17

At a glance — 2023

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

BAL · 24.53

League laggard

DAL · 5.76

League average

17.23

Spread (max − min)

18.76

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	BAL	24.53	7.30	100%
2	PHI	24.53	7.30	96.8%
3	NO	23.06	5.83	93.5%
4	LAC	22.65	5.42	90.3%
5	KC	22.53	5.30	87.1%
6	BUF	21.18	3.95	83.9%
7	CIN	20.35	3.13	80.6%
8	CLE	20.18	2.95	77.4%
9	DET	19.47	2.24	74.2%
10	TEN	19.41	2.18	71%
11	DEN	19.18	1.95	67.7%
12	CAR	19.12	1.89	64.5%
13	NYJ	18.76	1.54	61.3%
14	NYG	18.29	1.07	58.1%
15	JAX	17.47	0.24	54.8%
16	HOU	17.18	-0.05	51.6%
17	MIN	17	-0.23	48.4%
18	ARI	16.82	-0.40	45.2%
19	WAS	16.35	-0.88	41.9%
20	SF	16.06	-1.17	38.7%
21	IND	15.71	-1.52	35.5%
22	MIA	15.59	-1.64	32.3%
23	SEA	15.59	-1.64	29%
24	PIT	15.12	-2.11	25.8%
25	LV	14.65	-2.58	22.6%
26	ATL	14.06	-3.17	19.4%
27	TB	13.76	-3.46	16.1%
28	NE	12.47	-4.76	12.9%
29	LAR	12.29	-4.93	9.7%
30	GB	11.12	-6.11	6.5%
31	CHI	11.06	-6.17	3.2%
32	DAL	5.76	-11.46	0%

Punt Return Yds in 2023 vs 2022

Ravens lead at 24.53 — they ranked #24 last year. Cowboys are last at 5.76 — #11 last year.

The league average is 17.23, up 1.59 from 15.64 last year.

Biggest riser: Ravens, #24 → #1. Biggest faller: Patriots, #1 → #28.

Spread between first and last: 18.76; 22 teams are within 4.15 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2023 vs 2022

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

BAL · +11.94

Biggest faller

DAL · −12.24

Most consistent

ARI · −0.24

League trend 2023 vs 2022

▲ 1.59

Rank	Team	2023	2022	Δ
1	BAL	24.53	12.59	+11.94
2	SEA	15.59	6.41	+9.18
3	MIA	15.59	6.65	+8.94
4	NO	23.06	14.65	+8.41
5	KC	22.53	14.18	+8.35
6	NYG	18.29	10.53	+7.76
7	MIN	17	9.82	+7.18
8	CAR	19.12	12.88	+6.24
9	PIT	15.12	9.41	+5.71
10	PHI	24.53	19	+5.53
11	LV	14.65	9.18	+5.47
12	NYJ	18.76	14.12	+4.65
13	DET	19.47	15.53	+3.94
14	JAX	17.47	13.53	+3.94
15	BUF	21.18	17.25	+3.93
16	LAC	22.65	19.94	+2.71
17	CLE	20.18	17.53	+2.65
18	TEN	19.41	17.82	+1.59
19	LAR	12.29	10.82	+1.47
20	DEN	19.18	18.12	+1.06
21	ARI	16.82	17.06	−0.24
22	CHI	11.06	11.76	−0.71
23	CIN	20.35	21.25	−0.90
24	IND	15.71	17	−1.29
25	ATL	14.06	17.18	−3.12
26	WAS	16.35	19.76	−3.41
27	HOU	17.18	21.41	−4.24
28	SF	16.06	20.94	−4.88
29	GB	11.12	18.59	−7.47
30	TB	13.76	23	−9.24
31	NE	12.47	24.59	−12.12
32	DAL	5.76	18	−12.24

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

Punt Return Yds since 2018

Leaders since 2018: 2018 Bears (25.81), 2019 Colts (26.13), 2020 Saints (25.06), 2021 Steelers (21.76), 2022 Patriots (24.59), 2023 Ravens (24.53).

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

The league average has risen from 15.09 in 2018 to 17.23 in 2023.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2023.

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.