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 2024 the Lions led at 28.18; the league average was 15.84.

League snapshot — 2024

League leader

DET · 28.18

League average

15.84

Best to worst

18.88

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DET	28.18	17
2	CLE	26.47	17
3	NE	25.12	17
4	DEN	24	17
5	HOU	20	17
6	JAX	18.71	17
7	BUF	18.41	17
8	KC	18.29	17
9	CHI	17.88	17
10	NO	17.71	17
11	SF	17.29	17
12	PIT	17	17
13	MIA	15.82	17
14	NYJ	15.65	17
15	LV	15.59	17
16	LAC	15.47	17
17	WAS	15.29	17
18	PHI	15.12	17
19	IND	15.06	17
20	TEN	14.88	17
21	CIN	14.82	17
22	NYG	13.41	17
23	BAL	12.53	17
24	ARI	11.88	17
25	ATL	11.76	17
26	DAL	11.29	17
27	SEA	10.94	17
28	CAR	10.41	17
29	MIN	9.65	17
30	LAR	9.47	17
31	TB	9.35	17
32	GB	9.29	17

At a glance — 2024

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DET · 28.18

League laggard

GB · 9.29

League average

15.84

Spread (max − min)

18.88

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DET	28.18	12.34	100%
2	CLE	26.47	10.63	96.8%
3	NE	25.12	9.28	93.5%
4	DEN	24	8.16	90.3%
5	HOU	20	4.16	87.1%
6	JAX	18.71	2.87	83.9%
7	BUF	18.41	2.58	80.6%
8	KC	18.29	2.46	77.4%
9	CHI	17.88	2.05	74.2%
10	NO	17.71	1.87	71%
11	SF	17.29	1.46	67.7%
12	PIT	17	1.16	64.5%
13	MIA	15.82	-0.01	61.3%
14	NYJ	15.65	-0.19	58.1%
15	LV	15.59	-0.25	54.8%
16	LAC	15.47	-0.37	51.6%
17	WAS	15.29	-0.54	48.4%
18	PHI	15.12	-0.72	45.2%
19	IND	15.06	-0.78	41.9%
20	TEN	14.88	-0.95	38.7%
21	CIN	14.82	-1.01	35.5%
22	NYG	13.41	-2.42	32.3%
23	BAL	12.53	-3.31	29%
24	ARI	11.88	-3.95	25.8%
25	ATL	11.76	-4.07	22.6%
26	DAL	11.29	-4.54	19.4%
27	SEA	10.94	-4.90	16.1%
28	CAR	10.41	-5.42	12.9%
29	MIN	9.65	-6.19	9.7%
30	LAR	9.47	-6.37	6.5%
31	TB	9.35	-6.48	3.2%
32	GB	9.29	-6.54	0%

Punt Return Yds in 2024 vs 2023

Lions lead at 28.18 — they ranked #9 last year. Packers are last at 9.29 — #30 last year.

The league average is 15.84, down 1.39 from 17.23 last year.

Biggest riser: Patriots, #28 → #3. Biggest faller: Ravens, #1 → #23.

Spread between first and last: 18.88; 22 teams are within 4.87 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2024 vs 2023

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

NE · +12.65

Biggest faller

BAL · −12.00

Most consistent

MIA · +0.24

League trend 2024 vs 2023

▼ -1.39

Rank	Team	2024	2023	Δ
1	NE	25.12	12.47	+12.65
2	DET	28.18	19.47	+8.71
3	CHI	17.88	11.06	+6.82
4	CLE	26.47	20.18	+6.29
5	DAL	11.29	5.76	+5.53
6	DEN	24	19.18	+4.82
7	HOU	20	17.18	+2.82
8	PIT	17	15.12	+1.88
9	JAX	18.71	17.47	+1.24
10	SF	17.29	16.06	+1.24
11	LV	15.59	14.65	+0.94
12	MIA	15.82	15.59	+0.24
13	IND	15.06	15.71	−0.65
14	WAS	15.29	16.35	−1.06
15	GB	9.29	11.12	−1.82
16	ATL	11.76	14.06	−2.29
17	BUF	18.41	21.18	−2.76
18	LAR	9.47	12.29	−2.82
19	NYJ	15.65	18.76	−3.12
20	KC	18.29	22.53	−4.24
21	TB	9.35	13.76	−4.41
22	TEN	14.88	19.41	−4.53
23	SEA	10.94	15.59	−4.65
24	NYG	13.41	18.29	−4.88
25	ARI	11.88	16.82	−4.94
26	NO	17.71	23.06	−5.35
27	CIN	14.82	20.35	−5.53
28	LAC	15.47	22.65	−7.18
29	MIN	9.65	17	−7.35
30	CAR	10.41	19.12	−8.71
31	PHI	15.12	24.53	−9.41
32	BAL	12.53	24.53	−12.00

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
DET	13.63	14.12	15.53	19.47	28.18	17.12	23
CLE	7.19	20	17.53	20.18	26.47	13.65	6.80
NE	22.31	18.59	24.59	12.47	25.12	21.35	21.20
DEN	16.81	13.53	18.12	19.18	24	28.35	22.40
HOU	9.88	11.29	21.41	17.18	20	21.18	14.40
JAX	12.81	9.35	13.53	17.47	18.71	21	5.20
BUF	23.19	18.59	17.25	21.18	18.41	11.41	16.80
KC	11.13	13.41	14.18	22.53	18.29	15.24	10.50
CHI	11.88	19.88	11.76	11.06	17.88	13.59	18.60
NO	25.06	20.53	14.65	23.06	17.71	12.88	9.40
SF	14.13	16.41	20.94	16.06	17.29	17.12	5
PIT	22.25	21.76	9.41	15.12	17	14.53	13.80
MIA	22.31	11.18	6.65	15.59	15.82	16.41	10.40
NYJ	5.38	12.12	14.12	18.76	15.65	26.82	19.60
LV	16.56	18.18	9.18	14.65	15.59	10.18	17.20
LAC	6.25	6.35	19.94	22.65	15.47	8.76	3
WAS	11.25	7.88	19.76	16.35	15.29	18.53	17.20
PHI	14.38	14.18	19	24.53	15.12	14.06	35.40
IND	19.50	10.06	17	15.71	15.06	11.82	5
TEN	13	17.24	17.82	19.41	14.88	23.59	12.40
CIN	14.50	15.35	21.25	20.35	14.82	13.06	8.20
NYG	14.25	11.59	10.53	18.29	13.41	13.12	18.20
BAL	15.25	21.18	12.59	24.53	12.53	11.65	15.20
ARI	8.81	14.29	17.06	16.82	11.88	12.76	8
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
SEA	11.81	11.29	6.41	15.59	10.94	26.35	15.80
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
LAR	14.69	12.65	10.82	12.29	9.47	15.24	19.80
TB	11	14.71	23	13.76	9.35	17.18	18.40
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), 2021 Steelers (21.76), 2022 Patriots (24.59), 2023 Ravens (24.53), 2024 Lions (28.18).

The best season on record is Lions 2024 at 28.18; the worst Packers 2020 at 3.31.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2024.

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.