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 2025 the Broncos led at 28.35; the league average was 15.58.

League snapshot — 2025

League leader

DEN · 28.35

League average

15.58

Best to worst

23.53

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	DEN	28.35	17
2	NYJ	26.82	17
3	SEA	26.35	17
4	TEN	23.59	17
5	NE	21.35	17
6	HOU	21.18	17
7	JAX	21	17
8	WAS	18.53	17
9	MIN	17.82	17
10	TB	17.18	17
11	DET	17.12	17
12	SF	17.12	17
13	MIA	16.41	17
14	KC	15.24	17
15	LAR	15.24	17
16	PIT	14.53	17
17	PHI	14.06	17
18	CLE	13.65	17
19	CHI	13.59	17
20	NYG	13.12	17
21	CIN	13.06	17
22	NO	12.88	17
23	ARI	12.76	17
24	IND	11.82	17
25	BAL	11.65	17
26	BUF	11.41	17
27	CAR	10.35	17
28	LV	10.18	17
29	ATL	9.94	17
30	LAC	8.76	17
31	GB	8.59	17
32	DAL	4.82	17

At a glance — 2025

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

DEN · 28.35

League laggard

DAL · 4.82

League average

15.58

Spread (max − min)

23.53

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	DEN	28.35	12.78	100%
2	NYJ	26.82	11.25	96.8%
3	SEA	26.35	10.78	93.5%
4	TEN	23.59	8.01	90.3%
5	NE	21.35	5.78	87.1%
6	HOU	21.18	5.60	83.9%
7	JAX	21	5.42	80.6%
8	WAS	18.53	2.95	77.4%
9	MIN	17.82	2.25	74.2%
10	TB	17.18	1.60	71%
11	DET	17.12	1.54	67.7%
12	SF	17.12	1.54	64.5%
13	MIA	16.41	0.83	61.3%
14	KC	15.24	-0.34	58.1%
15	LAR	15.24	-0.34	54.8%
16	PIT	14.53	-1.05	51.6%
17	PHI	14.06	-1.52	48.4%
18	CLE	13.65	-1.93	45.2%
19	CHI	13.59	-1.99	41.9%
20	NYG	13.12	-2.46	38.7%
21	CIN	13.06	-2.52	35.5%
22	NO	12.88	-2.69	32.3%
23	ARI	12.76	-2.81	29%
24	IND	11.82	-3.75	25.8%
25	BAL	11.65	-3.93	22.6%
26	BUF	11.41	-4.17	19.4%
27	CAR	10.35	-5.22	16.1%
28	LV	10.18	-5.40	12.9%
29	ATL	9.94	-5.64	9.7%
30	LAC	8.76	-6.81	6.5%
31	GB	8.59	-6.99	3.2%
32	DAL	4.82	-10.75	0%

Punt Return Yds in 2025 vs 2024

Broncos lead at 28.35 — they ranked #4 last year. Cowboys are last at 4.82 — #26 last year.

The league average is 15.58, down 0.26 from 15.84 last year.

Biggest riser: Seahawks, #27 → #3. Biggest faller: Bills, #7 → #26.

Spread between first and last: 23.53; 22 teams are within 5.51 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2025 vs 2024

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

SEA · +15.41

Biggest faller

CLE · −12.82

Most consistent

CAR · −0.06

League trend 2025 vs 2024

▼ -0.26

Rank	Team	2025	2024	Δ
1	SEA	26.35	10.94	+15.41
2	NYJ	26.82	15.65	+11.18
3	TEN	23.59	14.88	+8.71
4	MIN	17.82	9.65	+8.18
5	TB	17.18	9.35	+7.82
6	LAR	15.24	9.47	+5.76
7	DEN	28.35	24	+4.35
8	WAS	18.53	15.29	+3.24
9	JAX	21	18.71	+2.29
10	HOU	21.18	20	+1.18
11	ARI	12.76	11.88	+0.88
12	MIA	16.41	15.82	+0.59
13	CAR	10.35	10.41	−0.06
14	SF	17.12	17.29	−0.18
15	NYG	13.12	13.41	−0.29
16	GB	8.59	9.29	−0.71
17	BAL	11.65	12.53	−0.88
18	PHI	14.06	15.12	−1.06
19	CIN	13.06	14.82	−1.76
20	ATL	9.94	11.76	−1.82
21	PIT	14.53	17	−2.47
22	KC	15.24	18.29	−3.06
23	IND	11.82	15.06	−3.24
24	NE	21.35	25.12	−3.76
25	CHI	13.59	17.88	−4.29
26	NO	12.88	17.71	−4.82
27	LV	10.18	15.59	−5.41
28	DAL	4.82	11.29	−6.47
29	LAC	8.76	15.47	−6.71
30	BUF	11.41	18.41	−7.00
31	DET	17.12	28.18	−11.06
32	CLE	13.65	26.47	−12.82

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
DEN	16.81	13.53	18.12	19.18	24	28.35	22.40
NYJ	5.38	12.12	14.12	18.76	15.65	26.82	19.60
SEA	11.81	11.29	6.41	15.59	10.94	26.35	15.80
TEN	13	17.24	17.82	19.41	14.88	23.59	12.40
NE	22.31	18.59	24.59	12.47	25.12	21.35	21.20
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
WAS	11.25	7.88	19.76	16.35	15.29	18.53	17.20
MIN	4.50	12.18	9.82	17	9.65	17.82	47.60
TB	11	14.71	23	13.76	9.35	17.18	18.40
DET	13.63	14.12	15.53	19.47	28.18	17.12	23
SF	14.13	16.41	20.94	16.06	17.29	17.12	5
MIA	22.31	11.18	6.65	15.59	15.82	16.41	10.40
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
PIT	22.25	21.76	9.41	15.12	17	14.53	13.80
PHI	14.38	14.18	19	24.53	15.12	14.06	35.40
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
NYG	14.25	11.59	10.53	18.29	13.41	13.12	18.20
CIN	14.50	15.35	21.25	20.35	14.82	13.06	8.20
NO	25.06	20.53	14.65	23.06	17.71	12.88	9.40
ARI	8.81	14.29	17.06	16.82	11.88	12.76	8
IND	19.50	10.06	17	15.71	15.06	11.82	5
BAL	15.25	21.18	12.59	24.53	12.53	11.65	15.20
BUF	23.19	18.59	17.25	21.18	18.41	11.41	16.80
CAR	7.56	12.53	12.88	19.12	10.41	10.35	20
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
LAC	6.25	6.35	19.94	22.65	15.47	8.76	3
GB	3.31	11.71	18.59	11.12	9.29	8.59	31
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), 2024 Lions (28.18), 2025 Broncos (28.35).

The best season on record is Broncos 2025 at 28.35; the worst Packers 2020 at 3.31.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2025.

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.