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.

Through Week 8 of 2026, the Vikings lead at 35.71; the league average is 15.75.

League snapshot — 2026

League leader

MIN · 35.71

League average

15.75

Best to worst

31.86

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	MIN	35.71	7
2	PHI	23.63	8
3	SEA	23.29	7
4	BUF	23	7
5	GB	22.25	8
6	CHI	22	7
7	NE	21.25	8
8	CAR	20.86	7
9	NYG	20.43	7
10	NO	19.29	7
11	DET	18.57	7
12	DAL	18.38	8
13	DEN	18.38	8
14	TEN	17.75	8
15	TB	16.88	8
16	WAS	16.14	7
17	NYJ	15.88	8
18	CIN	14.71	7
19	LAR	14.50	8
20	HOU	14.14	7
21	LV	14	8
22	MIA	12.14	7
23	BAL	11.63	8
24	ATL	10.88	8
25	PIT	10.25	8
26	KC	10	7
27	CLE	8.50	8
28	ARI	7.25	8
29	IND	6.75	8
30	LAC	6.14	7
31	JAX	5.71	7
32	SF	3.86	7

At a glance — 2026

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

MIN · 35.71

League laggard

SF · 3.86

League average

15.75

Spread (max − min)

31.86

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	MIN	35.71	19.96	100%
2	PHI	23.63	7.87	96.8%
3	SEA	23.29	7.53	93.5%
4	BUF	23	7.25	90.3%
5	GB	22.25	6.50	87.1%
6	CHI	22	6.25	83.9%
7	NE	21.25	5.50	80.6%
8	CAR	20.86	5.10	77.4%
9	NYG	20.43	4.67	74.2%
10	NO	19.29	3.53	71%
11	DET	18.57	2.82	67.7%
12	DAL	18.38	2.62	64.5%
13	DEN	18.38	2.62	61.3%
14	TEN	17.75	2.00	58.1%
15	TB	16.88	1.12	54.8%
16	WAS	16.14	0.39	51.6%
17	NYJ	15.88	0.12	48.4%
18	CIN	14.71	-1.04	45.2%
19	LAR	14.50	-1.25	41.9%
20	HOU	14.14	-1.61	38.7%
21	LV	14	-1.75	35.5%
22	MIA	12.14	-3.61	32.3%
23	BAL	11.63	-4.13	29%
24	ATL	10.88	-4.88	25.8%
25	PIT	10.25	-5.50	22.6%
26	KC	10	-5.75	19.4%
27	CLE	8.50	-7.25	16.1%
28	ARI	7.25	-8.50	12.9%
29	IND	6.75	-9.00	9.7%
30	LAC	6.14	-9.61	6.5%
31	JAX	5.71	-10.04	3.2%
32	SF	3.86	-11.90	0%

Punt Return Yds in 2026 vs 2025

Vikings lead at 35.71 — they ranked #9 last year. 49ers are last at 3.86 — #12 last year.

The league average is 15.75, up 0.18 from 15.58 last year.

Biggest riser: Packers, #31 → #5. Biggest faller: Jaguars, #7 → #31.

Spread between first and last: 31.86; 22 teams are within 6.70 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

MIN · +17.89

Biggest faller

JAX · −15.29

Most consistent

BAL · −0.02

League trend 2026 vs 2025

▲ 0.18

Rank	Team	2026	2025	Δ
1	MIN	35.71	17.82	+17.89
2	GB	22.25	8.59	+13.66
3	DAL	18.38	4.82	+13.55
4	BUF	23	11.41	+11.59
5	CAR	20.86	10.35	+10.50
6	PHI	23.63	14.06	+9.57
7	CHI	22	13.59	+8.41
8	NYG	20.43	13.12	+7.31
9	NO	19.29	12.88	+6.40
10	LV	14	10.18	+3.82
11	CIN	14.71	13.06	+1.66
12	DET	18.57	17.12	+1.45
13	ATL	10.88	9.94	+0.93
14	BAL	11.63	11.65	−0.02
15	NE	21.25	21.35	−0.10
16	TB	16.88	17.18	−0.30
17	LAR	14.50	15.24	−0.74
18	WAS	16.14	18.53	−2.39
19	LAC	6.14	8.76	−2.62
20	SEA	23.29	26.35	−3.07
21	MIA	12.14	16.41	−4.27
22	PIT	10.25	14.53	−4.28
23	IND	6.75	11.82	−5.07
24	CLE	8.50	13.65	−5.15
25	KC	10	15.24	−5.24
26	ARI	7.25	12.76	−5.51
27	TEN	17.75	23.59	−5.84
28	HOU	14.14	21.18	−7.03
29	DEN	18.38	28.35	−9.98
30	NYJ	15.88	26.82	−10.95
31	SF	3.86	17.12	−13.26
32	JAX	5.71	21	−15.29

Multi-year context

7-year window (2020–2026)

Multi-year leader

NE · 20.81

Multi-year laggard

ATL · 12.06

Biggest improver

MIN · +3.74/yr

Biggest decliner

PIT · −1.53/yr

Rank	Team	Avg	Slope/yr	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
1	NE	20.81	+0.10	22.31	18.59	24.59	12.47	25.12	21.35	21.25
2	DEN	19.77	+1.44	16.81	13.53	18.12	19.18	24	28.35	18.38
3	NO	19.02	−1.06	25.06	20.53	14.65	23.06	17.71	12.88	19.29
4	BUF	19.00	−0.49	23.19	18.59	17.25	21.18	18.41	11.41	23
5	DET	18.09	+1.20	13.63	14.12	15.53	19.47	28.18	17.12	18.57
6	PHI	17.84	+0.84	14.38	14.18	19	24.53	15.12	14.06	23.63
7	TEN	17.67	+0.86	13	17.24	17.82	19.41	14.88	23.59	17.75
8	HOU	16.44	+1.11	9.88	11.29	21.41	17.18	20	21.18	14.14
9	CIN	16.29	−0.37	14.50	15.35	21.25	20.35	14.82	13.06	14.71
10	CLE	16.22	+0.01	7.19	20	17.53	20.18	26.47	13.65	8.50
11	PIT	15.76	−1.53	22.25	21.76	9.41	15.12	17	14.53	10.25
12	BAL	15.62	−1.07	15.25	21.18	12.59	24.53	12.53	11.65	11.63
13	NYJ	15.53	+2.23	5.38	12.12	14.12	18.76	15.65	26.82	15.88
14	CHI	15.44	+0.85	11.88	19.88	11.76	11.06	17.88	13.59	22
15	MIN	15.24	+3.74	4.50	12.18	9.82	17	9.65	17.82	35.71
16	TB	15.13	+0.32	11	14.71	23	13.76	9.35	17.18	16.88
17	SF	15.12	−1.18	14.13	16.41	20.94	16.06	17.29	17.12	3.86
18	SEA	15.10	+2.47	11.81	11.29	6.41	15.59	10.94	26.35	23.29
19	WAS	15.03	+1.13	11.25	7.88	19.76	16.35	15.29	18.53	16.14
20	KC	14.97	+0.16	11.13	13.41	14.18	22.53	18.29	15.24	10
21	NYG	14.52	+0.87	14.25	11.59	10.53	18.29	13.41	13.12	20.43
22	MIA	14.30	−0.39	22.31	11.18	6.65	15.59	15.82	16.41	12.14
23	JAX	14.08	+0.26	12.81	9.35	13.53	17.47	18.71	21	5.71
24	LV	14.05	−0.62	16.56	18.18	9.18	14.65	15.59	10.18	14
25	IND	13.70	−1.31	19.50	10.06	17	15.71	15.06	11.82	6.75
26	CAR	13.39	+1.18	7.56	12.53	12.88	19.12	10.41	10.35	20.86
27	LAR	12.81	+0.12	14.69	12.65	10.82	12.29	9.47	15.24	14.50
28	ARI	12.70	−0.46	8.81	14.29	17.06	16.82	11.88	12.76	7.25
29	DAL	12.27	−0.50	16.69	10.94	18	5.76	11.29	4.82	18.38
30	LAC	12.22	+0.00	6.25	6.35	19.94	22.65	15.47	8.76	6.14
31	GB	12.12	+1.47	3.31	11.71	18.59	11.12	9.29	8.59	22.25
32	ATL	12.06	−0.13	9.50	11.12	17.18	14.06	11.76	9.94	10.88

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
MIN	4.50	12.18	9.82	17	9.65	17.82	35.71
PHI	14.38	14.18	19	24.53	15.12	14.06	23.63
SEA	11.81	11.29	6.41	15.59	10.94	26.35	23.29
BUF	23.19	18.59	17.25	21.18	18.41	11.41	23
GB	3.31	11.71	18.59	11.12	9.29	8.59	22.25
CHI	11.88	19.88	11.76	11.06	17.88	13.59	22
NE	22.31	18.59	24.59	12.47	25.12	21.35	21.25
CAR	7.56	12.53	12.88	19.12	10.41	10.35	20.86
NYG	14.25	11.59	10.53	18.29	13.41	13.12	20.43
NO	25.06	20.53	14.65	23.06	17.71	12.88	19.29
DET	13.63	14.12	15.53	19.47	28.18	17.12	18.57
DAL	16.69	10.94	18	5.76	11.29	4.82	18.38
DEN	16.81	13.53	18.12	19.18	24	28.35	18.38
TEN	13	17.24	17.82	19.41	14.88	23.59	17.75
TB	11	14.71	23	13.76	9.35	17.18	16.88
WAS	11.25	7.88	19.76	16.35	15.29	18.53	16.14
NYJ	5.38	12.12	14.12	18.76	15.65	26.82	15.88
CIN	14.50	15.35	21.25	20.35	14.82	13.06	14.71
LAR	14.69	12.65	10.82	12.29	9.47	15.24	14.50
HOU	9.88	11.29	21.41	17.18	20	21.18	14.14
LV	16.56	18.18	9.18	14.65	15.59	10.18	14
MIA	22.31	11.18	6.65	15.59	15.82	16.41	12.14
BAL	15.25	21.18	12.59	24.53	12.53	11.65	11.63
ATL	9.50	11.12	17.18	14.06	11.76	9.94	10.88
PIT	22.25	21.76	9.41	15.12	17	14.53	10.25
KC	11.13	13.41	14.18	22.53	18.29	15.24	10
CLE	7.19	20	17.53	20.18	26.47	13.65	8.50
ARI	8.81	14.29	17.06	16.82	11.88	12.76	7.25
IND	19.50	10.06	17	15.71	15.06	11.82	6.75
LAC	6.25	6.35	19.94	22.65	15.47	8.76	6.14
JAX	12.81	9.35	13.53	17.47	18.71	21	5.71
SF	14.13	16.41	20.94	16.06	17.29	17.12	3.86

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), 2026 Vikings (35.71).

The best season on record is Vikings 2026 at 35.71; the worst Packers 2020 at 3.31.

Distribution

How the 32 teams cluster for 2026.

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.