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 6 of 2026, the Vikings lead at 47.60; the league average is 16.47.

League snapshot — 2026

League leader

MIN · 47.60

League average

16.47

Best to worst

44.60

All 32 teams, higher is better.

Rank	Team	Value	Games
1	MIN	47.60	5
2	PHI	35.40	5
3	GB	31	5
4	DET	23	5
5	DEN	22.40	5
6	NE	21.20	5
7	CAR	20	4
8	DAL	20	5
9	LAR	19.80	5
10	NYJ	19.60	5
11	CHI	18.60	5
12	TB	18.40	5
13	NYG	18.20	5
14	ATL	17.40	5
15	LV	17.20	5
16	WAS	17.20	5
17	BUF	16.80	5
18	SEA	15.80	5
19	BAL	15.20	5
20	HOU	14.40	5
21	PIT	13.80	5
22	TEN	12.40	5
23	KC	10.50	4
24	MIA	10.40	5
25	NO	9.40	5
26	CIN	8.20	5
27	ARI	8	5
28	CLE	6.80	5
29	JAX	5.20	5
30	IND	5	5
31	SF	5	5
32	LAC	3	5

At a glance — 2026

Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.

League leader

MIN · 47.60

League laggard

LAC · 3

League average

16.47

Spread (max − min)

44.60

Rank	Team	Value	Δ vs avg	Percentile
1	MIN	47.60	31.13	100%
2	PHI	35.40	18.93	96.8%
3	GB	31	14.53	93.5%
4	DET	23	6.53	90.3%
5	DEN	22.40	5.93	87.1%
6	NE	21.20	4.73	83.9%
7	CAR	20	3.53	80.6%
8	DAL	20	3.53	77.4%
9	LAR	19.80	3.33	74.2%
10	NYJ	19.60	3.13	71%
11	CHI	18.60	2.13	67.7%
12	TB	18.40	1.93	64.5%
13	NYG	18.20	1.73	61.3%
14	ATL	17.40	0.93	58.1%
15	LV	17.20	0.73	54.8%
16	WAS	17.20	0.73	51.6%
17	BUF	16.80	0.33	48.4%
18	SEA	15.80	-0.67	45.2%
19	BAL	15.20	-1.27	41.9%
20	HOU	14.40	-2.07	38.7%
21	PIT	13.80	-2.67	35.5%
22	TEN	12.40	-4.07	32.3%
23	KC	10.50	-5.97	29%
24	MIA	10.40	-6.07	25.8%
25	NO	9.40	-7.07	22.6%
26	CIN	8.20	-8.27	19.4%
27	ARI	8	-8.47	16.1%
28	CLE	6.80	-9.67	12.9%
29	JAX	5.20	-11.27	9.7%
30	IND	5	-11.47	6.5%
31	SF	5	-11.47	3.2%
32	LAC	3	-13.47	0%

Punt Return Yds in 2026 vs 2025

Vikings lead at 47.60 — they ranked #9 last year. Chargers are last at 3 — #30 last year.

The league average is 16.47, up 0.89 from 15.58 last year.

Biggest riser: Packers, #31 → #3. Biggest faller: Jaguars, #7 → #29.

Spread between first and last: 44.60; 24 teams are within 9.11 of the average.

Year-over-year — 2026 vs 2025

Biggest movers from last season.

Biggest riser

MIN · +29.78

Biggest faller

JAX · −15.80

Most consistent

NE · −0.15

League trend 2026 vs 2025

▲ 0.89

Rank	Team	2026	2025	Δ
1	MIN	47.60	17.82	+29.78
2	GB	31	8.59	+22.41
3	PHI	35.40	14.06	+21.34
4	DAL	20	4.82	+15.18
5	CAR	20	10.35	+9.65
6	ATL	17.40	9.94	+7.46
7	LV	17.20	10.18	+7.02
8	DET	23	17.12	+5.88
9	BUF	16.80	11.41	+5.39
10	NYG	18.20	13.12	+5.08
11	CHI	18.60	13.59	+5.01
12	LAR	19.80	15.24	+4.56
13	BAL	15.20	11.65	+3.55
14	TB	18.40	17.18	+1.22
15	NE	21.20	21.35	−0.15
16	PIT	13.80	14.53	−0.73
17	WAS	17.20	18.53	−1.33
18	NO	9.40	12.88	−3.48
19	KC	10.50	15.24	−4.74
20	ARI	8	12.76	−4.76
21	CIN	8.20	13.06	−4.86
22	LAC	3	8.76	−5.76
23	DEN	22.40	28.35	−5.95
24	MIA	10.40	16.41	−6.01
25	HOU	14.40	21.18	−6.78
26	IND	5	11.82	−6.82
27	CLE	6.80	13.65	−6.85
28	NYJ	19.60	26.82	−7.22
29	SEA	15.80	26.35	−10.55
30	TEN	12.40	23.59	−11.19
31	SF	5	17.12	−12.12
32	JAX	5.20	21	−15.80

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
MIN	4.50	12.18	9.82	17	9.65	17.82	47.60
PHI	14.38	14.18	19	24.53	15.12	14.06	35.40
GB	3.31	11.71	18.59	11.12	9.29	8.59	31
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
NE	22.31	18.59	24.59	12.47	25.12	21.35	21.20
CAR	7.56	12.53	12.88	19.12	10.41	10.35	20
DAL	16.69	10.94	18	5.76	11.29	4.82	20
LAR	14.69	12.65	10.82	12.29	9.47	15.24	19.80
NYJ	5.38	12.12	14.12	18.76	15.65	26.82	19.60
CHI	11.88	19.88	11.76	11.06	17.88	13.59	18.60
TB	11	14.71	23	13.76	9.35	17.18	18.40
NYG	14.25	11.59	10.53	18.29	13.41	13.12	18.20
ATL	9.50	11.12	17.18	14.06	11.76	9.94	17.40
LV	16.56	18.18	9.18	14.65	15.59	10.18	17.20
WAS	11.25	7.88	19.76	16.35	15.29	18.53	17.20
BUF	23.19	18.59	17.25	21.18	18.41	11.41	16.80
SEA	11.81	11.29	6.41	15.59	10.94	26.35	15.80
BAL	15.25	21.18	12.59	24.53	12.53	11.65	15.20
HOU	9.88	11.29	21.41	17.18	20	21.18	14.40
PIT	22.25	21.76	9.41	15.12	17	14.53	13.80
TEN	13	17.24	17.82	19.41	14.88	23.59	12.40
KC	11.13	13.41	14.18	22.53	18.29	15.24	10.50
MIA	22.31	11.18	6.65	15.59	15.82	16.41	10.40
NO	25.06	20.53	14.65	23.06	17.71	12.88	9.40
CIN	14.50	15.35	21.25	20.35	14.82	13.06	8.20
ARI	8.81	14.29	17.06	16.82	11.88	12.76	8
CLE	7.19	20	17.53	20.18	26.47	13.65	6.80
JAX	12.81	9.35	13.53	17.47	18.71	21	5.20
IND	19.50	10.06	17	15.71	15.06	11.82	5
SF	14.13	16.41	20.94	16.06	17.29	17.12	5
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), 2022 Patriots (24.59), 2023 Ravens (24.53), 2024 Lions (28.18), 2025 Broncos (28.35), 2026 Vikings (47.60).

The best season on record is Vikings 2026 at 47.60; the worst Chargers 2026 at 3.

The league average has risen from 15.09 in 2018 to 16.47 in 2026.

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.