Offensive: Special Teams · Punt Returns
Punt returns taken. Opportunity as much as ability.
P + N🔒
About this stat ↓League snapshot — 2022
- League leaderWAS 2.59
- League average1.76
- Best to worst1.65
All 32 teams, higher is better.
At a glance — 2022
Where the 32 teams sit on this stat this season.
League leader
WAS · 2.59
League laggard
SEA · 0.94
League average
1.76
Spread (max − min)
1.65
All teams — 2022
| Rank | Team | Value | Δ vs avg | Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAS | 2.59 | 0.83 | 100% |
| 2 | NE | 2.29 | 0.54 | 96.8% |
| 3 | TB | 2.24 | 0.48 | 93.5% |
| 4 | DEN | 2.18 | 0.42 | 90.3% |
| 5 | HOU | 2.18 | 0.42 | 87.1% |
| 6 | KC | 2.12 | 0.36 | 83.9% |
| 7 | TEN | 2.12 | 0.36 | 80.6% |
| 8 | CIN | 2.06 | 0.31 | 77.4% |
| 9 | ARI | 2.06 | 0.30 | 74.2% |
| 10 | GB | 2.06 | 0.30 | 71% |
| 11 | PHI | 2.06 | 0.30 | 67.7% |
| 12 | CAR | 2 | 0.24 | 64.5% |
| 13 | IND | 2 | 0.24 | 61.3% |
| 14 | SF | 1.94 | 0.19 | 58.1% |
| 15 | CLE | 1.82 | 0.07 | 54.8% |
| 16 | BUF | 1.81 | 0.06 | 51.6% |
| 17 | DAL | 1.71 | -0.05 | 48.4% |
| 18 | JAX | 1.71 | -0.05 | 45.2% |
| 19 | LAC | 1.71 | -0.05 | 41.9% |
| 20 | NYG | 1.71 | -0.05 | 38.7% |
| 21 | LV | 1.59 | -0.17 | 35.5% |
| 22 | NO | 1.59 | -0.17 | 32.3% |
| 23 | PIT | 1.59 | -0.17 | 29% |
| 24 | MIN | 1.53 | -0.23 | 25.8% |
| 25 | LAR | 1.47 | -0.28 | 22.6% |
| 26 | CHI | 1.35 | -0.40 | 19.4% |
| 27 | NYJ | 1.24 | -0.52 | 16.1% |
| 28 | BAL | 1.18 | -0.58 | 12.9% |
| 29 | DET | 1.18 | -0.58 | 9.7% |
| 30 | MIA | 1.12 | -0.64 | 6.5% |
| 31 | ATL | 1.06 | -0.70 | 3.2% |
| 32 | SEA | 0.94 | -0.81 | 0% |
Year-over-year — 2022 vs 2021
Biggest movers from last season.
Biggest riser
WAS · +1.65
Biggest faller
CLE · −0.94
Most consistent
MIN · 0
League trend 2022 vs 2021
▲ 0.14
YoY by team — 2022 vs 2021
| Rank | Team | 2022 | 2021 | Δ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | WAS | 2.59 | 0.94 | +1.65 |
| 2 | KC | 2.12 | 1.12 | +1 |
| 3 | HOU | 2.18 | 1.53 | +0.65 |
| 4 | IND | 2 | 1.35 | +0.65 |
| 5 | LAC | 1.71 | 1.06 | +0.65 |
| 6 | NE | 2.29 | 1.65 | +0.65 |
| 7 | CAR | 2 | 1.41 | +0.59 |
| 8 | JAX | 1.71 | 1.12 | +0.59 |
| 9 | GB | 2.06 | 1.47 | +0.59 |
| 10 | ARI | 2.06 | 1.53 | +0.53 |
| 11 | DEN | 2.18 | 1.65 | +0.53 |
| 12 | LAR | 1.47 | 1.12 | +0.35 |
| 13 | TEN | 2.12 | 1.76 | +0.35 |
| 14 | NYJ | 1.24 | 1 | +0.24 |
| 15 | TB | 2.24 | 2.06 | +0.18 |
| 16 | NYG | 1.71 | 1.53 | +0.18 |
| 17 | PHI | 2.06 | 1.94 | +0.12 |
| 18 | DAL | 1.71 | 1.65 | +0.06 |
| 19 | MIN | 1.53 | 1.53 | 0 |
| 20 | CIN | 2.06 | 2.12 | −0.06 |
| 21 | SF | 1.94 | 2 | −0.06 |
| 22 | DET | 1.18 | 1.29 | −0.12 |
| 23 | ATL | 1.06 | 1.35 | −0.29 |
| 24 | LV | 1.59 | 1.88 | −0.29 |
| 25 | BAL | 1.18 | 1.53 | −0.35 |
| 26 | CHI | 1.35 | 1.71 | −0.35 |
| 27 | BUF | 1.81 | 2.18 | −0.36 |
| 28 | SEA | 0.94 | 1.35 | −0.41 |
| 29 | NO | 1.59 | 2.06 | −0.47 |
| 30 | MIA | 1.12 | 1.71 | −0.59 |
| 31 | PIT | 1.59 | 2.35 | −0.76 |
| 32 | CLE | 1.82 | 2.76 | −0.94 |
Multi-year context
7-year window (2019–2025)
Multi-year leader
CLE · 2.07
Multi-year laggard
LAC · 1.32
Biggest improver
NYJ · +0.20/yr
Biggest decliner
NO · −0.20/yr
Multi-year averages
| Rank | Team | Avg | Slope/yr | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CLE | 2.07 | +0.12 | 1.44 | 1.50 | 2.76 | 1.82 | 2.41 | 2.65 | 1.88 |
| 2 | NO | 1.90 | −0.20 | 2.50 | 2.44 | 2.06 | 1.59 | 1.88 | 1.41 | 1.41 |
| 3 | PIT | 1.88 | −0.09 | 1.81 | 2.31 | 2.35 | 1.59 | 1.76 | 1.65 | 1.65 |
| 4 | KC | 1.87 | +0.04 | 2 | 1.75 | 1.12 | 2.12 | 2.41 | 1.82 | 1.88 |
| 5 | BUF | 1.87 | −0.06 | 2 | 1.94 | 2.18 | 1.81 | 1.82 | 1.59 | 1.76 |
| 6 | SF | 1.85 | −0.04 | 2.06 | 1.56 | 2 | 1.94 | 2 | 1.88 | 1.47 |
| 7 | CIN | 1.83 | −0.01 | 1.81 | 1.44 | 2.12 | 2.06 | 2 | 2 | 1.35 |
| 8 | TEN | 1.80 | +0.07 | 1.38 | 1.44 | 1.76 | 2.12 | 2.47 | 2 | 1.41 |
| 9 | HOU | 1.80 | +0.16 | 1.38 | 1.25 | 1.53 | 2.18 | 1.76 | 2.47 | 2 |
| 10 | TB | 1.78 | −0.12 | 2.06 | 1.88 | 2.06 | 2.24 | 1.47 | 1.24 | 1.53 |
| 11 | NE | 1.73 | −0.03 | 1.81 | 1.44 | 1.65 | 2.29 | 1.94 | 1.76 | 1.24 |
| 12 | PHI | 1.71 | −0.05 | 1.69 | 1.63 | 1.94 | 2.06 | 1.71 | 1.65 | 1.29 |
| 13 | WAS | 1.70 | +0.02 | 1.38 | 1.94 | 0.94 | 2.59 | 2.06 | 1.47 | 1.53 |
| 14 | NYG | 1.66 | +0.03 | 1.75 | 1.25 | 1.53 | 1.71 | 2.06 | 1.76 | 1.53 |
| 15 | DEN | 1.64 | +0.04 | 1.69 | 1.25 | 1.65 | 2.18 | 1.18 | 1.53 | 2 |
| 16 | DET | 1.63 | +0.11 | 1.94 | 1.06 | 1.29 | 1.18 | 1.71 | 2.18 | 2.06 |
| 17 | LV | 1.62 | −0.00 | 1.69 | 1.44 | 1.88 | 1.59 | 1.47 | 1.59 | 1.71 |
| 18 | IND | 1.62 | −0.04 | 1.50 | 1.94 | 1.35 | 2 | 1.71 | 1.53 | 1.29 |
| 19 | MIN | 1.61 | +0.07 | 1.75 | 1 | 1.53 | 1.53 | 2.18 | 1.41 | 1.88 |
| 20 | CAR | 1.60 | +0.02 | 1.56 | 1.25 | 1.41 | 2 | 2.18 | 1.41 | 1.41 |
| 21 | MIA | 1.57 | −0.08 | 1.69 | 2 | 1.71 | 1.12 | 1.59 | 1.65 | 1.24 |
| 22 | ARI | 1.55 | −0.05 | 1.50 | 1.56 | 1.53 | 2.06 | 1.82 | 1.24 | 1.12 |
| 23 | LAR | 1.54 | −0.06 | 1.69 | 2.13 | 1.12 | 1.47 | 1.65 | 1.06 | 1.65 |
| 24 | JAX | 1.53 | +0.01 | 1.94 | 1.13 | 1.12 | 1.71 | 1.71 | 1.59 | 1.53 |
| 25 | CHI | 1.53 | −0.11 | 2.06 | 1.56 | 1.71 | 1.35 | 1.35 | 1.41 | 1.24 |
| 26 | ATL | 1.48 | −0.06 | 2.31 | 1.06 | 1.35 | 1.06 | 1.94 | 1.24 | 1.41 |
| 27 | NYJ | 1.44 | +0.20 | 1.31 | 0.63 | 1 | 1.24 | 1.94 | 1.94 | 2 |
| 28 | BAL | 1.41 | −0.09 | 1.56 | 1.69 | 1.53 | 1.18 | 1.71 | 1.29 | 0.94 |
| 29 | SEA | 1.39 | +0.04 | 1.44 | 1.38 | 1.35 | 0.94 | 1.47 | 1.47 | 1.71 |
| 30 | GB | 1.38 | +0.06 | 1.25 | 0.69 | 1.47 | 2.06 | 1.53 | 1.12 | 1.53 |
| 31 | DAL | 1.36 | −0.15 | 1.44 | 1.81 | 1.65 | 1.71 | 1.06 | 1.12 | 0.71 |
| 32 | LAC | 1.32 | +0.01 | 1.38 | 1.13 | 1.06 | 1.71 | 1.41 | 1.29 | 1.24 |
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 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WAS | 1.38 | 1.94 | 0.94 | 2.59 | 2.06 | 1.47 | 1.53 |
| NE | 1.81 | 1.44 | 1.65 | 2.29 | 1.94 | 1.76 | 1.24 |
| TB | 2.06 | 1.88 | 2.06 | 2.24 | 1.47 | 1.24 | 1.53 |
| DEN | 1.69 | 1.25 | 1.65 | 2.18 | 1.18 | 1.53 | 2 |
| HOU | 1.38 | 1.25 | 1.53 | 2.18 | 1.76 | 2.47 | 2 |
| KC | 2 | 1.75 | 1.12 | 2.12 | 2.41 | 1.82 | 1.88 |
| TEN | 1.38 | 1.44 | 1.76 | 2.12 | 2.47 | 2 | 1.41 |
| CIN | 1.81 | 1.44 | 2.12 | 2.06 | 2 | 2 | 1.35 |
| ARI | 1.50 | 1.56 | 1.53 | 2.06 | 1.82 | 1.24 | 1.12 |
| GB | 1.25 | 0.69 | 1.47 | 2.06 | 1.53 | 1.12 | 1.53 |
| PHI | 1.69 | 1.63 | 1.94 | 2.06 | 1.71 | 1.65 | 1.29 |
| CAR | 1.56 | 1.25 | 1.41 | 2 | 2.18 | 1.41 | 1.41 |
| IND | 1.50 | 1.94 | 1.35 | 2 | 1.71 | 1.53 | 1.29 |
| SF | 2.06 | 1.56 | 2 | 1.94 | 2 | 1.88 | 1.47 |
| CLE | 1.44 | 1.50 | 2.76 | 1.82 | 2.41 | 2.65 | 1.88 |
| BUF | 2 | 1.94 | 2.18 | 1.81 | 1.82 | 1.59 | 1.76 |
| DAL | 1.44 | 1.81 | 1.65 | 1.71 | 1.06 | 1.12 | 0.71 |
| JAX | 1.94 | 1.13 | 1.12 | 1.71 | 1.71 | 1.59 | 1.53 |
| LAC | 1.38 | 1.13 | 1.06 | 1.71 | 1.41 | 1.29 | 1.24 |
| NYG | 1.75 | 1.25 | 1.53 | 1.71 | 2.06 | 1.76 | 1.53 |
| LV | 1.69 | 1.44 | 1.88 | 1.59 | 1.47 | 1.59 | 1.71 |
| NO | 2.50 | 2.44 | 2.06 | 1.59 | 1.88 | 1.41 | 1.41 |
| PIT | 1.81 | 2.31 | 2.35 | 1.59 | 1.76 | 1.65 | 1.65 |
| MIN | 1.75 | 1 | 1.53 | 1.53 | 2.18 | 1.41 | 1.88 |
| LAR | 1.69 | 2.13 | 1.12 | 1.47 | 1.65 | 1.06 | 1.65 |
| CHI | 2.06 | 1.56 | 1.71 | 1.35 | 1.35 | 1.41 | 1.24 |
| NYJ | 1.31 | 0.63 | 1 | 1.24 | 1.94 | 1.94 | 2 |
| BAL | 1.56 | 1.69 | 1.53 | 1.18 | 1.71 | 1.29 | 0.94 |
| DET | 1.94 | 1.06 | 1.29 | 1.18 | 1.71 | 2.18 | 2.06 |
| MIA | 1.69 | 2 | 1.71 | 1.12 | 1.59 | 1.65 | 1.24 |
| ATL | 2.31 | 1.06 | 1.35 | 1.06 | 1.94 | 1.24 | 1.41 |
| SEA | 1.44 | 1.38 | 1.35 | 0.94 | 1.47 | 1.47 | 1.71 |
Distribution
How the 32 teams cluster for 2022.
About this stat
- Stat ID
- off_special_teams_st_punt_returns
- 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 excluded from the Algorithm Builder per §11.36.