List of NFL career kickoff return yards leaders

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This is a list of National Football League kickoff returners based on their career kickoff return yards.

Brian Mitchell is the all-time leader with 14,014 kickoff return yards over 14 seasons. He played for the Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants.

Career leaders[edit]

Key
^ Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
* Denotes player who is still active

Through 2022 season

Rank Player Pos. Team(s) by season Returns Yards Average Ref
1 Brian Mitchell RB Washington Redskins (1990–1999)
Philadelphia Eagles (2000–2002)
New York Giants (2003) 		607 14,014 23.1 [1][2][3]
2 Allen Rossum DB Philadelphia Eagles (1998–1999)
Green Bay Packers (2000–2001)
Atlanta Falcons (2002–2006)
Pittsburgh Steelers (2007)
San Francisco 49ers (2008–2009)
Dallas Cowboys (2009) 		514 11,947 23.2 [1][2][4]
3 Josh Cribbs WR Cleveland Browns (2005–2012)
New York Jets (2013)
Indianapolis Colts (2014) 		426 11,113 26.1 [1][2][5]
4 Mel Gray RB/WR New Orleans Saints (1986–1988)
Detroit Lions (1989–1994)
Houston / Tennessee Oilers (1995–1997)
Philadelphia Eagles (1997)
 421 10,250 24.3 [1][2][6]
5 Dante Hall WR Kansas City Chiefs (2000–2006)
St. Louis Rams (2007–2008) 		426 10,136 23.8 [1][2][7]
6 Glyn Milburn RB/WR Denver Broncos (1993–1995)
Detroit Lions (1996–1997)
Chicago Bears (1998–2001)
San Diego Chargers (2001) 		407 9,788 24 [1][2][8]
7 Michael Bates RB/WR Seattle Seahawks (1993–1995)
Carolina Panthers (1995, 1996–2000)
Cleveland Browns (1995)
Washington Redskins (2001)
Carolina Panthers (2002–2003)
New York Jets (2003)
Dallas Cowboys (2003) 		373 9,110 24.4 [1][2][9]
8 Darren Sproles RB San Diego Chargers (2005–2010)
New Orleans Saints (2011–2013)
Philadelphia Eagles (2014–2019) 		332 8,352 25.2 [1][2][10]
9 Desmond Howard WR Washington Redskins (1992–1994)
Jacksonville Jaguars (1995)
Green Bay Packers (1996, 1999)
Oakland Raiders (1997–1998)
Detroit Lions (1999–2002) 		359 7,959 22.2 [1][2][11]
10 Cordarrelle Patterson* RB/WR Minnesota Vikings (2013–2016)
Oakland Raiders (2017)
New England Patriots (2018)
Chicago Bears (2019–2020)
Atlanta Falcons (2021–present) 		266 7,836 29.5 [1][2][12]
11 Leon Washington RB New York Jets (2006–2009)
Seattle Seahawks (2010–2012)
New England Patriots (2013)
Tennessee Titans (2013–2014) 		292 7,553 25.9 [1][2][13]
12 Devin Hester^ WR Chicago Bears (2006–2013)
Atlanta Falcons (2014–2015)
Baltimore Ravens (2016)
Seattle Seahawks (2016) 		295 7,333 24.9 [1][2][14]
13 Kevin Williams WR Dallas Cowboys (1993–1996)
Arizona Cardinals (1997)
Buffalo Bills (1998–1999)
San Francisco 49ers (2000) 		322 7,309 22.7 [1][2][15]
14 Tyrone Hughes DB New Orleans Saints (1993–1996))
Chicago Bears (1997)
Dallas Cowboys (1998) 		283 6,999 24.7 [1][2][16]
15 Ron Smith DB Chicago Bears (1965, (1970–1972)
Atlanta Falcons (1966–1967)
Los Angeles Rams (1968–1969)
San Diego Chargers (1973)
Oakland Raiders (1974) 		275 6,922 25.2 [1][2][17]
16 Ted Ginn Jr. WR Miami Dolphins (2007–2009)
San Francisco 49ers (2010–2012)
Carolina Panthers (2013, 2015–2016)
Arizona Cardinals (2014)
New Orleans Saints (2017–2019)
Chicago Bears (2020) 		307 6,899 22.5 [1][2][18]
17 Andre Roberts* WR Arizona Cardinals (2010–2013)
Washington Redskins (2014–2015)
Detroit Lions (2016)
Atlanta Falcons (2017)
New York Jets (2018)
Buffalo Bills (2019–2020)
Houston Texans (2021)
Los Angeles Chargers (2021)
Carolina Panthers (2022–present)
 260 6,751 26 [1][2][19]
18 Chris Carr DB Oakland Raiders (2005–2007)
Tennessee Titans (2008)
Baltimore Ravens (2009–2011)
San Diego Chargers (2012)
New Orleans Saints (2013) 		256 6,276 24.5 [1][2][20]
19 Michael Lewis WR New Orleans Saints (2001–2006)
San Francisco 49ers (2007) 		248 5,989 24.1 [1][2][21]
20 Brandon Tate WR New England Patriots (2009–2010)
Cincinnati Bengals (2011–2015)
Buffalo Bills (2016–2017)
New Orleans Saints (2018) 		247 5,890 23.8 [1][2][22]
21 Eric Metcalf RB/WR Cleveland Browns (1989–1994)
Atlanta Falcons (1995–1996)
San Diego Chargers (1997)
Arizona Cardinals (1998)
Carolina Panthers (1999)
Washington Redskins (2001)
Green Bay Packers (2002) 		280 5,813 20.8 [1][2][23]
22 Eddie Drummond WR Detroit Lions (2002–2006)
Kansas City Chiefs (2007) 		250 5,811 23.2 [1][2][24]
23 Dave Meggett RB New York Giants (1989–1994)
New England Patriots (1995–1997)
New York Jets (1998) 		252 5,566 22.1 [1][2][25]
24 Abe Woodson DB San Francisco 49ers (1958–1964)
St. Louis Cardinals (1965–1966) 		193 5,538 28.7 [1][2][26]
25 Corey Harris DB Houston Oilers (1992)
Green Bay Packers (1992–1994)
Seattle Seahawks (1995–1996)
Miami Dolphins (1997)
Baltimore Ravens (1998–2001)
Detroit Lions (2002–2003) 		238 5,528 23.2 [1][2][27]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "NFL Kick Return Yards Career Leaders (since 1941)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "NFL Career Kickoff Return Yards Leaders". footballdb.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2023. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  3. ^ "Brian Mitchell Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Allen Rossum Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  5. ^ "Josh Cribbs Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  6. ^ "Mel Gray Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Dante Hall Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  8. ^ "Glyn Milburn Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2 September 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  9. ^ "Michael Bates Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Darren Sproles Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  11. ^ "Desmond Howard Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  12. ^ "Cordarrelle Patterson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  13. ^ "Leon Washington Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  14. ^ "Devin Hester Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 9 October 2013. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Kevin Williams Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  16. ^ "Tyrone Hughes Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  17. ^ "Ron Smith Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  18. ^ "Ted Ginn Jr. Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  19. ^ "Andre Roberts Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
  20. ^ "Chris Carr Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  21. ^ "Michael Lewis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  22. ^ "Brandon Tate Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  23. ^ "Eric Metcalf Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  24. ^ "Eddie Drummond Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  25. ^ "Dave Meggett Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  26. ^ "Abe Woodson Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2019. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
  27. ^ "Corey Harris Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
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