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2026 NFL Kickoff Specialist Rankings

Every NFL kickoff specialist with enough work in the 2026 regular season (at least 12), ranked by kickoff points added. Each kickoff's expected-points result compared with the league-average kickoff, added up over the season. Onside kicks are left out. It credits the kicker and the coverage team together. This season is in progress (through Week 7), so the numbers change each week.

NFL rule since 2025: a kickoff touchback starts the receiving team at its 35, so kickers aim for the landing zone short of the goal line and fewer touchbacks is better. Kickoff Points Added accounts for the rule, so it is the fair way to compare kickoff specialists across leagues and seasons.

Data through Week 7 of the 2026 season, updated October 24, 2026.

2026 NFL Leaders

Kickoff Touchback Percentage

  1. Nick Folk (Atlanta Falcons): 0% 0 of 29
  2. Chase McLaughlin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 6% 2 of 32
  3. Tyler Bass (Buffalo Bills): 7% 3 of 41
  4. Wil Lutz (Denver Broncos): 7% 2 of 27
  5. Will Reichard (Minnesota Vikings): 7% 2 of 27

Full Kickoff Touchback Percentage leaderboard

Average Kickoff Return Allowed

  1. Joey Slye (Tennessee Titans): 19.0 12 returns
  2. Brandon Aubrey (Dallas Cowboys): 19.9 25 returns
  3. Ryan Fitzgerald (Carolina Panthers): 20.6 25 returns
  4. Cairo Santos (Chicago Bears): 20.7 32 returns
  5. Daniel Carlson (New Orleans Saints): 21.9 23 returns

Full Average Kickoff Return Allowed leaderboard

Kickoff Points Added

  1. Daniel Carlson (New Orleans Saints): +12.6 30 kickoffs
  2. Ryan Fitzgerald (Carolina Panthers): +11.5 32 kickoffs
  3. Cairo Santos (Chicago Bears): +8.2 38 kickoffs
  4. Will Reichard (Minnesota Vikings): +6.9 27 kickoffs
  5. Chase McLaughlin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): +6.5 32 kickoffs

Full Kickoff Points Added leaderboard

Average Kickoff Distance

  1. Tyler Loop (Baltimore Ravens): 62.8 30 kickoffs
  2. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): 62.3 32 kickoffs
  3. Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers): 62.2 31 kickoffs
  4. Chad Ryland (Arizona Cardinals): 62.2 28 kickoffs
  5. Cameron Dicker (Los Angeles Chargers): 61.9 22 kickoffs

Full Average Kickoff Distance leaderboard

Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage

  1. Tyler Bass (Buffalo Bills): 0.0% 0 of 41
  2. Cairo Santos (Chicago Bears): 0.0% 0 of 38
  3. Eddy Pineiro (San Francisco 49ers): 0.0% 0 of 34
  4. Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks): 0.0% 0 of 34
  5. Andy Borregales (New England Patriots): 0.0% 0 of 33

Full Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage leaderboard

30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed

  1. Cairo Santos (Chicago Bears): 0.0% 0 of 32
  2. Ryan Fitzgerald (Carolina Panthers): 0.0% 0 of 25
  3. Chase McLaughlin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 6.7% 2 of 30
  4. Matt Gay (Las Vegas Raiders): 7.7% 2 of 26
  5. Brandon Aubrey (Dallas Cowboys): 8.0% 2 of 25

Full 30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed leaderboard

All 2026 NFL Kickoff Specialist Leaderboards

Kickoffs by Points Added

33 kickoff specialists qualify.

RkPlayerTeamKickoffsAvg distTB%ReturnsPoints
1Daniel CarlsonNew Orleans Saints3060.023%23+12.6
2Ryan FitzgeraldCarolina Panthers3261.022%25+11.5
3Cairo SantosChicago Bears3858.716%32+8.2
4Will ReichardMinnesota Vikings2761.17%25+6.9
5Chase McLaughlinTampa Bay Buccaneers3261.36%30+6.5
6Dominic ZvadaNew York Giants2961.910%26+6.5
7Brandon AubreyDallas Cowboys3256.916%25+5.3
8Harrison ButkerKansas City Chiefs3061.513%26+3.4
9Rigoberto SanchezIndianapolis Colts2359.59%21+2.5
10Jake BatesDetroit Lions3061.213%26+2.2
11Jason SandersNew York Jets2861.021%22+1.9
12Evan McPhersonCincinnati Bengals2960.714%25+1.2
13Tyler BassBuffalo Bills4160.87%38−0.1
14Spencer ShraderIndianapolis Colts1461.214%12−0.2
15Nick FolkAtlanta Falcons2961.10%29−0.5
16Jake ElliottPhiladelphia Eagles2360.59%21−1.0
17Wil LutzDenver Broncos2758.77%24−1.2
18Andre SzmytCleveland Browns2760.615%23−1.7
19Eddy PineiroSan Francisco 49ers3461.418%28−1.8
20Matt GayLas Vegas Raiders3159.513%26−2.1
21Andy BorregalesNew England Patriots3360.39%30−2.1
22Jason MyersSeattle Seahawks3461.121%27−2.3
23Cameron DickerLos Angeles Chargers2261.923%17−2.6
24Chad RylandArizona Cardinals2862.225%20−2.7
25Drew StevensWashington Commanders3060.717%24−3.5
26Joey SlyeTennessee Titans2056.435%12−3.6
27Tyler LoopBaltimore Ravens3062.830%21−4.0
28Harrison MevisLos Angeles Rams2460.017%19−4.2
29Cam LittleJacksonville Jaguars3261.69%29−4.5
30Chris BoswellPittsburgh Steelers3162.216%26−5.1
31Ka'imi FairbairnHouston Texans3262.322%25−6.0
32Trey SmackGreen Bay Packers2960.914%25−6.1
33Riley PattersonMiami Dolphins1660.325%12−7.4

Points compare each kickoff's expected-points result with the league-average kickoff. Onside kicks are listed separately and left out of points. Average distance is measured from the kicking spot to where the ball was caught or reached the goal line; a touchback counts the full distance. Returns exclude touchbacks, out-of-bounds kicks and fair catches. Minimum 12 kickoffs.

Kickoff Specialist Rankings in Other Seasons

2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016

Other 2026 NFL Rankings

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