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2016 NFL Kickoff Specialist Rankings

Every NFL kickoff specialist with enough work in the 2016 regular season (at least 30), 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.

NFL rule from 2016 to 2023: a kickoff touchback started the receiving team at its 25 (from 2023 a fair catch inside the 25 did too), so a deep kick into the end zone was the safe, standard result. Kickoff Points Added accounts for the rule, so it is the fair way to compare kickoff specialists across leagues and seasons.

Final 2016 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

2016 NFL Leaders

Kickoff Touchback Percentage

  1. Jason Myers (Jacksonville Jaguars): 82% 60 of 73
  2. Josh Lambo (Los Angeles Chargers): 75% 67 of 89
  3. Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers): 74% 63 of 85
  4. Ryan Succop (Tennessee Titans): 73% 58 of 79
  5. Dustin Hopkins (Washington Commanders): 72% 65 of 90

Full Kickoff Touchback Percentage leaderboard

Average Kickoff Return Allowed

  1. Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers): 17.7 22 returns
  2. Bradley Pinion (San Francisco 49ers): 18.2 10 returns
  3. Brandon McManus (Denver Broncos): 18.3 24 returns
  4. Caleb Sturgis (Philadelphia Eagles): 18.7 38 returns
  5. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots): 18.8 41 returns

Full Average Kickoff Return Allowed leaderboard

Kickoff Points Added

  1. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots): +16.7 94 kickoffs
  2. Sebastian Janikowski (Las Vegas Raiders): +10.3 89 kickoffs
  3. Phil Dawson (San Francisco 49ers): +10.0 39 kickoffs
  4. Caleb Sturgis (Philadelphia Eagles): +8.8 84 kickoffs
  5. Cairo Santos (Kansas City Chiefs): +6.8 84 kickoffs

Full Kickoff Points Added leaderboard

Average Kickoff Distance

  1. Roberto Aguayo (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 65.3 76 kickoffs
  2. Kai Forbath (Minnesota Vikings): 64.9 36 kickoffs
  3. Dan Bailey (Dallas Cowboys): 64.7 90 kickoffs
  4. Greg Zuerlein (Los Angeles Rams): 64.6 58 kickoffs
  5. Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers): 64.6 85 kickoffs

Full Average Kickoff Distance leaderboard

Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage

  1. Matt Bosher (Atlanta Falcons): 0.0% 0 of 105
  2. Dan Bailey (Dallas Cowboys): 0.0% 0 of 90
  3. Dustin Hopkins (Washington Commanders): 0.0% 0 of 90
  4. Sebastian Janikowski (Las Vegas Raiders): 0.0% 0 of 89
  5. Wil Lutz (New Orleans Saints): 0.0% 0 of 89

Full Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage leaderboard

30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed

  1. Greg Zuerlein (Los Angeles Rams): 0.0% 0 of 22
  2. Cody Parkey (Cleveland Browns): 0.0% 0 of 19
  3. Caleb Sturgis (Philadelphia Eagles): 2.6% 1 of 38
  4. Andrew Franks (Miami Dolphins): 6.5% 2 of 31
  5. Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens): 7.4% 2 of 27

Full 30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed leaderboard

All 2016 NFL Kickoff Specialist Leaderboards

Kickoffs by Points Added

34 kickoff specialists qualify.

RkPlayerTeamKickoffsAvg distTB%ReturnsPoints
1Stephen GostkowskiNew England Patriots9463.055%41+16.7
2Sebastian JanikowskiLas Vegas Raiders8963.348%46+10.3
3Phil DawsonSan Francisco 49ers3958.510%34+10.0
4Caleb SturgisPhiladelphia Eagles8464.355%38+8.8
5Cairo SantosKansas City Chiefs8463.457%35+6.8
6Matt BosherAtlanta Falcons10564.662%40+6.5
7Connor BarthChicago Bears6164.443%35+4.5
8Greg ZuerleinLos Angeles Rams5864.662%22+4.5
9Graham GanoCarolina Panthers8564.674%22+3.7
10Pat McAfeeIndianapolis Colts8864.456%39+3.7
11Mike NugentCincinnati Bengals6263.945%34+3.1
12Nick FolkNew York Jets7063.056%31+2.8
13Justin TuckerBaltimore Ravens8062.865%27+2.6
14Dan BaileyDallas Cowboys9064.763%33+2.1
15Chandler CatanzaroArizona Cardinals8164.164%29+1.8
16Andrew FranksMiami Dolphins7364.458%31+1.3
17Kai ForbathMinnesota Vikings3664.953%17+0.8
18Sam MartinDetroit Lions7563.969%22+0.6
19Brandon McManusDenver Broncos7663.367%24+0.3
20Cody ParkeyCleveland Browns5463.763%19+0.1
21Roberto AguayoTampa Bay Buccaneers7665.368%24−0.3
22Bradley PinionSan Francisco 49ers3163.165%10−0.8
23Dan CarpenterBuffalo Bills6761.542%39−0.9
24Wil LutzNew Orleans Saints8963.555%40−2.2
25Stephen HauschkaSeattle Seahawks8564.364%31−3.4
26Robbie GouldNew York Giants4263.445%22−3.8
27Ryan SuccopTennessee Titans7963.973%20−4.5
28Blair WalshMinnesota Vikings4063.948%21−5.7
29Josh LamboLos Angeles Chargers8963.775%20−6.2
30Jason MyersJacksonville Jaguars7363.482%13−6.3
31Dustin HopkinsWashington Commanders9064.072%25−6.3
32Chris BoswellPittsburgh Steelers7962.563%26−7.2
33Nick NovakHouston Texans7062.733%46−7.5
34Mason CrosbyGreen Bay Packers8863.553%41−13.2

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 30 kickoffs.

Kickoff Specialist Rankings in Other Seasons

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Other 2016 NFL Rankings

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