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2017 NFL Kickoff Specialist Rankings

Every NFL kickoff specialist with enough work in the 2017 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 2017 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

2017 NFL Leaders

Kickoff Touchback Percentage

  1. Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers): 85% 70 of 82
  2. Bradley Pinion (San Francisco 49ers): 81% 64 of 79
  3. Harrison Butker (Kansas City Chiefs): 78% 61 of 78
  4. Greg Zuerlein (Los Angeles Rams): 77% 73 of 95
  5. Jason Myers (Jacksonville Jaguars): 76% 26 of 34

Full Kickoff Touchback Percentage leaderboard

Average Kickoff Return Allowed

  1. Matt Prater (Detroit Lions): 14.9 10 returns
  2. Dustin Hopkins (Washington Commanders): 17.4 11 returns
  3. Josh Lambo (Jacksonville Jaguars): 18.2 33 returns
  4. Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens): 18.6 33 returns
  5. Harrison Butker (Kansas City Chiefs): 18.7 17 returns

Full Average Kickoff Return Allowed leaderboard

Kickoff Points Added

  1. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots): +9.2 98 kickoffs
  2. Blair Walsh (Seattle Seahawks): +9.0 77 kickoffs
  3. Sam Martin (Detroit Lions): +6.7 50 kickoffs
  4. Mike Nugent (Dallas Cowboys): +5.9 36 kickoffs
  5. Cody Parkey (Miami Dolphins): +5.8 62 kickoffs

Full Kickoff Points Added leaderboard

Average Kickoff Distance

  1. Wil Lutz (New Orleans Saints): 65.3 91 kickoffs
  2. Nick Rose (Washington Commanders): 64.9 45 kickoffs
  3. Sam Martin (Detroit Lions): 64.8 50 kickoffs
  4. Ryan Succop (Tennessee Titans): 64.6 79 kickoffs
  5. Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers): 64.6 82 kickoffs

Full Average Kickoff Distance leaderboard

Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage

  1. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots): 0.0% 0 of 98
  2. Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens): 0.0% 0 of 88
  3. Kai Forbath (Minnesota Vikings): 0.0% 0 of 88
  4. Graham Gano (Carolina Panthers): 0.0% 0 of 82
  5. Matt Bosher (Atlanta Falcons): 0.0% 0 of 82

Full Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage leaderboard

30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed

  1. Bradley Pinion (San Francisco 49ers): 0.0% 0 of 14
  2. Matt Prater (Detroit Lions): 0.0% 0 of 10
  3. Stephen Gostkowski (New England Patriots): 3.4% 2 of 58
  4. Sam Martin (Detroit Lions): 4.0% 1 of 25
  5. Cody Parkey (Miami Dolphins): 5.9% 2 of 34

Full 30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed leaderboard

All 2017 NFL Kickoff Specialist Leaderboards

Kickoffs by Points Added

35 kickoff specialists qualify.

RkPlayerTeamKickoffsAvg distTB%ReturnsPoints
1Stephen GostkowskiNew England Patriots9863.541%58+9.2
2Blair WalshSeattle Seahawks7762.751%37+9.0
3Sam MartinDetroit Lions5064.850%25+6.7
4Mike NugentDallas Cowboys3662.850%18+5.9
5Cody ParkeyMiami Dolphins6263.845%34+5.8
6Dan BaileyDallas Cowboys5664.457%24+5.4
7Chris BoswellPittsburgh Steelers9063.151%43+2.9
8Dustin HopkinsWashington Commanders4064.373%11+2.4
9Phil DawsonArizona Cardinals7561.447%40+1.9
10Chandler CatanzaroNew York Jets6764.067%22+1.3
11Nick RoseWashington Commanders4564.971%13+1.3
12Ryan SuccopTennessee Titans7964.659%32+1.3
13Bradley PinionSan Francisco 49ers7964.181%14+1.1
14Ka'imi FairbairnHouston Texans7463.666%25+1.0
15Giorgio TavecchioLas Vegas Raiders6364.276%15+0.9
16Wil LutzNew Orleans Saints9165.364%32+0.8
17Aldrick RosasNew York Giants6062.243%32+0.7
18Justin TuckerBaltimore Ravens8863.463%33+0.2
19Rigoberto SanchezIndianapolis Colts6963.367%23−0.4
20Jake ElliottPhiladelphia Eagles8362.751%40−0.5
21Harrison ButkerKansas City Chiefs7864.278%17−0.9
22Patrick MurrayTampa Bay Buccaneers5762.625%43−1.4
23Josh LamboJacksonville Jaguars5559.840%33−1.5
24Greg ZuerleinLos Angeles Rams9563.977%20−1.9
25Nick NovakLos Angeles Chargers3459.526%25−2.1
26Randy BullockCincinnati Bengals6562.646%34−2.4
27Mason CrosbyGreen Bay Packers6862.053%32−2.9
28Stephen HauschkaBuffalo Bills7061.253%33−3.1
29Graham GanoCarolina Panthers8264.685%12−3.6
30Kai ForbathMinnesota Vikings8863.550%44−4.2
31Matt BosherAtlanta Falcons8264.460%33−4.4
32Connor BarthChicago Bears3764.246%20−5.3
33Zane GonzalezCleveland Browns5262.463%19−6.9
34Brandon McManusDenver Broncos6662.368%21−8.1
35Jason MyersJacksonville Jaguars3461.976%7−8.4

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 30 kickoffs.

Kickoff Specialist Rankings in Other Seasons

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Other 2017 NFL Rankings

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