2017 NFL Kickoff Touchback Percentage Leaders

The share of a kickoff specialist's kickoffs that were touchbacks. High means power; whether it is good depends on the rules and the coach's plan.

More is better under this season's rules: a touchback ends the play with no return. Only specialists with enough kickoffs are ranked. In 2017, Graham Gano (85%) led NFL kickoff specialists in kickoff touchback percentage, ahead of Bradley Pinion (81%) and Harrison Butker (78%). 35 kickoff specialists qualify (minimum 30 kickoffs). The median qualified kickoff specialist had 57%.

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.

Rk	Player	Team	TB%	Kickoffs	Avg dist	Returns	Points
1	Graham Gano	Carolina Panthers	85%	82	64.6	12	−3.6
2	Bradley Pinion	San Francisco 49ers	81%	79	64.1	14	+1.1
3	Harrison Butker	Kansas City Chiefs	78%	78	64.2	17	−0.9
4	Greg Zuerlein	Los Angeles Rams	77%	95	63.9	20	−1.9
5	Jason Myers	Jacksonville Jaguars	76%	34	61.9	7	−8.4
6	Giorgio Tavecchio	Las Vegas Raiders	76%	63	64.2	15	+0.9
7	Dustin Hopkins	Washington Commanders	73%	40	64.3	11	+2.4
8	Nick Rose	Washington Commanders	71%	45	64.9	13	+1.3
9	Brandon McManus	Denver Broncos	68%	66	62.3	21	−8.1
10	Chandler Catanzaro	New York Jets	67%	67	64.0	22	+1.3
11	Rigoberto Sanchez	Indianapolis Colts	67%	69	63.3	23	−0.4
12	Ka'imi Fairbairn	Houston Texans	66%	74	63.6	25	+1.0
13	Wil Lutz	New Orleans Saints	64%	91	65.3	32	+0.8
14	Zane Gonzalez	Cleveland Browns	63%	52	62.4	19	−6.9
15	Justin Tucker	Baltimore Ravens	63%	88	63.4	33	+0.2
16	Matt Bosher	Atlanta Falcons	60%	82	64.4	33	−4.4
17	Ryan Succop	Tennessee Titans	59%	79	64.6	32	+1.3
18	Dan Bailey	Dallas Cowboys	57%	56	64.4	24	+5.4
19	Mason Crosby	Green Bay Packers	53%	68	62.0	32	−2.9
20	Stephen Hauschka	Buffalo Bills	53%	70	61.2	33	−3.1
21	Chris Boswell	Pittsburgh Steelers	51%	90	63.1	43	+2.9
22	Blair Walsh	Seattle Seahawks	51%	77	62.7	37	+9.0
23	Jake Elliott	Philadelphia Eagles	51%	83	62.7	40	−0.5
24	Kai Forbath	Minnesota Vikings	50%	88	63.5	44	−4.2
25	Sam Martin	Detroit Lions	50%	50	64.8	25	+6.7
26	Mike Nugent	Dallas Cowboys	50%	36	62.8	18	+5.9
27	Phil Dawson	Arizona Cardinals	47%	75	61.4	40	+1.9
28	Randy Bullock	Cincinnati Bengals	46%	65	62.6	34	−2.4
29	Connor Barth	Chicago Bears	46%	37	64.2	20	−5.3
30	Cody Parkey	Miami Dolphins	45%	62	63.8	34	+5.8
31	Aldrick Rosas	New York Giants	43%	60	62.2	32	+0.7
32	Stephen Gostkowski	New England Patriots	41%	98	63.5	58	+9.2
33	Josh Lambo	Jacksonville Jaguars	40%	55	59.8	33	−1.5
34	Nick Novak	Los Angeles Chargers	26%	34	59.5	25	−2.1
35	Patrick Murray	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	25%	57	62.6	43	−1.4

All 2017 NFL kickoff specialist rankings

Kickoff Touchback Percentage in other seasons: 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2016

More 2017 NFL kickoff specialist leaderboards

Other 2017 NFL rankings

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