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2021 NFL Kickoff Specialist Rankings

Every NFL kickoff specialist with enough work in the 2021 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 2021 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

2021 NFL Leaders

Kickoff Touchback Percentage

  1. Greg Joseph (Minnesota Vikings): 82% 76 of 93
  2. Brandon McManus (Denver Broncos): 82% 62 of 76
  3. Greg Zuerlein (Dallas Cowboys): 81% 80 of 99
  4. Matt Prater (Arizona Cardinals): 80% 73 of 91
  5. Bradley Pinion (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 80% 71 of 89

Full Kickoff Touchback Percentage leaderboard

Average Kickoff Return Allowed

  1. Graham Gano (New York Giants): 18.1 36 returns
  2. Dustin Hopkins (Los Angeles Chargers): 18.1 27 returns
  3. Tyler Bass (Buffalo Bills): 18.4 40 returns
  4. Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens): 18.5 39 returns
  5. Harrison Butker (Kansas City Chiefs): 18.7 32 returns

Full Average Kickoff Return Allowed leaderboard

Kickoff Points Added

  1. Rigoberto Sanchez (Indianapolis Colts): +13.1 93 kickoffs
  2. Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks): +13.0 81 kickoffs
  3. Tyler Bass (Buffalo Bills): +12.1 98 kickoffs
  4. Randy Bullock (Tennessee Titans): +8.8 89 kickoffs
  5. Dustin Hopkins (Los Angeles Chargers): +7.3 98 kickoffs

Full Kickoff Points Added leaderboard

Average Kickoff Distance

  1. Brandon McManus (Denver Broncos): 65.1 76 kickoffs
  2. Zane Gonzalez (Carolina Panthers): 64.9 55 kickoffs
  3. Matt Prater (Arizona Cardinals): 64.9 91 kickoffs
  4. Jack Fox (Detroit Lions): 64.6 34 kickoffs
  5. Jake Elliott (Philadelphia Eagles): 64.4 94 kickoffs

Full Average Kickoff Distance leaderboard

Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage

  1. Dustin Hopkins (Los Angeles Chargers): 0.0% 0 of 98
  2. Jake Elliott (Philadelphia Eagles): 0.0% 0 of 94
  3. Greg Joseph (Minnesota Vikings): 0.0% 0 of 93
  4. Harrison Butker (Kansas City Chiefs): 0.0% 0 of 93
  5. Rigoberto Sanchez (Indianapolis Colts): 0.0% 0 of 93

Full Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage leaderboard

30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed

  1. Chase McLaughlin (Cleveland Browns): 2.7% 1 of 37
  2. Graham Gano (New York Giants): 2.8% 1 of 36
  3. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): 4.0% 1 of 25
  4. Younghoe Koo (Atlanta Falcons): 4.0% 1 of 25
  5. Jason Sanders (Miami Dolphins): 5.0% 1 of 20

Full 30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed leaderboard

All 2021 NFL Kickoff Specialist Leaderboards

Kickoffs by Points Added

34 kickoff specialists qualify.

RkPlayerTeamKickoffsAvg distTB%ReturnsPoints
1Rigoberto SanchezIndianapolis Colts9364.051%46+13.1
2Jason MyersSeattle Seahawks8162.238%49+13.0
3Tyler BassBuffalo Bills9862.557%40+12.1
4Randy BullockTennessee Titans8963.856%39+8.8
5Dustin HopkinsLos Angeles Chargers9864.072%27+7.3
6Chase McLaughlinCleveland Browns6863.846%37+6.4
7Jake BaileyNew England Patriots9362.644%49+6.1
8Graham GanoNew York Giants6461.542%36+5.9
9Younghoe KooAtlanta Falcons5562.953%25+4.6
10Cairo SantosChicago Bears6964.049%35+3.0
11Jason SandersMiami Dolphins7763.773%20+2.6
12Ka'imi FairbairnHouston Texans4261.838%25+2.4
13Brett MaherNew Orleans Saints3563.751%17+1.6
14Tristan VizcainoLos Angeles Chargers3164.442%18+0.5
15Evan McPhersonCincinnati Bengals9163.560%35+0.5
16Matt GayLos Angeles Rams9962.366%31+0.4
17Brian JohnsonNew Orleans Saints3462.747%18+0.3
18Matt PraterArizona Cardinals9164.980%18+0.3
19Justin TuckerBaltimore Ravens8761.854%39+0.3
20Jack FoxDetroit Lions3464.656%15+0.1
21Harrison ButkerKansas City Chiefs9363.066%32−0.6
22Greg JosephMinnesota Vikings9364.482%17−0.6
23Matt AmmendolaNew York Jets4363.063%16−0.7
24Joey SlyeWashington Commanders5863.664%21−1.8
25Chris BoswellPittsburgh Steelers8663.147%45−2.5
26Daniel CarlsonLas Vegas Raiders8763.561%33−3.2
27Mason CrosbyGreen Bay Packers9463.846%50−4.4
28Mitch WishnowskySan Francisco 49ers5363.240%32−5.3
29Jake ElliottPhiladelphia Eagles9464.465%33−5.4
30Zane GonzalezCarolina Panthers5564.964%20−6.7
31Greg ZuerleinDallas Cowboys9964.481%18−7.2
32Bradley PinionTampa Bay Buccaneers8964.280%17−8.3
33Matthew WrightJacksonville Jaguars3062.117%25−11.3
34Brandon McManusDenver Broncos7665.182%14−17.3

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

2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016

Other 2021 NFL Rankings

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