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2022 NFL Kickoff Specialist Rankings

Every NFL kickoff specialist with enough work in the 2022 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 2022 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

2022 NFL Leaders

Kickoff Touchback Percentage

  1. Greg Zuerlein (New York Jets): 84% 47 of 56
  2. Cameron Dicker (Los Angeles Chargers): 84% 46 of 55
  3. Joey Slye (Washington Commanders): 81% 60 of 74
  4. Matt Gay (Los Angeles Rams): 80% 61 of 76
  5. Brett Maher (Dallas Cowboys): 78% 78 of 100

Full Kickoff Touchback Percentage leaderboard

Average Kickoff Return Allowed

  1. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): 19.0 37 returns
  2. Tyler Bass (Buffalo Bills): 19.9 47 returns
  3. Daniel Carlson (Las Vegas Raiders): 20.1 29 returns
  4. Austin Seibert (Detroit Lions): 20.1 14 returns
  5. Randy Bullock (Tennessee Titans): 20.6 25 returns

Full Average Kickoff Return Allowed leaderboard

Kickoff Points Added

  1. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): +26.5 70 kickoffs
  2. Tyler Bass (Buffalo Bills): +9.6 92 kickoffs
  3. Eddy Pineiro (Carolina Panthers): +5.6 81 kickoffs
  4. Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks): +5.3 91 kickoffs
  5. Chase McLaughlin (Indianapolis Colts): +5.0 73 kickoffs

Full Kickoff Points Added leaderboard

Average Kickoff Distance

  1. Brett Maher (Dallas Cowboys): 64.7 100 kickoffs
  2. Joey Slye (Washington Commanders): 64.6 74 kickoffs
  3. Cairo Santos (Chicago Bears): 64.4 47 kickoffs
  4. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): 64.4 70 kickoffs
  5. Harrison Butker (Kansas City Chiefs): 64.4 68 kickoffs

Full Average Kickoff Distance leaderboard

Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage

  1. Jake Elliott (Philadelphia Eagles): 0.0% 0 of 92
  2. Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks): 0.0% 0 of 91
  3. Greg Joseph (Minnesota Vikings): 0.0% 0 of 88
  4. Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens): 0.0% 0 of 86
  5. Jason Sanders (Miami Dolphins): 0.0% 0 of 85

Full Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage leaderboard

30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed

  1. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): 0.0% 0 of 37
  2. Daniel Carlson (Las Vegas Raiders): 3.4% 1 of 29
  3. Brett Maher (Dallas Cowboys): 4.8% 1 of 21
  4. Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks): 5.4% 2 of 37
  5. Jake Bailey (New England Patriots): 5.6% 1 of 18

Full 30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed leaderboard

All 2022 NFL Kickoff Specialist Leaderboards

Kickoffs by Points Added

34 kickoff specialists qualify.

RkPlayerTeamKickoffsAvg distTB%ReturnsPoints
1Ka'imi FairbairnHouston Texans7064.447%37+26.5
2Tyler BassBuffalo Bills9261.947%47+9.6
3Eddy PineiroCarolina Panthers8162.357%33+5.6
4Jason MyersSeattle Seahawks9164.059%37+5.3
5Chase McLaughlinIndianapolis Colts7364.153%34+5.0
6Randy BullockTennessee Titans5663.255%25+3.4
7Harrison ButkerKansas City Chiefs6864.465%24+3.2
8Brandon McManusDenver Broncos7164.272%20+2.5
9Cade YorkCleveland Browns7863.964%28+1.9
10Jake BaileyNew England Patriots4664.161%18+1.9
11Riley PattersonJacksonville Jaguars8762.151%41+1.7
12Daniel CarlsonLas Vegas Raiders8763.066%29+1.6
13Matthew WrightPittsburgh Steelers3563.643%20+1.3
14Joey SlyeWashington Commanders7464.681%14+1.3
15Cameron DickerLos Angeles Chargers5564.084%9+1.2
16Graham GanoNew York Giants7964.063%29+0.9
17Brett MaherDallas Cowboys10064.778%21+0.5
18Matt PraterArizona Cardinals4864.371%14+0.3
19Robbie GouldSan Francisco 49ers9562.649%47+0.2
20Jack FoxDetroit Lions6663.770%200.0
21Chris BoswellPittsburgh Steelers4961.943%27−0.2
22Bradley PinionAtlanta Falcons8064.374%21−0.7
23Greg ZuerleinNew York Jets5664.184%9−1.1
24Jake ElliottPhiladelphia Eagles9264.168%29−1.2
25Justin TuckerBaltimore Ravens8663.470%26−1.7
26Mason CrosbyGreen Bay Packers7361.521%58−1.7
27Cairo SantosChicago Bears4764.460%18−2.0
28Jake CamardaTampa Bay Buccaneers7563.953%34−2.1
29Evan McPhersonCincinnati Bengals8962.557%37−2.3
30Wil LutzNew Orleans Saints7163.468%23−2.5
31Matt GayLos Angeles Rams7663.680%15−4.2
32Greg JosephMinnesota Vikings8864.061%34−8.7
33Jason SandersMiami Dolphins8564.172%24−9.5
34Nick FolkNew England Patriots3259.99%28−16.8

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 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016

Other 2022 NFL Rankings

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