2024 NFL Average Kickoff Distance Leaders

The average length of a specialist's kickoffs in yards, from the kicking spot to where the ball was caught or crossed the goal line. Onside kicks are left out.

A touchback counts the full distance to the goal line, so a deep kick and a kick into the end zone score the same. In 2024, Chad Ryland (65.3) led NFL kickoff specialists in average kickoff distance, ahead of Jake Bates (65.1) and Matt Gay (65.1). 37 kickoff specialists qualify (minimum 30 kickoffs). The median qualified kickoff specialist had 64.0.

NFL rule in 2024: a kickoff touchback started the receiving team at its 30, so kickers began aiming short of the goal line and fewer touchbacks was better. Kickoff Points Added accounts for the rule, so it is the fair way to compare kickoff specialists across leagues and seasons.

Final 2024 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

Rk	Player	Team	Avg dist	Kickoffs	TB%	Returns	Points
1	Chad Ryland	Arizona Cardinals	65.3	67	81%	13	0.0
2	Jake Bates	Detroit Lions	65.1	108	79%	23	−1.0
3	Matt Gay	Indianapolis Colts	65.1	81	84%	13	−6.7
4	Ethan Evans	Los Angeles Rams	65.1	78	85%	12	−2.3
5	Cam Little	Jacksonville Jaguars	64.7	75	87%	10	+2.1
6	Evan McPherson	Cincinnati Bengals	64.6	67	81%	13	+1.0
7	Wil Lutz	Denver Broncos	64.5	93	75%	22	0.0
8	Justin Tucker	Baltimore Ravens	64.5	94	72%	26	−0.5
9	Cairo Santos	Chicago Bears	64.5	69	55%	31	+1.5
10	Harrison Butker	Kansas City Chiefs	64.3	62	79%	13	−0.3
11	Brayden Narveson	Green Bay Packers	64.3	38	47%	20	+1.5
12	Brandon McManus	Green Bay Packers	64.3	60	45%	33	0.0
13	Jason Sanders	Miami Dolphins	64.3	84	79%	17	−1.3
14	Jason Myers	Seattle Seahawks	64.2	86	53%	40	−4.5
15	Greg Zuerlein	New York Jets	64.2	33	85%	5	+1.1
16	Nick Folk	Tennessee Titans	64.1	57	65%	20	−0.8
17	Bradley Pinion	Atlanta Falcons	64.1	75	76%	17	+1.0
18	Daniel Carlson	Las Vegas Raiders	64.0	75	68%	24	+1.8
19	Cameron Dicker	Los Angeles Chargers	64.0	93	70%	28	−4.1
20	Graham Gano	New York Giants	64.0	35	69%	11	+0.2
21	Dustin Hopkins	Cleveland Browns	64.0	61	59%	25	+5.0
22	Trenton Gill	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	63.8	46	83%	8	−2.6
23	Will Reichard	Minnesota Vikings	63.8	74	84%	11	+2.4
24	Blake Grupe	New Orleans Saints	63.8	78	27%	57	+6.8
25	Tyler Bass	Buffalo Bills	63.8	102	74%	26	−5.3
26	Joey Slye	New England Patriots	63.6	68	68%	22	+5.8
27	Greg Joseph	New York Giants	63.5	38	63%	14	−2.3
28	Chris Boswell	Pittsburgh Steelers	63.5	90	54%	40	−6.9
29	Braden Mann	Philadelphia Eagles	63.5	86	66%	28	−5.2
30	Jake Moody	San Francisco 49ers	63.3	67	73%	18	−1.6
31	Austin Seibert	Washington Commanders	63.0	58	24%	44	−2.5
32	Ka'imi Fairbairn	Houston Texans	62.9	86	49%	42	+2.8
33	Zane Gonzalez	Washington Commanders	62.9	32	31%	22	+8.2
34	Brandon Aubrey	Dallas Cowboys	62.5	85	51%	41	−0.4
35	Anders Carlson	New York Jets	62.4	36	36%	22	+13.5
36	Cade York	Cincinnati Bengals	61.9	31	68%	9	−0.1
37	Eddy Pineiro	Carolina Panthers	61.9	72	44%	40	+1.3

All 2024 NFL kickoff specialist rankings

Average Kickoff Distance in other seasons: 2026 2025 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

More 2024 NFL kickoff specialist leaderboards

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