2024 NFL Average Kickoff Return Allowed Leaders

Return yards divided by returns. It shows how well his kicks and coverage contain returners.

Lower is better. Only specialists with enough returns are ranked. In 2024, Eddy Pineiro (22.6) topped NFL kickoff specialists in average kickoff return allowed, ahead of Jake Moody (23.3) and Zane Gonzalez (23.7). 37 kickoff specialists qualify (minimum 10 returns). The median qualified kickoff specialist had 27.4.

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 ret	Kickoffs	Avg dist	TB%	Returns	Points
1	Eddy Pineiro	Carolina Panthers	22.6	72	61.9	44%	40	+1.3
2	Jake Moody	San Francisco 49ers	23.3	67	63.3	73%	18	−1.6
3	Zane Gonzalez	Washington Commanders	23.7	32	62.9	31%	22	+8.2
4	Joey Slye	New England Patriots	24.0	68	63.6	68%	22	+5.8
5	Daniel Carlson	Las Vegas Raiders	24.5	75	64.0	68%	24	+1.8
6	Will Reichard	Minnesota Vikings	24.6	74	63.8	84%	11	+2.4
7	Anders Carlson	New York Jets	24.9	36	62.4	36%	22	+13.5
8	Evan McPherson	Cincinnati Bengals	24.9	67	64.6	81%	13	+1.0
9	Jason Sanders	Miami Dolphins	25.2	84	64.3	79%	17	−1.3
10	Bradley Pinion	Atlanta Falcons	25.6	75	64.1	76%	17	+1.0
11	Brandon Aubrey	Dallas Cowboys	25.8	85	62.5	51%	41	−0.4
12	Brayden Narveson	Green Bay Packers	26.0	38	64.3	47%	20	+1.5
13	Jack Browning	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	26.0	29	64.0	66%	10	+1.2
14	Blake Grupe	New Orleans Saints	26.0	78	63.8	27%	57	+6.8
15	Harrison Butker	Kansas City Chiefs	26.3	62	64.3	79%	13	−0.3
16	Cameron Dicker	Los Angeles Chargers	26.5	93	64.0	70%	28	−4.1
17	Ka'imi Fairbairn	Houston Texans	26.8	86	62.9	49%	42	+2.8
18	Austin Seibert	Washington Commanders	27.1	58	63.0	24%	44	−2.5
19	Cam Little	Jacksonville Jaguars	27.4	75	64.7	87%	10	+2.1
20	Wil Lutz	Denver Broncos	27.5	93	64.5	75%	22	0.0
21	Cairo Santos	Chicago Bears	27.5	69	64.5	55%	31	+1.5
22	Justin Tucker	Baltimore Ravens	27.5	94	64.5	72%	26	−0.5
23	Brandon McManus	Green Bay Packers	27.7	60	64.3	45%	33	0.0
24	Jason Myers	Seattle Seahawks	27.9	86	64.2	53%	40	−4.5
25	Braden Mann	Philadelphia Eagles	27.9	86	63.5	66%	28	−5.2
26	Dustin Hopkins	Cleveland Browns	28.0	61	64.0	59%	25	+5.0
27	Greg Joseph	New York Giants	28.4	38	63.5	63%	14	−2.3
28	Graham Gano	New York Giants	28.4	35	64.0	69%	11	+0.2
29	Younghoe Koo	Atlanta Falcons	28.7	15	64.6	33%	10	−1.6
30	Chris Boswell	Pittsburgh Steelers	28.9	90	63.5	54%	40	−6.9
31	Chad Ryland	Arizona Cardinals	29.0	67	65.3	81%	13	0.0
32	Ethan Evans	Los Angeles Rams	29.1	78	65.1	85%	12	−2.3
33	Tyler Bass	Buffalo Bills	29.6	102	63.8	74%	26	−5.3
34	Jake Bates	Detroit Lions	30.8	108	65.1	79%	23	−1.0
35	Nick Folk	Tennessee Titans	32.2	57	64.1	65%	20	−0.8
36	Matthew Wright	Kansas City Chiefs	34.2	20	61.7	15%	16	−2.6
37	Matt Gay	Indianapolis Colts	34.8	81	65.1	84%	13	−6.7

All 2024 NFL kickoff specialist rankings

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

More 2024 NFL kickoff specialist leaderboards

Other 2024 NFL rankings

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