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2025 NFL Kickoff Specialist Rankings

Every NFL kickoff specialist with enough work in the 2025 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 since 2025: a kickoff touchback starts the receiving team at its 35, so kickers aim for the landing zone short of the goal line and fewer touchbacks is better. Kickoff Points Added accounts for the rule, so it is the fair way to compare kickoff specialists across leagues and seasons.

Final 2025 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.

2025 NFL Leaders

Kickoff Touchback Percentage

  1. Mike Badgley (Indianapolis Colts): 2% 1 of 45
  2. Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers): 8% 7 of 86
  3. Austin McNamara (New York Jets): 9% 4 of 43
  4. Tyler Loop (Baltimore Ravens): 11% 10 of 93
  5. Evan McPherson (Cincinnati Bengals): 13% 11 of 86

Full Kickoff Touchback Percentage leaderboard

Average Kickoff Return Allowed

  1. Joshua Karty (Los Angeles Rams): 17.0 25 returns
  2. Ethan Evans (Los Angeles Rams): 20.9 15 returns
  3. Jamie Gillan (New York Giants): 21.8 32 returns
  4. Ryan Fitzgerald (Carolina Panthers): 22.2 61 returns
  5. Matt Gay (Washington Commanders): 22.8 40 returns

Full Average Kickoff Return Allowed leaderboard

Kickoff Points Added

  1. Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks): +25.7 103 kickoffs
  2. Ryan Fitzgerald (Carolina Panthers): +11.8 71 kickoffs
  3. Chris Boswell (Pittsburgh Steelers): +11.0 86 kickoffs
  4. Joshua Karty (Los Angeles Rams): +9.6 36 kickoffs
  5. Matt Gay (Washington Commanders): +6.9 55 kickoffs

Full Kickoff Points Added leaderboard

Average Kickoff Distance

  1. Ethan Evans (Los Angeles Rams): 64.2 61 kickoffs
  2. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): 62.8 86 kickoffs
  3. Bradley Pinion (Atlanta Falcons): 62.8 40 kickoffs
  4. Brandon McManus (Green Bay Packers): 62.3 69 kickoffs
  5. Evan McPherson (Cincinnati Bengals): 62.0 86 kickoffs

Full Average Kickoff Distance leaderboard

Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage

  1. Andy Borregales (New England Patriots): 0.0% 0 of 95
  2. Evan McPherson (Cincinnati Bengals): 0.0% 0 of 86
  3. Ka'imi Fairbairn (Houston Texans): 0.0% 0 of 86
  4. Chase McLaughlin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 0.0% 0 of 82
  5. Jake Elliott (Philadelphia Eagles): 0.0% 0 of 81

Full Kickoff Out of Bounds Percentage leaderboard

30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed

  1. Joshua Karty (Los Angeles Rams): 8.0% 2 of 25
  2. Jason Myers (Seattle Seahawks): 9.5% 8 of 84
  3. Matt Gay (Washington Commanders): 10.0% 4 of 40
  4. Mike Badgley (Indianapolis Colts): 13.6% 6 of 44
  5. Ryan Fitzgerald (Carolina Panthers): 14.8% 9 of 61

Full 30+ Yard Return Percentage Allowed leaderboard

All 2025 NFL Kickoff Specialist Leaderboards

Kickoffs by Points Added

36 kickoff specialists qualify.

RkPlayerTeamKickoffsAvg distTB%ReturnsPoints
1Jason MyersSeattle Seahawks10361.117%84+25.7
2Ryan FitzgeraldCarolina Panthers7158.614%61+11.8
3Chris BoswellPittsburgh Steelers8660.38%78+11.0
4Joshua KartyLos Angeles Rams3659.531%25+9.6
5Matt GayWashington Commanders5560.524%40+6.9
6Ka'imi FairbairnHouston Texans8662.826%64+6.1
7Jake MoodyWashington Commanders4260.824%31+5.8
8Harrison ButkerKansas City Chiefs8661.115%72+5.1
9Jake ElliottPhiladelphia Eagles8160.116%68+4.0
10Jamie GillanNew York Giants3858.513%32+3.8
11Mike BadgleyIndianapolis Colts4559.02%44+3.1
12Cam LittleJacksonville Jaguars9661.639%57+2.7
13Joey SlyeTennessee Titans6760.425%46+2.2
14Brandon McManusGreen Bay Packers6962.322%53+2.0
15Evan McPhersonCincinnati Bengals8662.013%75+0.3
16Jake BatesDetroit Lions9860.717%78−0.1
17Riley PattersonMiami Dolphins7760.418%62−0.9
18Will ReichardMinnesota Vikings8260.818%66−0.9
19Austin McNamaraNew York Jets4359.39%38−0.9
20Cairo SantosChicago Bears7960.723%59−1.0
21Tyler LoopBaltimore Ravens9357.111%79−1.0
22Eddy PineiroSan Francisco 49ers7960.820%62−1.1
23Wil LutzDenver Broncos8862.024%65−2.2
24Brandon AubreyDallas Cowboys10059.917%81−2.7
25Cameron DickerLos Angeles Chargers9061.218%72−2.8
26Matt PraterBuffalo Bills8460.613%72−3.5
27Charlie SmythNew Orleans Saints3161.252%15−3.8
28Blake GrupeNew Orleans Saints7060.914%60−4.3
29Ethan EvansLos Angeles Rams6164.275%15−4.4
30Bradley PinionAtlanta Falcons4062.825%30−4.9
31Andre SzmytCleveland Browns6561.020%52−5.2
32Andy BorregalesNew England Patriots9560.526%70−5.7
33Daniel CarlsonLas Vegas Raiders6060.618%49−8.0
34Zane GonzalezAtlanta Falcons3859.232%25−11.4
35Chad RylandArizona Cardinals7960.725%59−12.2
36Chase McLaughlinTampa Bay Buccaneers8261.326%61−13.9

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 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016

Other 2025 NFL Rankings

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