2025 NFL Kickoff Touchback Percentage Leaders

The share of a kickoff specialist's kickoffs that were touchbacks. High means power; whether it is good depends on the rules and the coach's plan.

Fewer is better: since 2024 an NFL touchback gives the receiving team the ball at its 30 (its 35 from 2025), so kickers aim short of the goal line and let the play be returned. Only specialists with enough kickoffs are ranked. In 2025, Mike Badgley (2%) topped NFL kickoff specialists in kickoff touchback percentage, ahead of Chris Boswell (8%) and Austin McNamara (9%). 36 kickoff specialists qualify (minimum 30 kickoffs). The median qualified kickoff specialist had 19%.

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.

Rk	Player	Team	TB%	Kickoffs	Avg dist	Returns	Points
1	Mike Badgley	Indianapolis Colts	2%	45	59.0	44	+3.1
2	Chris Boswell	Pittsburgh Steelers	8%	86	60.3	78	+11.0
3	Austin McNamara	New York Jets	9%	43	59.3	38	−0.9
4	Tyler Loop	Baltimore Ravens	11%	93	57.1	79	−1.0
5	Evan McPherson	Cincinnati Bengals	13%	86	62.0	75	+0.3
6	Matt Prater	Buffalo Bills	13%	84	60.6	72	−3.5
7	Jamie Gillan	New York Giants	13%	38	58.5	32	+3.8
8	Ryan Fitzgerald	Carolina Panthers	14%	71	58.6	61	+11.8
9	Blake Grupe	New Orleans Saints	14%	70	60.9	60	−4.3
10	Harrison Butker	Kansas City Chiefs	15%	86	61.1	72	+5.1
11	Jake Elliott	Philadelphia Eagles	16%	81	60.1	68	+4.0
12	Brandon Aubrey	Dallas Cowboys	17%	100	59.9	81	−2.7
13	Jake Bates	Detroit Lions	17%	98	60.7	78	−0.1
14	Jason Myers	Seattle Seahawks	17%	103	61.1	84	+25.7
15	Cameron Dicker	Los Angeles Chargers	18%	90	61.2	72	−2.8
16	Riley Patterson	Miami Dolphins	18%	77	60.4	62	−0.9
17	Will Reichard	Minnesota Vikings	18%	82	60.8	66	−0.9
18	Daniel Carlson	Las Vegas Raiders	18%	60	60.6	49	−8.0
19	Andre Szmyt	Cleveland Browns	20%	65	61.0	52	−5.2
20	Eddy Pineiro	San Francisco 49ers	20%	79	60.8	62	−1.1
21	Brandon McManus	Green Bay Packers	22%	69	62.3	53	+2.0
22	Cairo Santos	Chicago Bears	23%	79	60.7	59	−1.0
23	Matt Gay	Washington Commanders	24%	55	60.5	40	+6.9
24	Jake Moody	Washington Commanders	24%	42	60.8	31	+5.8
25	Wil Lutz	Denver Broncos	24%	88	62.0	65	−2.2
26	Bradley Pinion	Atlanta Falcons	25%	40	62.8	30	−4.9
27	Chad Ryland	Arizona Cardinals	25%	79	60.7	59	−12.2
28	Joey Slye	Tennessee Titans	25%	67	60.4	46	+2.2
29	Ka'imi Fairbairn	Houston Texans	26%	86	62.8	64	+6.1
30	Chase McLaughlin	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	26%	82	61.3	61	−13.9
31	Andy Borregales	New England Patriots	26%	95	60.5	70	−5.7
32	Joshua Karty	Los Angeles Rams	31%	36	59.5	25	+9.6
33	Zane Gonzalez	Atlanta Falcons	32%	38	59.2	25	−11.4
34	Cam Little	Jacksonville Jaguars	39%	96	61.6	57	+2.7
35	Charlie Smyth	New Orleans Saints	52%	31	61.2	15	−3.8
36	Ethan Evans	Los Angeles Rams	75%	61	64.2	15	−4.4

All 2025 NFL kickoff specialist rankings

Kickoff Touchback Percentage in other seasons: 2026 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

More 2025 NFL kickoff specialist leaderboards

Other 2025 NFL rankings

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