2026 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 2026, Tyler Loop (62.8) led NFL kickoff specialists in average kickoff distance, ahead of Ka'imi Fairbairn (62.3) and Chris Boswell (62.2). 33 kickoff specialists qualify (minimum 12 kickoffs). The median qualified kickoff specialist had 61.0. This season is in progress (through Week 7), so the numbers change each week.

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.

Data through Week 7 of the 2026 season, updated October 24, 2026.

Rk	Player	Team	Avg dist	Kickoffs	TB%	Returns	Points
1	Tyler Loop	Baltimore Ravens	62.8	30	30%	21	−4.0
2	Ka'imi Fairbairn	Houston Texans	62.3	32	22%	25	−6.0
3	Chris Boswell	Pittsburgh Steelers	62.2	31	16%	26	−5.1
4	Chad Ryland	Arizona Cardinals	62.2	28	25%	20	−2.7
5	Cameron Dicker	Los Angeles Chargers	61.9	22	23%	17	−2.6
6	Dominic Zvada	New York Giants	61.9	29	10%	26	+6.5
7	Cam Little	Jacksonville Jaguars	61.6	32	9%	29	−4.5
8	Harrison Butker	Kansas City Chiefs	61.5	30	13%	26	+3.4
9	Eddy Pineiro	San Francisco 49ers	61.4	34	18%	28	−1.8
10	Chase McLaughlin	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	61.3	32	6%	30	+6.5
11	Spencer Shrader	Indianapolis Colts	61.2	14	14%	12	−0.2
12	Jake Bates	Detroit Lions	61.2	30	13%	26	+2.2
13	Nick Folk	Atlanta Falcons	61.1	29	0%	29	−0.5
14	Jason Myers	Seattle Seahawks	61.1	34	21%	27	−2.3
15	Will Reichard	Minnesota Vikings	61.1	27	7%	25	+6.9
16	Jason Sanders	New York Jets	61.0	28	21%	22	+1.9
17	Ryan Fitzgerald	Carolina Panthers	61.0	32	22%	25	+11.5
18	Trey Smack	Green Bay Packers	60.9	29	14%	25	−6.1
19	Tyler Bass	Buffalo Bills	60.8	41	7%	38	−0.1
20	Drew Stevens	Washington Commanders	60.7	30	17%	24	−3.5
21	Evan McPherson	Cincinnati Bengals	60.7	29	14%	25	+1.2
22	Andre Szmyt	Cleveland Browns	60.6	27	15%	23	−1.7
23	Jake Elliott	Philadelphia Eagles	60.5	23	9%	21	−1.0
24	Andy Borregales	New England Patriots	60.3	33	9%	30	−2.1
25	Riley Patterson	Miami Dolphins	60.3	16	25%	12	−7.4
26	Daniel Carlson	New Orleans Saints	60.0	30	23%	23	+12.6
27	Harrison Mevis	Los Angeles Rams	60.0	24	17%	19	−4.2
28	Rigoberto Sanchez	Indianapolis Colts	59.5	23	9%	21	+2.5
29	Matt Gay	Las Vegas Raiders	59.5	31	13%	26	−2.1
30	Wil Lutz	Denver Broncos	58.7	27	7%	24	−1.2
31	Cairo Santos	Chicago Bears	58.7	38	16%	32	+8.2
32	Brandon Aubrey	Dallas Cowboys	56.9	32	16%	25	+5.3
33	Joey Slye	Tennessee Titans	56.4	20	35%	12	−3.6

All 2026 NFL kickoff specialist rankings

Average Kickoff Distance in other seasons: 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

More 2026 NFL kickoff specialist leaderboards

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