2026 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 2026, Nick Folk (0%) topped NFL kickoff specialists in kickoff touchback percentage, ahead of Chase McLaughlin (6%) and Tyler Bass (7%). 33 kickoff specialists qualify (minimum 12 kickoffs). The median qualified kickoff specialist had 15%. 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	TB%	Kickoffs	Avg dist	Returns	Points
1	Nick Folk	Atlanta Falcons	0%	29	61.1	29	−0.5
2	Chase McLaughlin	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	6%	32	61.3	30	+6.5
3	Tyler Bass	Buffalo Bills	7%	41	60.8	38	−0.1
4	Wil Lutz	Denver Broncos	7%	27	58.7	24	−1.2
5	Will Reichard	Minnesota Vikings	7%	27	61.1	25	+6.9
6	Jake Elliott	Philadelphia Eagles	9%	23	60.5	21	−1.0
7	Rigoberto Sanchez	Indianapolis Colts	9%	23	59.5	21	+2.5
8	Andy Borregales	New England Patriots	9%	33	60.3	30	−2.1
9	Cam Little	Jacksonville Jaguars	9%	32	61.6	29	−4.5
10	Dominic Zvada	New York Giants	10%	29	61.9	26	+6.5
11	Matt Gay	Las Vegas Raiders	13%	31	59.5	26	−2.1
12	Harrison Butker	Kansas City Chiefs	13%	30	61.5	26	+3.4
13	Jake Bates	Detroit Lions	13%	30	61.2	26	+2.2
14	Evan McPherson	Cincinnati Bengals	14%	29	60.7	25	+1.2
15	Trey Smack	Green Bay Packers	14%	29	60.9	25	−6.1
16	Spencer Shrader	Indianapolis Colts	14%	14	61.2	12	−0.2
17	Andre Szmyt	Cleveland Browns	15%	27	60.6	23	−1.7
18	Brandon Aubrey	Dallas Cowboys	16%	32	56.9	25	+5.3
19	Cairo Santos	Chicago Bears	16%	38	58.7	32	+8.2
20	Chris Boswell	Pittsburgh Steelers	16%	31	62.2	26	−5.1
21	Drew Stevens	Washington Commanders	17%	30	60.7	24	−3.5
22	Harrison Mevis	Los Angeles Rams	17%	24	60.0	19	−4.2
23	Eddy Pineiro	San Francisco 49ers	18%	34	61.4	28	−1.8
24	Jason Myers	Seattle Seahawks	21%	34	61.1	27	−2.3
25	Jason Sanders	New York Jets	21%	28	61.0	22	+1.9
26	Ka'imi Fairbairn	Houston Texans	22%	32	62.3	25	−6.0
27	Ryan Fitzgerald	Carolina Panthers	22%	32	61.0	25	+11.5
28	Cameron Dicker	Los Angeles Chargers	23%	22	61.9	17	−2.6
29	Daniel Carlson	New Orleans Saints	23%	30	60.0	23	+12.6
30	Chad Ryland	Arizona Cardinals	25%	28	62.2	20	−2.7
31	Riley Patterson	Miami Dolphins	25%	16	60.3	12	−7.4
32	Tyler Loop	Baltimore Ravens	30%	30	62.8	21	−4.0
33	Joey Slye	Tennessee Titans	35%	20	56.4	12	−3.6

All 2026 NFL kickoff specialist rankings

Kickoff Touchback Percentage in other seasons: 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

More 2026 NFL kickoff specialist leaderboards

Other 2026 NFL rankings

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