2026 NFL Kickoff Touchbacks Leaders

Kickoffs that reached the end zone and were kept there, giving the receiving team the ball at its own 25, 30 or 35, depending on the league and the rule that season. A touchback avoids a return but gives up field position.

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

All 2026 NFL kickoff specialist rankings

Kickoff Touchbacks 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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