2023 NFL Average Punt Return Allowed Leaders
Return yards allowed divided by punts returned. It shows how well a punter and his coverage team contain returners.
Lower is better. Only punters with enough returns are ranked. In 2023, Lou Hedley (5.6) topped NFL punters in average punt return allowed, ahead of Riley Dixon (6.3) and Logan Cooke (6.5). 32 punters qualify (minimum 10 returns). The median qualified punter had 9.7.
Final 2023 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.
| Rk | Player | Team | Avg ret | Punts | Avg | Net | In 20 | In 20 % | TB % | FC % | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lou Hedley | New Orleans Saints | 5.6 | 75 | 43.0 | 39.7 | 31 | 41% | 5% | 32% | −8.8 |
| 2 | Riley Dixon | Denver Broncos | 6.3 | 79 | 46.3 | 42.3 | 27 | 34% | 8% | 34% | +8.5 |
| 3 | Logan Cooke | Jacksonville Jaguars | 6.5 | 61 | 47.4 | 43.8 | 29 | 48% | 7% | 36% | +17.4 |
| 4 | Johnny Hekker | Carolina Panthers | 6.8 | 82 | 46.8 | 43.0 | 25 | 30% | 6% | 32% | +10.0 |
| 5 | Michael Dickson | Seattle Seahawks | 6.8 | 66 | 50.0 | 44.1 | 25 | 38% | 12% | 18% | +4.3 |
| 6 | Jamie Gillan | New York Giants | 6.9 | 95 | 46.0 | 42.3 | 35 | 37% | 4% | 38% | +6.2 |
| 7 | Brad Robbins | Cincinnati Bengals | 7.0 | 76 | 44.3 | 40.3 | 20 | 26% | 7% | 34% | −2.4 |
| 8 | Cameron Johnston | Houston Texans | 7.0 | 66 | 47.7 | 44.0 | 30 | 45% | 5% | 38% | +6.2 |
| 9 | J.K. Scott | Los Angeles Chargers | 7.9 | 75 | 46.3 | 42.3 | 30 | 40% | 5% | 41% | +0.3 |
| 10 | Tress Way | Washington Commanders | 8.0 | 75 | 46.0 | 40.7 | 30 | 40% | 3% | 34% | −6.7 |
| 11 | Jack Fox | Detroit Lions | 8.0 | 57 | 46.4 | 41.7 | 26 | 46% | 9% | 35% | −8.4 |
| 12 | Braden Mann | Philadelphia Eagles | 8.8 | 44 | 49.8 | 43.9 | 15 | 34% | 2% | 11% | +0.3 |
| 13 | A.J. Cole | Las Vegas Raiders | 9.1 | 75 | 50.4 | 45.1 | 34 | 45% | 8% | 27% | +3.2 |
| 14 | Rigoberto Sanchez | Indianapolis Colts | 9.5 | 69 | 48.3 | 42.3 | 21 | 30% | 0% | 19% | −8.1 |
| 15 | Ryan Wright | Minnesota Vikings | 9.6 | 59 | 48.7 | 41.9 | 16 | 27% | 12% | 27% | −4.3 |
| 16 | Pressley Harvin | Pittsburgh Steelers | 9.7 | 78 | 43.8 | 39.2 | 30 | 38% | 8% | 33% | −17.4 |
| 17 | Corey Bojorquez | Cleveland Browns | 9.8 | 87 | 49.4 | 42.5 | 31 | 36% | 10% | 18% | +10.2 |
| 18 | Bryce Baringer | New England Patriots | 10.0 | 98 | 46.9 | 40.8 | 38 | 39% | 8% | 24% | −11.6 |
| 19 | Mitch Wishnowsky | San Francisco 49ers | 10.0 | 52 | 47.7 | 42.7 | 26 | 50% | 4% | 25% | +6.7 |
| 20 | Bryan Anger | Dallas Cowboys | 10.3 | 44 | 51.4 | 44.9 | 17 | 39% | 5% | 30% | +1.6 |
| 21 | Tommy Townsend | Kansas City Chiefs | 10.3 | 59 | 47.1 | 41.8 | 20 | 34% | 8% | 34% | −2.5 |
| 22 | Blake Gillikin | Arizona Cardinals | 11.0 | 51 | 50.6 | 43.6 | 11 | 22% | 4% | 18% | +14.5 |
| 23 | Ryan Stonehouse | Tennessee Titans | 11.0 | 54 | 53.1 | 43.9 | 28 | 52% | 19% | 13% | +2.9 |
| 24 | Thomas Morstead | New York Jets | 11.1 | 99 | 48.8 | 41.8 | 36 | 36% | 8% | 28% | +10.9 |
| 25 | Bradley Pinion | Atlanta Falcons | 11.4 | 75 | 47.0 | 41.5 | 27 | 36% | 4% | 32% | −2.4 |
| 26 | Daniel Whelan | Green Bay Packers | 11.7 | 57 | 46.2 | 39.7 | 18 | 32% | 9% | 39% | −2.4 |
| 27 | Jake Camarda | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 12.0 | 77 | 50.1 | 41.8 | 26 | 34% | 12% | 13% | −3.4 |
| 28 | Jake Bailey | Miami Dolphins | 12.2 | 53 | 45.7 | 40.7 | 20 | 38% | 6% | 36% | +7.5 |
| 29 | Sam Martin | Buffalo Bills | 12.5 | 51 | 45.8 | 39.9 | 24 | 47% | 6% | 33% | −1.9 |
| 30 | Trenton Gill | Chicago Bears | 12.7 | 67 | 46.1 | 38.0 | 18 | 27% | 12% | 19% | −19.0 |
| 31 | Jordan Stout | Baltimore Ravens | 13.5 | 67 | 47.8 | 39.2 | 28 | 42% | 8% | 26% | +12.2 |
| 32 | Ethan Evans | Los Angeles Rams | 15.5 | 64 | 49.2 | 38.5 | 20 | 31% | 11% | 19% | −22.4 |
Average Punt Return Allowed in other seasons: 2026 2025 2024 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
More 2023 NFL punter leaderboards
- Punts
- Punting Yards
- Gross Punting Average
- Net Punting Average
- Punts Inside the 20
- Inside the 20 Percentage
- Longest Punts
- Punt Touchbacks
- Fair Catches Forced
- Punts Downed
- Punts Out of Bounds
- Punts Returned
- Punt Return Yards Allowed
- Blocked Punts
- Punt Points Added
- Punt Points per 100 Punts
- Fair Catch Percentage
- Punt Touchback Percentage
- Touchbacks Avoided (STOP Rank)
- Punts Out of Bounds Percentage
- Punts Downed Percentage
- Punt Return Percentage
- Return Yards Allowed per Punt
- Opponent Starting Field Position
- Punts Inside the 10
- Punts of 50+ Yards
- 50+ Yard Punt Percentage
- Inside-20 to Touchback Ratio
- Net Average in Opponent Territory
- Net Average in Cold Weather
- Net Average in Wind
Other 2023 NFL rankings
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