2024 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 2024, Tommy Townsend (4.8) topped NFL punters in average punt return allowed, ahead of Tress Way (6.2) and Jack Fox (6.4). 32 punters qualify (minimum 10 returns). The median qualified punter had 9.2.
Final 2024 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.
| Rk | Player | Team | Avg ret | Punts | Avg | Net | In 20 | In 20 % | TB % | FC % | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tommy Townsend | Houston Texans | 4.8 | 77 | 48.0 | 44.0 | 39 | 51% | 9% | 30% | +14.8 |
| 2 | Tress Way | Washington Commanders | 6.2 | 50 | 46.9 | 43.1 | 22 | 44% | 4% | 24% | +9.3 |
| 3 | Jack Fox | Detroit Lions | 6.4 | 45 | 51.0 | 46.2 | 22 | 49% | 9% | 31% | +9.3 |
| 4 | Corliss Waitman | Pittsburgh Steelers | 6.6 | 65 | 46.4 | 41.9 | 27 | 42% | 8% | 25% | +23.2 |
| 5 | Ryan Wright | Minnesota Vikings | 6.8 | 57 | 46.5 | 40.6 | 27 | 47% | 9% | 18% | −5.2 |
| 6 | Johnny Hekker | Carolina Panthers | 6.8 | 74 | 45.7 | 41.9 | 24 | 32% | 4% | 27% | −3.5 |
| 7 | Braden Mann | Philadelphia Eagles | 7.5 | 55 | 48.8 | 42.1 | 20 | 36% | 13% | 15% | +1.5 |
| 8 | Matthew Hayball | New Orleans Saints | 7.6 | 75 | 44.0 | 40.4 | 41 | 55% | 4% | 36% | −15.4 |
| 9 | Jordan Stout | Baltimore Ravens | 7.8 | 55 | 46.4 | 41.2 | 22 | 40% | 11% | 29% | +1.2 |
| 10 | Jamie Gillan | New York Giants | 7.9 | 56 | 43.7 | 40.6 | 27 | 48% | 4% | 45% | +2.4 |
| 11 | Riley Dixon | Denver Broncos | 8.7 | 77 | 46.7 | 42.2 | 33 | 43% | 6% | 31% | +9.8 |
| 12 | Ryan Rehkow | Cincinnati Bengals | 8.8 | 53 | 49.1 | 42.9 | 25 | 47% | 9% | 30% | +7.0 |
| 13 | Thomas Morstead | New York Jets | 8.8 | 63 | 47.2 | 40.9 | 19 | 30% | 11% | 24% | +2.4 |
| 14 | Logan Cooke | Jacksonville Jaguars | 9.0 | 68 | 49.4 | 44.8 | 34 | 50% | 4% | 28% | +16.3 |
| 15 | Ethan Evans | Los Angeles Rams | 9.0 | 55 | 46.0 | 41.7 | 30 | 55% | 4% | 18% | −5.8 |
| 16 | Michael Dickson | Seattle Seahawks | 9.2 | 76 | 49.4 | 43.3 | 31 | 41% | 12% | 29% | +8.2 |
| 17 | Sam Martin | Buffalo Bills | 9.3 | 55 | 46.7 | 40.2 | 25 | 45% | 9% | 24% | −7.6 |
| 18 | J.K. Scott | Los Angeles Chargers | 9.6 | 72 | 46.7 | 41.9 | 28 | 39% | 6% | 33% | −9.5 |
| 19 | Trenton Gill | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 9.8 | 27 | 43.3 | 38.9 | 9 | 33% | 4% | 30% | +8.1 |
| 20 | Pat O'Donnell | San Francisco 49ers | 10.1 | 24 | 45.1 | 40.0 | 8 | 33% | 4% | 33% | −3.3 |
| 21 | Matt Araiza | Kansas City Chiefs | 10.1 | 62 | 48.8 | 41.8 | 25 | 40% | 15% | 34% | +2.6 |
| 22 | Tory Taylor | Chicago Bears | 10.3 | 82 | 47.7 | 41.6 | 34 | 41% | 5% | 28% | +5.4 |
| 23 | Bryan Anger | Dallas Cowboys | 10.3 | 62 | 48.5 | 42.0 | 24 | 39% | 5% | 32% | −1.0 |
| 24 | Jake Bailey | Miami Dolphins | 10.5 | 57 | 47.1 | 40.5 | 22 | 39% | 9% | 20% | −5.0 |
| 25 | AJ Cole | Las Vegas Raiders | 11.3 | 67 | 50.8 | 42.5 | 27 | 40% | 12% | 22% | −14.4 |
| 26 | Blake Gillikin | Arizona Cardinals | 11.4 | 38 | 49.7 | 44.3 | 19 | 50% | 3% | 34% | +1.6 |
| 27 | Daniel Whelan | Green Bay Packers | 11.4 | 56 | 46.1 | 40.2 | 22 | 39% | 9% | 30% | +7.0 |
| 28 | Rigoberto Sanchez | Indianapolis Colts | 12.7 | 68 | 49.7 | 42.6 | 27 | 40% | 6% | 37% | −5.2 |
| 29 | Bryce Baringer | New England Patriots | 12.7 | 70 | 49.8 | 41.7 | 31 | 44% | 11% | 24% | +4.6 |
| 30 | Corey Bojorquez | Cleveland Browns | 13.3 | 89 | 49.3 | 41.8 | 36 | 40% | 8% | 19% | +5.1 |
| 31 | Bradley Pinion | Atlanta Falcons | 13.9 | 47 | 47.0 | 38.8 | 14 | 30% | 9% | 30% | −5.8 |
| 32 | Ryan Stonehouse | Tennessee Titans | 13.9 | 75 | 50.6 | 38.6 | 22 | 29% | 10% | 12% | −20.6 |
Average Punt Return Allowed in other seasons: 2026 2025 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
More 2024 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 2024 NFL rankings
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