2024 NFL Return Yards Allowed per Punt Leaders
Total return yards allowed divided by every punt that was not blocked, so a fair catch or an out-of-bounds punt counts as zero. College punts whose play text records no outcome are left out. It is the fairest single measure of how much a returner gets to work with.
Lowest comes first. Coverage teams share the credit. In 2024, Tommy Townsend (1.6) topped NFL punters in return yards allowed per punt, ahead of Jamie Gillan (2.4) and Johnny Hekker (2.4). 30 punters qualify (minimum 30 punts). The median qualified punter had 3.8.
Final 2024 regular-season numbers, updated October 23, 2026.
| Rk | Player | Team | Ret yds/punt | Punts | Avg | Net | In 20 | In 20 % | TB % | FC % | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tommy Townsend | Houston Texans | 1.6 | 77 | 48.0 | 44.0 | 39 | 51% | 9% | 30% | +14.8 |
| 2 | Jamie Gillan | New York Giants | 2.4 | 56 | 43.7 | 40.6 | 27 | 48% | 4% | 45% | +2.4 |
| 3 | Johnny Hekker | Carolina Panthers | 2.4 | 74 | 45.7 | 41.9 | 24 | 32% | 4% | 27% | −3.5 |
| 4 | Matthew Hayball | New Orleans Saints | 2.8 | 75 | 44.0 | 40.4 | 41 | 55% | 4% | 36% | −15.4 |
| 5 | Corliss Waitman | Pittsburgh Steelers | 2.9 | 65 | 46.4 | 41.9 | 27 | 42% | 8% | 25% | +23.2 |
| 6 | Tress Way | Washington Commanders | 3.0 | 50 | 46.9 | 43.1 | 22 | 44% | 4% | 24% | +9.3 |
| 7 | Jordan Stout | Baltimore Ravens | 3.0 | 55 | 46.4 | 41.2 | 22 | 40% | 11% | 29% | +1.2 |
| 8 | Jack Fox | Detroit Lions | 3.0 | 45 | 51.0 | 46.2 | 22 | 49% | 9% | 31% | +9.3 |
| 9 | Riley Dixon | Denver Broncos | 3.3 | 77 | 46.7 | 42.2 | 33 | 43% | 6% | 31% | +9.8 |
| 10 | Braden Mann | Philadelphia Eagles | 3.3 | 55 | 48.8 | 42.1 | 20 | 36% | 13% | 15% | +1.5 |
| 11 | Ryan Wright | Minnesota Vikings | 3.4 | 57 | 46.5 | 40.6 | 27 | 47% | 9% | 18% | −5.2 |
| 12 | Ethan Evans | Los Angeles Rams | 3.6 | 55 | 46.0 | 41.7 | 30 | 55% | 4% | 18% | −5.8 |
| 13 | Logan Cooke | Jacksonville Jaguars | 3.7 | 68 | 49.4 | 44.8 | 34 | 50% | 4% | 28% | +16.3 |
| 14 | J.K. Scott | Los Angeles Chargers | 3.7 | 72 | 46.7 | 41.9 | 28 | 39% | 6% | 33% | −9.5 |
| 15 | Michael Dickson | Seattle Seahawks | 3.7 | 76 | 49.4 | 43.3 | 31 | 41% | 12% | 29% | +8.2 |
| 16 | Sam Martin | Buffalo Bills | 3.9 | 55 | 46.7 | 40.2 | 25 | 45% | 9% | 24% | −7.6 |
| 17 | Thomas Morstead | New York Jets | 4.1 | 63 | 47.2 | 40.9 | 19 | 30% | 11% | 24% | +2.4 |
| 18 | Matt Araiza | Kansas City Chiefs | 4.1 | 62 | 48.8 | 41.8 | 25 | 40% | 15% | 34% | +2.6 |
| 19 | Daniel Whelan | Green Bay Packers | 4.1 | 56 | 46.1 | 40.2 | 22 | 39% | 9% | 30% | +7.0 |
| 20 | Jake Bailey | Miami Dolphins | 4.1 | 57 | 47.1 | 40.5 | 22 | 39% | 9% | 20% | −5.0 |
| 21 | Ryan Rehkow | Cincinnati Bengals | 4.3 | 53 | 49.1 | 42.9 | 25 | 47% | 9% | 30% | +7.0 |
| 22 | AJ Cole | Las Vegas Raiders | 4.5 | 67 | 50.8 | 42.5 | 27 | 40% | 12% | 22% | −14.4 |
| 23 | Blake Gillikin | Arizona Cardinals | 4.8 | 38 | 49.7 | 44.3 | 19 | 50% | 3% | 34% | +1.6 |
| 24 | Tory Taylor | Chicago Bears | 5.1 | 82 | 47.7 | 41.6 | 34 | 41% | 5% | 28% | +5.4 |
| 25 | Bryan Anger | Dallas Cowboys | 5.5 | 62 | 48.5 | 42.0 | 24 | 39% | 5% | 32% | −1.0 |
| 26 | Bryce Baringer | New England Patriots | 5.8 | 70 | 49.8 | 41.7 | 31 | 44% | 11% | 24% | +4.6 |
| 27 | Corey Bojorquez | Cleveland Browns | 6.0 | 89 | 49.3 | 41.8 | 36 | 40% | 8% | 19% | +5.1 |
| 28 | Rigoberto Sanchez | Indianapolis Colts | 6.0 | 68 | 49.7 | 42.6 | 27 | 40% | 6% | 37% | −5.2 |
| 29 | Bradley Pinion | Atlanta Falcons | 6.5 | 47 | 47.0 | 38.8 | 14 | 30% | 9% | 30% | −5.8 |
| 30 | Ryan Stonehouse | Tennessee Titans | 9.0 | 75 | 50.6 | 38.6 | 22 | 29% | 10% | 12% | −20.6 |
Return Yards Allowed per Punt 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
- Average Punt Return 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
- 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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