2026 NFL Punts Downed Percentage Leaders
The share of punts a member of the kicking team stopped or touched before they could roll into the end zone. It is a control and coverage stat as much as a leg stat.
Downed punts are rare, so one or two change the percentage. In 2026, Matt Araiza (28.6%) led NFL punters in punts downed percentage, ahead of Austin McNamara (25.9%) and Ryan Wright (20.0%). 33 punters qualify (minimum 12 punts). The median qualified punter had 11.8%. This season is in progress (through Week 7), so the numbers change each week.
Data through Week 7 of the 2026 season, updated October 24, 2026.
| Rk | Player | Team | Downed % | Punts | Avg | Net | In 20 | In 20 % | TB % | FC % | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Matt Araiza | Kansas City Chiefs | 28.6% | 14 | 52.4 | 45.1 | 9 | 64% | 14% | 21% | +1.3 |
| 2 | Austin McNamara | New York Jets | 25.9% | 27 | 47.0 | 40.4 | 9 | 33% | 7% | 26% | −5.1 |
| 3 | Ryan Wright | New Orleans Saints | 20.0% | 25 | 46.4 | 39.8 | 11 | 44% | 0% | 32% | −4.9 |
| 4 | Corliss Waitman | San Francisco 49ers | 20.0% | 20 | 47.4 | 44.5 | 9 | 45% | 5% | 45% | +5.4 |
| 5 | Mitch Wishnowsky | New England Patriots | 18.2% | 22 | 47.1 | 41.2 | 10 | 45% | 14% | 36% | +1.3 |
| 6 | Sam Martin | Carolina Panthers | 16.7% | 18 | 46.6 | 42.6 | 11 | 61% | 11% | 50% | +0.4 |
| 7 | Tommy Doman Jr. | Buffalo Bills | 16.7% | 12 | 48.7 | 46.0 | 6 | 50% | 0% | 58% | +0.3 |
| 8 | Jack Fox | Detroit Lions | 15.8% | 19 | 47.8 | 43.3 | 8 | 42% | 5% | 32% | +1.2 |
| 9 | Tory Taylor | Chicago Bears | 15.8% | 19 | 49.7 | 43.4 | 7 | 37% | 11% | 16% | +12.7 |
| 10 | Cameron Johnston | Pittsburgh Steelers | 15.4% | 26 | 49.5 | 44.2 | 13 | 50% | 8% | 19% | +8.7 |
| 11 | AJ Cole | Las Vegas Raiders | 13.6% | 22 | 50.6 | 43.3 | 8 | 36% | 9% | 18% | −3.7 |
| 12 | Jordan Stout | New York Giants | 13.0% | 23 | 52.0 | 44.5 | 11 | 48% | 4% | 17% | +4.2 |
| 13 | Kai Kroeger | Houston Texans | 13.0% | 23 | 48.1 | 43.4 | 8 | 35% | 0% | 26% | −2.7 |
| 14 | Corey Bojorquez | Cleveland Browns | 12.9% | 31 | 50.3 | 44.6 | 10 | 32% | 6% | 16% | +5.0 |
| 15 | Daniel Whelan | Green Bay Packers | 12.0% | 25 | 49.7 | 45.0 | 14 | 56% | 8% | 20% | +2.9 |
| 16 | Michael Dickson | Seattle Seahawks | 12.0% | 25 | 43.7 | 42.4 | 11 | 44% | 4% | 36% | +14.2 |
| 17 | Bradley Pinion | Miami Dolphins | 11.8% | 17 | 45.5 | 39.6 | 6 | 35% | 0% | 29% | −2.9 |
| 18 | Ryan Eckley | Baltimore Ravens | 11.5% | 26 | 46.9 | 42.5 | 13 | 50% | 8% | 35% | −0.6 |
| 19 | Riley Dixon | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 11.1% | 27 | 43.7 | 38.0 | 5 | 19% | 4% | 44% | −10.1 |
| 20 | Tommy Townsend | Tennessee Titans | 10.7% | 28 | 49.3 | 41.7 | 9 | 32% | 18% | 14% | −1.0 |
| 21 | Johnny Hekker | Minnesota Vikings | 8.3% | 12 | 43.6 | 38.6 | 2 | 17% | 8% | 33% | −1.6 |
| 22 | Brett Thorson | Minnesota Vikings | 7.7% | 13 | 45.3 | 40.2 | 6 | 46% | 8% | 46% | −4.1 |
| 23 | Tress Way | Washington Commanders | 7.1% | 28 | 48.8 | 42.7 | 10 | 36% | 7% | 39% | −0.5 |
| 24 | Braden Mann | Philadelphia Eagles | 6.1% | 33 | 47.7 | 41.8 | 14 | 42% | 3% | 12% | +4.6 |
| 25 | J.K. Scott | Los Angeles Chargers | 4.0% | 26 | 47.9 | 40.7 | 7 | 27% | 12% | 40% | −4.6 |
| 26 | Blake Gillikin | Arizona Cardinals | 3.6% | 28 | 45.2 | 38.2 | 8 | 29% | 11% | 25% | −8.0 |
| 27 | Jeremy Crawshaw | Denver Broncos | 3.1% | 32 | 49.0 | 44.7 | 14 | 44% | 6% | 22% | +1.2 |
| 28 | Jake Bailey | Atlanta Falcons | 0.0% | 21 | 49.3 | 40.3 | 8 | 38% | 14% | 38% | −0.4 |
| 29 | Ethan Evans | Los Angeles Rams | 0.0% | 19 | 48.3 | 38.1 | 6 | 32% | 16% | 32% | −7.9 |
| 30 | Logan Cooke | Jacksonville Jaguars | 0.0% | 19 | 47.6 | 42.1 | 7 | 37% | 5% | 11% | +3.0 |
| 31 | Ryan Rehkow | Cincinnati Bengals | 0.0% | 16 | 44.9 | 39.8 | 9 | 56% | 0% | 44% | −2.3 |
| 32 | Rigoberto Sanchez | Indianapolis Colts | 0.0% | 15 | 52.1 | 40.3 | 6 | 40% | 0% | 29% | −6.1 |
| 33 | Bryan Anger | Dallas Cowboys | 0.0% | 13 | 48.5 | 42.8 | 9 | 69% | 0% | 46% | +0.1 |
Punts Downed Percentage in other seasons: 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016
More 2026 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
- 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 2026 NFL rankings
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