NFL All-Time Kick and Punt Return Records: Season and Career Leaders, Including Devin Hester and Cordarrelle Patterson

Special teams play, despite annually being below offense and defense by the public eye, should never be ignored across the NFL.

Sometimes a valuable impact player comes in the form of someone capable of busting the long touchdown, beginning the moment they field a kickoff or punt.

Over the years, the league has witnessed some record-breaking kick and punt return performances. It’s time to sort through who those record holders are by season records, career marks, and the best rookie performances.

NFL Season Return Records

• NFL Season Kick Return Yards Leader: MarTay Jenkins, Arizona Cardinals, 2,186 Kick Return Yards, 2000
• NFL Season Kick Return Touchdowns Leader: TIE with 4 Kick Return Touchdowns– Cecil Turner, Chicago Bears, 1970; Travis Williams, Green Bay Packers, 1967
• NFL Season Punt Return Yards Leader: Desmond Howard, Green Bay Packers, 875 Punt Return Yards, 1996 
• NFL Season Punt Return Touchdowns Leader: TIE with 4 Punt Return Touchdowns– Jack Christiansen, Detroit Lions, 1951; Rick Upchurch, Denver Broncos, 1976; Devin Hester, Chicago Bears, 2007; Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals, 2011 

There are two notable ties for top season marks in the return department.

Starting with the single-season kick return touchdown leaders, Travis Williams was the first to take back four kickoffs for six points in 1967. But then Cecil Turner of the rival Chicago Bears matched that mark three years later.

Four different players hold the record for most returned punts for touchdowns. Jack Christiansen became the first to take four punts into the end zone in 1951. Rick Upchurch matched his total 25 years later. But the more recent four-touchdown performers off punts are Devin Hester and Patrick Peterson, the latter player scoring his quartet during his rookie season of 2011.

Desmond Howard still holds the record for most punt return yards in a single campaign, which came during his Super Bowl Most Valuable Player season of 1996. MarTay Jenkins, meanwhile, holds the record for most kick return yardage in a single season in 2000.

NFL All-Time KR/PR Career Records

• NFL All-Time Career Kick Return Yards Leader: Brian Mitchell, 14,014 Kick Return Yards
• NFL All-Time Career Kick Return Touchdowns Leader: Cordarrelle Patterson, 9 Kick Return Touchdowns 
• NFL All-Time Career Punt Return Yards Leader: Brian Mitchell, 4,999 Punt Return Yards
• NFL All-Time Career Punt Return Touchdowns Leader: Devin Hester, 14 Punt Return Touchdowns 

Brian Mitchell has his name emblazoned in two of the career categories here for kickoff and punt returns.

Mitchell, who originally arrived in the league as a fifth-round running back in 1990, remains the all-time leader in both kick and punt return career yardage. He was even one yard away from totaling 5,000 punt return yards total in a career that saw him suit up for the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles, and New York Giants.

Cordarrelle Patterson is the league’s all-time leader in kick return touchdowns with nine total. He led the NFL twice by taking two kick returns for scores in 2013 and 2015. Patterson entered the league as a receiver but has also been lauded for his versatility as a running back and return ace.

Hester, meanwhile, holds the record for most career punt returns for a touchdown ever with 14. The former Bear took special teams by storm in his first two seasons, scoring a combined seven punt return touchdowns.

NFL KR/PR Rookie Records

• NFL Rookie Kick Return Yards Leader: Chris Carr, Oakland Raiders, 1,752 Kick Return Yards, 2005 
• NFL Rookie Kick Return Touchdowns Leader: Travis Williams, Green Bay Packers, 4 Kick Return Touchdowns, 1967
• NFL Rookie Punt Return Yards Leader: Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals, 699 Punt Return Yards, 2011 
• NFL Rookie Punt Return Touchdowns Leader: TIE with 4 Punt Return Touchdowns — Patrick Peterson, Arizona Cardinals, 2011; Jack Christiansen, Detroit Lions, 1951

Peterson’s epic rookie season still resonates here, as he surfaces twice among rookie marks. He shares the punt return touchdown record with Christiansen, but stands alone with his 699 total punt return yards from his NFL debut.

Williams remains the leader in kick return touchdowns during a season that included the Packers’ second-ever Super Bowl championship run.

Lastly, Chris Carr emerged as a league leader right away after going undrafted out of Boise State. The former Raiders cornerback still holds the best kick return yardage output during a rookie season, which also led the league. But he improved his season mark to 1,762 the following season in 2006.