Record-setting return men from the 1950s line up against specialists from the modern touchback era. Some built careers on sheer volume, others on one unforgettable Super Bowl sprint.
1Devin HesterBears returner inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2024 who ran back the opening kickoff of Super Bowl XLI for a touchdown.1000pts
2Cordarrelle PattersonHolds the NFL career record with nine kickoff return touchdowns, gained across stints with the Vikings, Raiders, Patriots, Bears, Falcons and Steelers.884pts
3Keisean NixonPackers returner named first-team All-Pro at kick returner for the 2022 season.579pts
4Andre RobertsEarned first-team All-Pro honors as a returner with the Jets in 2018.579pts
5Abe Woodson49ers cornerback who led the NFL in kickoff return average three times and returned five kickoffs for touchdowns.463pts
6Michael BatesOlympic 200-meter bronze medalist in 1992 who became a five-time Pro Bowl kick returner, mostly with the Panthers.463pts
7Leon WashingtonJets and Seahawks return specialist who scored eight career kickoff return touchdowns and made two Pro Bowls.392pts
8Allen RossumDefensive back who gained 11,947 career kickoff return yards with six teams from 1998 to 2009.392pts
9Darren SprolesChargers, Saints and Eagles back who gained 8,352 career kickoff return yards from 2005 to 2019.392pts
10Jacoby JonesRavens receiver whose 108-yard kickoff return touchdown in Super Bowl XLVII is the longest play in Super Bowl history.392pts
11Ollie MatsonHall of Fame back who returned two kickoffs for touchdowns, including a 100-yarder, as a Cardinals rookie in 1952.309pts
12KaVontae TurpinFormer USFL MVP who earned first-team All-Pro honors with the Cowboys in 2024 and led the NFL in kickoff return yards in 2024 and 2025.309pts
13Percy HarvinReturned the second-half kickoff of Super Bowl XLVIII 87 yards for a touchdown for the Seahawks.309pts
14Brian MitchellHolds NFL career records with 607 kickoff returns and 14,014 kickoff return yards, most of them for Washington from 1990 to 1999.309pts
15Dante HallChiefs returner nicknamed the X-Factor who scored on a kickoff or punt return in four straight games in 2003, an NFL record.210pts
16Gale SayersBears Hall of Famer whose career kickoff return average of 30.6 yards is the highest in NFL history.210pts
17Desmond HowardPackers returner named Super Bowl XXXI MVP after a 99-yard kickoff return touchdown.210pts
18Josh CribbsUndrafted Browns signing who returned eight kickoffs for touchdowns and gained 11,113 career kickoff return yards.0pts
Photo credits
- Cordarrelle Patterson — All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Keisean Nixon — Gage Skidmore, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Andre Roberts — Keith Allison from Hanover, MD, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Michael Bates — Kevin Scannell, CC BY 4.0
- Leon Washington — Anthony Quintano, CC BY 2.0
- Allen Rossum — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Darren Sproles — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Jacoby Jones — Aberdeen Proving Ground, CC BY 2.0
- KaVontae Turpin — LLPdx, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Percy Harvin — Keith Allison, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Brian Mitchell — All-Pro Reels from District of Columbia, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Dante Hall — Larry Koester, CC BY 2.0
- Desmond Howard — Maize & Blue Nation, CC BY 2.0
- Josh Cribbs — Erik Drost, CC BY 2.0
