Josh Cribbs
One of the best kick returners of all time, Josh Cribbs (Photo by Photo Works on Shutterstock)
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Best NFL Kick Returners: Top 5 Legendary Athletes, According To Fans

December 25, 2023
by Matthew Sherdan

Kick and punt returns always have the potential to be one of the most exciting plays in all of sports. Kick returners in the National Football League (NFL) need to be lightning-fast, intuitively smart, and play with great anticipation. As fans, we’ve seen some amazing kick and punt return specialists come through the NFL over the years, but only a few can be called the best kick returners of all time. 

When a kick or a punt is returned for a touchdown, the big play can change the entire momentum of a football game. Speaking of momentum and game-changing sports plays, a recent study suggests that over half of sports fans are superstitious. A survey of 2,400 American sports fans found that 62 percent of fans have blamed themselves for their team’s loss. Furthermore, nearly 40 percent of those fans feel like a family member is bad luck and have even asked that person to leave on game days. 

While we’re on the topic of sports fans, another study found that the average sports fan is willing to travel to see their favorite team play in person. A survey of 2,000 self-identified sports fanatics examined the lengths people are willing to go to in order to watch their favorite sports team play in person. The survey found that the average fan is willing to travel a whopping five hours and 48 minutes plus spend $762.20 on tickets just to see their favorite team play live. Now that’s some serious dedication to sports teams. 

So, which athletes stand out above all the rest? StudyFinds did our homework, consulting 10 sports and football-related websites in an effort to bring you a consensus list of the best NFL kick returners of all time. Our list comprises the five most frequently listed kick and punt returners from across these sites. Think we missed one of your personal favorites? Feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below! 

A football kicker
A football punt (Photo by Brocreative on Shutterstock)

The List: Best NFL Kick Returners, According to Experts

1. Devin Hester

Easily topping the list of the best kick returners in NFL history is none other than the legendary Devin Hester. He redefined the ways a prolific return specialist can impact a football game, and he’s the league’s all-time return touchdowns leader. 

“No player was more dangerous in the return game than Devin Hester. Opposing teams would do everything in their power to avoid kicking the ball in his direction, and the 5-foot-11, 190-pound speedster still retired with a number of NFL records as a return specialist. Selected in the second round by the Bears, Hester was originally drafted to play cornerback but filled in as a returner his rookie season. Through his first 13 games, he posted three punt-return touchdowns, including one in his debut, along with a pair of kick-return touchdowns, and a then record-tying 108-yard touchdown off a missed field goal against the New York Giants,” explains Twinspires Edge. 

For what it’s worth, Hester was a decent kick returner during his college football career at the University of Miami. However, Hester took his return game to the next level in the NFL. The Bears truly stole Hester in the draft and he’s far and away one of the most beloved athletes in Chicago sports history. 

“His record-breaking 14 punt return touchdowns shattered the previous record of 10. He also added 5 kickoff return touchdowns to bring his total return touchdowns to 19. That shattered the previous record of 13. This is also not including his missed field goal return for a touchdown as well as his iconic Super Bowl kickoff return touchdown. What is even more telling is that teams stopped kicking in his direction. In his rookie year, he had a career-high 47 punt returns which progressively lowered as teams discovered it was better to just kick out of bounds than in the hands of Devin Hester. Devin Hester is the GOAT and that is an objective truth,” furthers SOG Sports. 

Hester’s kick return to open up Super Bowl XLI against Peyton Manning and the Indianapolis Colts. Unfortunately, the Bears couldn’t capitalize on Hester’s big play to start the game, but in no way does that loss take away from his ability to change the outcome of games. 

“The best returner ever? Hester has five career kick return touchdowns, 14 punt return touchdowns (first all time) and ranks 10th in all-time yards per punt return. He’s also had impressive longevity between the Bears, Falcons and Ravens over 11 seasons,” adds Yardbarker. 

2. Josh Cribbs

Next up on the list of the best returners in NFL history is one of the most electric returners football fans have ever seen – Josh Cribbs. Cribbs ranks right near the top of nearly every major kick return category, and there’s no denying that he’s one of the best to ever do it. 

“The three-time Pro Bowler wasn’t a flashy player or an elusive runner with the ball. He mostly trucked over opposing special teams with his explosiveness, agility, and near-heroic strength. The undrafted wide receiver spent eight of his 10 seasons in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns before playing a season each for the New York Jets and Indianapolis Colts,” writes Sportskeeda. 

Cribbs had some all-time great seasons as the return specialist for the Cleveland Browns. And when Cribbs wasn’t returning kicks for touchdowns, he was gaining valuable yards to help his team in the field position battle. 

“Cribbs gave the Browns an extra 474 yards of field position on kickoff returns and 132 yards on punt returns. That’s more than 600 yards, the highest single-season total for any returner in history,” explains Sports Central. 

The Browns didn’t have much team success to match Cribbs’ individual performance in the return game, so some of his contributions tend to be overlooked. However, Cribbs is beloved by Cleveland fans and he’s fondly remembered for his ability to turn routine kickoffs into scoring opportunities. 

“One of the most notable Cleveland Browns over the last 10 years, Cribbs played eight seasons in Cleveland before finishing his career with the Jets and Colts. He had eight career kick return touchdowns and three punt return scores, making the Pro Bowl three times. He ranks third all time in kick return yards,” adds Yardbarker. 

3. Brian Mitchell

Blazing into the third spot on the list of the best return specialists in NFL history is none other than Brian Mitchell. He was an amazing return man for the Philadelphia Eagles and he’s easily one of the best in NFL history. 

“Although he was a solid third-down back, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer made his name in the pros on special teams. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in return yardage. During Mitchell’s 14 seasons, he accumulated 23,316 combined yards, second only to Jerry Rice’s 23,330 in league history. Mitchell returned nine punts and four kickoffs for touchdowns, averaging 10.8 yards per punt return and 23.1 yards per kick run-back for his career,” writes Crescent City Sports. 

Mitchell returned over 1,000 kickoffs over the course of his illustrious career and amassed more than 19,000 kick return yards. Mitchell’s consistent production in the return game easily makes him one of the best to ever suit up in the NFL. 

“Surprising to see this name as the man who has the second most return touchdowns in NFL history, but Mitchell was consistent to say the least and you never wanted to kick the ball to him,” furthers Bar Down. 

Mitchell was also the primary punt returner on the teams he played for, making him a true all-around return specialist. Unlike some of the other names on this list, Mitchell was an excellent all-around special teams player as he was typically assigned to the kickoff coverage unit. Mitchell shined in all facets of the return game and he was even known to make big tackles on the opposing team’s return man. 

“He was All-Pro in 1994 and 1995 and a Second-team All-Pro in 1991. His return average on kickoff returns was not elite (23.1) and his punt return average was excellent (10.8)…. He was also good on coverage even leading Washington in tackles one season and usually getting in on a handful of tackles,” adds Pro Football Journal. 

4. Gale Sayers

Galloping into the fourth spot on the list of the best NFL returners of all time is another Chicago sports legend – Gale Sayers. Sayers could do it all on the football field including return kickoffs and punts for quick scores.

“Sayers had a short NFL career, but accomplished much in that time and is in the NFL Hall of Fame. Sayers has the highest percentage of touchdowns per kickoff return with six touchdowns in just 91 returns. He also incredibly averaged over 30 yards per return,” explains Bleacher Report. 

Simply put, Sayers was a special football player. Sayers, also known as the Kansas Comet, was also a great running back for the Chicago Bears and that was his primary position. It just so happens that Sayers was also an amazing return specialist.   

“Former Bears running back and return specialist Gale Sayers had his career cut short by injuries, but during his seven-year stint with the NFL, he made a lasting impression. Sayers retired in 1971, with a kick-return average of 30.6 yards, which is still a record. In a 1967 matchup with the San Francisco 49ers, he returned the opening kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, then ran a punt all the way to the end zone. That performance made him one of a handful of players in NFL history to score two return touchdowns in a game,” writes Twinspires Edge. 

The Bears drafted Sayers in 1965 using the fourth pick of the NFL draft. The pick came right after the Bears used the third pick in the draft on legendary linebacker Dick Butkus. This was easily one of the best drafts in Bears franchise history, but unfortunately, Sayers’ career was cut short due to knee injuries. 

“With only five full seasons under his belt, Gale Sayers is still tied for 2nd all-time with six career kick return touchdowns. You heard me right, only five seasons and he is tied for 2nd all-time. He is also the all-time leader in kick return average with 30.6 yards per return. In 1967, his freak status would be on full display as he averaged a seemingly impossible 37.7 yards per return. Knee injuries would end up cutting his career short, but his impact is still felt today. Gale Sayers was the most dangerous player ever with a football in his hands,” furthers SOG Sports. 

5. Dante Hall

Hall might have been small in stature, but he was absolutely deadly when he had the ball in his hands. “It would be close, but if there ever happens to another list looking at the most electrifying kick returners of all-time, Dante Hall would no doubt be in the discussion for first on the list. Even though his most of his production only came over six seasons with the Chiefs, there is no denying Hall’s talent. He retired with six punt return scores and six kick return scores, and was the NFL’s all-purpose yards leader in 2003 and 2004,” explains The Sportster. 

Dante Hall was given a range of nicknames including the “Human Joystick” and the “X-Factor.” Whatever fans wanted to call him, Hall certainly earned his monickers with a staggering 12 career return touchdowns. 

“The X-Factor played seven seasons in Kansas City and two more in St. Louis. He had six career punt return scores and six more kick return touchdowns, and ranks 40th all-time with 10.5 yards per punt return,” furthers Yardbarker. 

Hall was nicknamed the Human Joystick because it looked like he was playing a video game on the football field. For a period of time, Hall was the league’s premier return specialist and one of the deadliest players in the game. 

“They called him ‘the Human Joystick’ and with good reason. This man wasn’t just playing Madden, he was playing Madden on rookie mode. It wasn’t just common for him to make defenders miss. He frequently embarrassed defenders with jaw-dropping highlight runs. His twelve return touchdowns rank 3rd all-time. It’s also worth mentioning that he finished his career with six kickoff return touchdowns and six punt return touchdowns. This led to him being the first-team all-pro returner and second-team all-pro returner for the 1990s all-decade team,” adds SOG Sports. 

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