| Individual Records: Punt ReturnsRecords updated through the 2007 season | |
|---|---|
| PUNT RETURNS | |
| Most Seasons Leading League | |
| 3 | Les (Speedy) Duncan, San Diego, 1965-66; Washington,
1971 Rick Upchurch, Denver, 1976, 1978, 1982 |
| 2 | Dick Christy, N.Y. Titans, 1961-62 Claude Gibson, Oakland, 1963-64 Billy (White Shoes) Johnson, Houston, 1975, 1977 Mel Gray, New Orleans, 1987; Detroit, 1991 Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore, 1997, 2000 |
| Most Punt Returns, Career | |
| 463 | Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia, 2000-02; N.Y. Giants, 2003 |
| 351 | Eric Metcalf, Cleveland, 1989-1994; Atlanta, 1995-96; San Diego, 1997; Arizona, 1998; Carolina, 1999; Washington, 2001; Green Bay, 2002 |
| 349 | David Meggett, N.Y. Giants, 1989-1994; New England, 1995-97; N.Y. Jets, 1998 |
| Most Punt Returns, Season | |
| 70 | Danny Reece, Tampa Bay, 1979 |
| 62 | Fulton Walker, Miami-L.A. Raiders, 1985 |
| 58 | J.T. Smith, Kansas City, 1979 Greg Pruitt, L.A. Raiders, 1983 Leo Lewis, Minnesota, 1988 Desmond Howard, Green Bay, 1996 Nate Burleson, Seattle, 2007 |
| Most Punt Returns, Rookie, Season | |
| 57 | Lew Barnes, Chicago, 1986 |
| 55 | B.J. Sams, Baltimore, 2004 |
| 54 | James Jones, Dallas, 1980 |
| Most Punt Returns, Game | |
| 11 | Eddie Brown, Washington vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 9, 1977 |
| 10 | Theo Bell, Pittsburgh vs. Buffalo, Dec. 16, 1979 Mike Nelms, Washington vs. New Orleans, Dec. 26, 1982 Ronnie Harris, New England vs. Pittsburgh, Dec. 5, 1993 |
| 9 | Rodger Bird, Oakland vs. Denver, Sept. 10, 1967 Ralph McGill, San Francisco vs. Atlanta, Oct. 29, 1972 Ed Podolak, Kansas City vs. San Diego, Nov. 10, 1974 Anthony Leonard, San Francisco vs. New Orleans, Oct. 17, 1976 Butch Johnson, Dallas vs. Buffalo, Nov. 15, 1976 Larry Marshall, Philadelphia vs. Tampa Bay, Sept. 18, 1977 Nesby Glasgow, Baltimore vs. Kansas City, Sept. 2, 1979 Mike Nelms, Washington vs. St. Louis, Dec. 21, 1980 Leon Bright, N.Y. Giants vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 11, 1982 Pete Shaw, N.Y. Giants vs. Philadelphia, Nov. 20, 1983 Cleotha Montgomery, L.A. Raiders vs. Detroit, Dec. 10, 1984 Phil McConkey, N.Y. Giants vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 6, 1987 (OT) Andre Hastings, Pittsburgh vs. Cleveland, Nov. 13, 1995 Steve Smith, Carolina vs. Detroit, Sept. 15, 2002 Reggie Swinton, Arizona vs. Philadelphia, Dec. 24, 2005 |
| FAIR CATCHES | |
| Most Fair Catches, Career | |
| 231 | Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia, 2000-02; N.Y. Giants, 2003 |
| 162 | Tim Brown, L.A. Raiders, 1988-94; Oakland, 1995-2003; Tampa Bay, 2004 |
| 144 | Glyn Milburn, Denver, 1993-95; Detroit, 1996-97; Chicago, 1998-2000; San Diego, 2001 |
| Most Fair Catches, Season | |
| 33 | Brian Mitchell, Philadelphia, 2000 |
| 29 | Wes Welker, Miami, 2006 |
| 27 | Leo Lewis, Minnesota, 1989 Antonio Chatman, Green Bay, 2004 |
| Most Fair Catches, Game | |
| 7 | Lem Barney, Detroit vs. Chicago, Nov. 21, 1976 |
| Bobby Morse, Philadelphia vs. Buffalo, Dec. 27, 1987 | |
| 6 | Jake Scott, Miami vs. Buffalo, Dec. 20, 1970 Greg Pruitt, L.A. Raiders vs. Seattle, Oct. 7, 1984 Phil McConkey, San Diego vs. Kansas City, Dec. 17, 1989 Gerald McNeil, Houston vs. Pittsburgh, Sept. 16, 1990 Bobby Engram, Chicago vs. Minnesota, Sept. 15, 1996 Eddie Kennison, New Orleans vs. Baltimore, Dec. 19, 1999 R.W. McQuarters, N.Y. Giants vs. Atlanta, Oct. 15, 2007 |
| 5 | By many players |
| YARDS GAINED | |
| Most Seasons Leading League | |
| 3 | Alvin Haymond, Baltimore, 1965-66; Los Angeles, 1969 |
| 2 | Bill Dudley, Pittsburgh, 1942, 1946 Emlen Tunnell, N.Y. Giants, 1951-52 Dick Christy, N.Y. Titans, 1961-62 Claude Gibson, Oakland, 1963-64 Rodger Bird, Oakland, 1966-67 J.T. Smith, Kansas City, 1979-1980 Vai Sikahema, St. Louis, 1986-87 David Meggett, N.Y. Giants, 1989-1990 Tamarick Vanover, Kansas City, 1995, 1999 |
| Most Yards Gained, Career | |
| 4,999 | Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia, 2000-02; N.Y. Giants, 2003 |
| 3,708 | David Meggett, N.Y. Giants, 1989-1994; New England, 1995-97; N.Y. Jets, 1998 |
| 3,601 | Darrien Gordon, San Diego, 1993-94, 1996; Denver, 1997-98; Oakland, 1999-2000; Atlanta, 2001; Green Bay, 2002 |
| Most Yards Gained, Season | |
| 875 | Desmond Howard, Green Bay, 1996 |
| 692 | Fulton Walker, Miami-L.A. Raiders, 1985 |
| 666 | Greg Pruitt, L.A. Raiders, 1983 |
| Most Yards Gained, Rookie, Season | |
| 656 | Louis Lipps, Pittsburgh, 1984 |
| 655 | Neal Colzie, Oakland, 1975 |
| 619 | Leon Johnson, N.Y. Jets, 1997 |
| Most Yards Gained, Game | |
| 207 | LeRoy Irvin, Los Angeles vs. Atlanta, Oct. 11, 1981 |
| 205 | George Atkinson, Oakland vs. Buffalo, Sept. 15, 1968 |
| 199 | Eddie Drummond, Detroit vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 14, 2004 (OT) |
| Longest Punt Return (All TDs) | |
| 103 | Robert Bailey, L.A. Rams vs. New Orleans, Oct. 23, 1994 |
| 98 | Gil LeFebvre, Cincinnati vs. Brooklyn, Dec. 3, 1933 Charlie West, Minnesota vs. Washington, Nov. 3, 1968 Dennis Morgan, Dallas vs. St. Louis, Oct. 13, 1974 Terance Mathis, N.Y. Jets vs. Dallas, Nov. 4, 1990 |
| 97 | Greg Pruitt, L.A. Raiders vs. Washington, Oct. 2, 1983 |
| AVERAGE YARDAGE | |
| Highest Average, Career (75 returns) | |
| 14.06 | Devin Hester, Chicago, 2006-07 (89-1,251) |
| 12.78 | George McAfee, Chi. Bears, 1940-41, 1945-1950 (112-1,431) |
| 12.75 | Jack Christiansen, Detroit, 1951-58 (85-1,084) |
| Highest Average, Season (Qualifiers) | |
| 23.00 | Herb Rich, Baltimore, 1950 (12-276) |
| 21.47 | Jack Christiansen, Detroit, 1952 (15-322) |
| 21.28 | Dick Christy, N.Y. Titans, 1961 (18-383) |
| Highest Average, Rookie, Season (Qualifiers) | |
| 23.00 | Herb Rich, Baltimore, 1950 (12-276) |
| 20.88 | Jerry Davis, Chi. Cardinals, 1948 (16-334) |
| 20.73 | Frank Sinkwich, Detroit, 1943 (11-228) |
| Highest Average, Game (3 returns) | |
| 51.00 | Steve Smith, Carolina vs. Cincinnati, Dec. 8, 2002 (3-153) |
| 47.67 | Chuck Latourette, St. Louis vs. New Orleans, Sept. 29, 1968 (3-143) |
| 47.33 | Johnny Roland, St. Louis vs. Philadelphia, Oct. 2, 1966 (3-142) |
| TOUCHDOWNS | |
| Most Touchdowns, Career | |
| 10 | Eric Metcalf, Cleveland, 1989-1994; Atlanta, 1995-96; San Diego, 1997; Arizona, 1998; Carolina, 1999; Washington, 2001; Green Bay, 2002 |
| 9 | Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia 2000-02; N.Y. Giants, 2003 |
| 8 | Jack Christiansen, Detroit, 1951-58 Rick Upchurch, Denver, 1975-1983 Desmond Howard, Washington, 1992-94; Jacksonville, 1995; Green Bay, 1996, 1999; Oakland, 1997-98; Detroit, 1999-2002 |
| Most Touchdowns, Season | |
| 4 | Jack Christiansen, Detroit, 1951 Rick Upchurch, Denver, 1976 Devin Hester, Chicago, 2007 |
| 3 | Emlen Tunnell, N.Y. Giants, 1951 Billy (White Shoes) Johnson, Houston, 1975 LeRoy Irvin, Los Angeles, 1981 Desmond Howard, Green Bay, 1996 Darrien Gordon, Denver, 1997 Eric Metcalf, San Diego, 1997 Devin Hester, Chicago, 2006 Pacman Jones, Tennessee, 2006 |
| 2 | By many players |
| Most Touchdowns, Rookie, Season | |
| 4 | Jack Christiansen, Detroit, 1951 |
| 3 | Devin Hester, Chicago, 2006 |
| 2 | By many players |
| Most Touchdowns, Game | |
| 2 | Jack Christiansen, Detroit vs. Los Angeles, Oct. 14, 1951;
vs. Green Bay, Nov. 22, 1951 Dick Christy, N.Y. Titans vs. Denver, Sept. 24, 1961 Rick Upchurch, Denver vs. Cleveland, Sept. 26, 1976 LeRoy Irvin, Los Angeles vs. Atlanta, Oct. 11, 1981 Vai Sikahema, St. Louis vs. Tampa Bay, Dec. 21, 1986 Todd Kinchen, L.A. Rams vs. Atlanta, Dec. 27, 1992 Eric Metcalf, Cleveland vs. Pittsburgh, Oct. 24, 1993; San Diego vs. Cincinnati, Nov. 2, 1997 Darrien Gordon, Denver vs. Carolina, Nov. 9, 1997 Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore vs. Seattle, Dec. 7, 1997; Baltimore vs. N.Y. Jets, Dec. 24, 2000 Steve Smith, Carolina vs. Cincinnati, Dec. 8, 2002 Eddie Drummond, Detroit vs. Jacksonville, Nov. 14, 2004 (OT) |
