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| Individual Records: Punt Returns | Records updated in July 2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 27 | Leo Lewis, Minnesota, 1989 |
| | Antonio Chatman, Green Bay, 2004 |
| 26 | Eric Guliford, New Orleans, 1997 |
| | Glyn Milburn, Detroit, 1997 |
| | Glyn Milburn, Chicago, 2000 |
| 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) |
| 12.55 | Claude Gibson, San Diego, 1961-62; Oakland, 1963-65 (110-1,381) |
| 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 |
| 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) |
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