List of NFL career punting yards leaders
Andy Lee , third all-time in punting yards, punting for the San Francisco 49ers in 2012.
In American football, a punt is a kick that is performed after a player (most often a punter ) drops the ball from their hands and kicks it prior to it hitting the ground. Record keeping for punting yards in the National Football League (NFL) goes as far back as 1939 .
To be eligible for career-long rankings, a player must have a minimum of 250 punts.[ 1] Although he never led the league in punting yards for a single-season , Jeff Feagles ' longevity propelled him to become the career punting yards leader, with 71,211.[ 2] Feagles is the only punter to eclipse 70,000 career punting yards, and only three other punters have surpassed the 60,000 mark. He also set the career record for total punts in 2005 , when he recorded his 1,368th, surpassing Sean Landeta .[ 3] He later retired with 1,713 career punts , still the NFL record.[ 2] [ 4]
With 1,168 punts and 52,868 punting yards for the Baltimore Ravens , Sam Koch has the most of both statistics for any individual franchise. Ranked 7th all-time in career punting yards, Koch is also the highest-ranked punter to have spent his entire career with a single team. The Kansas City Chiefs are the only other franchise to have a player punt for over 50,000 yards during their tenure with the team.
Shane Lechler , who ranks second to Feagles in both total punts and punting yards, is the NFL's all-time leader in yards per punt (47.6).[ 5] Lechler is also the only punter to lead two different franchises (the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans ) in career punting yards.
Net yards per punt, or net average, as opposed to a player's gross average, is considered a more revealing indicator of a punter's performance.[ 6] This is due to the net average taking into account return yardage or a touchback on the punt which are subtracted from the gross punting yards, or how far the ball travels on a punt.[ 6] Logan Cooke holds the record for career net average (43.1), although Tommy Davis holds the unofficial record (44.5),[ 7] having played prior to 1976 , when the statistic began being officially tracked.[ 6]
Career punting yards leaders
Rank
Player
Team(s) by season
Punts
1
Jeff Feagles
New England Patriots (1988 –1989 )Philadelphia Eagles (1990 –1993 )Arizona Cardinals (1994 –1997 )Seattle Seahawks (1998 –2002 )New York Giants (2003 –2009 )
1,713
71,211
41.6
2
Shane Lechler
Oakland Raiders (2000 –2012 )Houston Texans (2013 –2017 )
1,444
68,676
47.6
3
Andy Lee
San Francisco 49ers (2004 –2014 )Cleveland Browns (2015 )Carolina Panthers (2016 )Arizona Cardinals (2017 –2022 )
1,466
68,405
46.7
4
Sean Landeta
New York Giants (1985 –1993 )Los Angeles / St. Louis Rams (1993 –1996 , 2003 –2004 )Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1997 )Green Bay Packers (1998 )Philadelphia Eagles (1999 –2002 , 2005 )
1,401
60,707
43.3
5
Brad Maynard
New York Giants (1997 –2000 )Chicago Bears (2001 –2010 )Cleveland Browns (2011 )
1,339
56,021
41.8
6
Dustin Colquitt
Kansas City Chiefs (2005 –2019 )Pittsburgh Steelers (2020 )Jacksonville Jaguars (2020 )Atlanta Falcons (2021 )Cleveland Browns (2021 )
1,198
53,660
44.8
7
Sam Koch
Baltimore Ravens (2006 –2021 )
1,168
52,868
45.3
8
Donnie Jones
Seattle Seahawks (2004 )Miami Dolphins (2005 –2006 )St. Louis Rams (2007 –2011 )Houston Texans (2012 )Philadelphia Eagles (2013 –2017 )Los Angeles Chargers (2018 )
1,157
52,490
45.4
9
Lee Johnson
Houston Oilers (1985 –1987 )Cleveland Browns (1987 –1988 )Cincinnati Bengals (1988 –1998 )New England Patriots (1999 –2001 )Minnesota Vikings (2001 )Philadelphia Eagles (2002 )
1,226
51,979
42.4
10
Chris Gardocki
Chicago Bears (1991 –1994 )Indianapolis Colts (1995 –1998 )Cleveland Browns (1999 –2003 )Pittsburgh Steelers (2004 –2006 )
1,177
50,336
42.8
11
Rohn Stark
Baltimore Colts (1982 –1983 )Indianapolis Colts (1984 –1994 )Pittsburgh Steelers (1995 )Carolina Panthers (1996 )Seattle Seahawks (1997 )
1,141
49,471
43.4
12
Craig Hentrich
Green Bay Packers (1994 –1997 )Tennessee Oilers / Titans (1999 –2009 )
1,150
49,281
42.9
13
Matt Turk
Washington Redskins (1995 –1999 )Miami Dolphins (2000 –2001 , 2003 –2005 )New York Jets (2002 )St. Louis Rams (2006 )Houston Texans (2007 –2011 )Jacksonville Jaguars (2011 )
1,143
48,414
42.4
14
Bryan Barker
Kansas City Chiefs (1990 –1993 )Philadelphia Eagles (1994 )Jacksonville Jaguars (1995 –2000 )Washington Redskins (2001 –2003 )Green Bay Packers (2004 )St. Louis Rams (2005 )
1,132
47,641
42.1
15
Dave Jennings
New York Giants (1974 –1984 )New York Jets (1985 –1987 )
1,154
47,567
41.2
16
Mark Royals
Philadelphia Eagles (1987 )St. Louis Cardinals (1987 )Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1990 –1991 , 1999 –2001 )Pittsburgh Steelers (1992 –1994 ) Detroit Lions (1995 –1996 ) New Orleans Saints (1997 –1998 ) Miami Dolphins (2002 –2003 )Jacksonville Jaguars (2003 )
1,116
47,021
42.1
17
Chris Mohr
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1989 )Buffalo Bills (1991 –2000 )Atlanta Falcons (2001 –2004 )
1,152
46,570
40.4
18
Jerrel Wilson
Kansas City Chiefs (1963 –1977 )New England Patriots (1978 )
1,072
46,139
43.0
19
Brett Kern
Denver Broncos (2008 –2009 )Tennessee Titans (2009 –2021 )Philadelphia Eagles (2022 –present)
1,006
46,136
45.9
20
Kevin Huber
Cincinnati Bengals (2009 –2022 )
1,011
45,766
45.3
21
Brian Hansen
New Orleans Saints (1984 –1988 )New England Patriots (1990 ) Cleveland Browns (1991 –1993 )New York Jets (1994 –1998 )Washington Redskins (1999 )
1,057
44,700
42.3
22
Ray Guy ^
Oakland / Los Angeles Raiders (1973 –1986 )
1,049
44,493
42.4
23
John James
Atlanta Falcons (1972 –1981 )Detroit Lions (1982 )Houston Oilers (1982 –1984 )
1,083
43,992
40.6
24
Rich Camarillo
New England Patriots (1981 –1987 )Los Angeles Rams (1988 )Phoenix Cardinals (1989 –1993 )Houston Oilers (1994 –1995 )Oakland Raiders (1996 )
1,027
43,895
42.7
25
Reggie Roby
Miami Dolphins (1983 –1992 )Washington Redskins (1993 –1994 )Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1995 )Houston / Tennessee Oilers (1996 –1997 )San Francisco 49ers (1998 )
992
42,951
43.3
Statistics accurate through Week 4 of the 2024 NFL season and gathered from Pro-Football-Reference .[ 8]
Career punting average leaders
Key
*
Denotes player who is still active
†
Denotes player's statistics are unofficial[ a]
Yards per punt
Net yards per punt
Logan Cooke holds the NFL's career record for net yards per punt among players with officially tracked statistics.
Career franchise punting yards leaders
Shane Lechler holds the franchise record for punting yards for both the Las Vegas Raiders and Houston Texans .
Kevin Huber holds the Bengals franchise record for career punting yards.
Key
*
Denotes player who is still active
‡
Franchise with punting leader on its current roster
Team
Player
Tenure
Punts
Ref.
Arizona Cardinals
Scott Player
1998–2007
714
30,752
43.1
[ 11]
Atlanta Falcons
John James
1972–1981
873
35,633
40.8
[ 12]
Baltimore Ravens
Sam Koch
2006–2021
1,168
52,868
45.3
[ 13]
Buffalo Bills
Brian Moorman
2001–2012, 2013
923
40,370
43.7
[ 14]
Carolina Panthers
Jason Baker
2005–2012
570
25,064
44.0
[ 15]
Chicago Bears
Brad Maynard
2001–2010
878
36,781
41.9
[ 16]
Cincinnati Bengals
Kevin Huber
2009–2022
1,011
45,766
45.3
[ 17]
Cleveland Browns
Don Cockroft
1968–1980
651
26,262
40.3
[ 18]
Dallas Cowboys
Mike Saxon
1985–1992
591
24,542
41.5
[ 19]
Denver Broncos
Tom Rouen
1993–2002
641
28,146
43.9
[ 20]
Detroit Lions
Nick Harris
2003–2012
694
29,857
43.0
[ 21]
Green Bay Packers
David Beverly
1975–1980
495
18,785
37.9
[ 22]
Houston Texans
Shane Lechler
2013–2017
430
20,463
47.6
[ 23]
Indianapolis Colts
Rohn Stark
1982–1994
985
43,162
43.8
[ 24]
Jacksonville Jaguars
Bryan Barker
1995–2000
456
19,849
43.5
[ 25]
Kansas City Chiefs
Dustin Colquitt
2005–2019
1,124
50,393
44.8
[ 26]
Las Vegas Raiders
Shane Lechler
2000–2012
1,014
48,215
47.5
[ 27]
Los Angeles Chargers
Mike Scifres
2003–2016
756
34,152
45.2
[ 28]
Los Angeles Rams
Johnny Hekker *
2012–2021
727
33,951
46.7
[ 29]
Miami Dolphins
Brandon Fields
2007–2014
594
27,780
46.8
[ 30]
Minnesota Vikings
Greg Coleman
1978–1987
720
29,391
40.8
[ 31]
New England Patriots
Rich Camarillo
1981–1987
468
19,922
42.6
[ 32]
New Orleans Saints
Thomas Morstead
2009–2020
692
32,190
46.5
[ 33]
New York Giants
Dave Jennings
1974–1984
931
38,792
41.7
[ 34]
New York Jets
Curley Johnson
1961–1968
534
22,718
42.5
[ 35]
Philadelphia Eagles
Donnie Jones
2013–2017
374
16,971
45.4
[ 36]
Pittsburgh Steelers
Bobby Walden
1968–1977
716
29,462
41.1
[ 37]
San Francisco 49ers
Andy Lee
2004–2015
941
43,468
46.2
[ 38]
Seattle Seahawks
Jon Ryan
2008–2018
770
34,492
44.8
[ 39]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Josh Bidwell
2004–2009
419
18,426
44.0
[ 40]
Tennessee Titans
Brett Kern
2009–2021
923
42,333
45.9
[ 41]
Washington Commanders
Mike Bragg
1968–1979
896
35,746
39.9
[ 42]
Statistics accurate through the 2022 NFL season .
See also
Notes
^ Prior to 1976, the NFL did not track net punting yards, and still does not officially recognize them, rendering pre-1976 net punting stats unofficial.[ 6]
References
^ "Minimum Requirements For Football Leaderboards" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on February 14, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2022 .
^ a b "Giants' Feagles retires; NFL mark intact" . ESPN . April 30, 2010. Archived from the original on August 27, 2022. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Giants' Feagles sets career punts record" . New England Patriots . September 11, 2005. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
^ "NFL Punts Career Leaders (since 1939)" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on August 29, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
^ "NFL Yards per Punt Career Leaders (since 1939)" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
^ a b c d Shpigel, Ben (November 2, 2017). "The N.F.L.'s Most Valuable Player Might Be ... a Punter?" . The New York Times . Archived from the original on November 4, 2017. Retrieved August 29, 2022 .
^ "NFL Career Leaders – Punting Net Average" . The Football Database . Retrieved August 29, 2022 .[permanent dead link ]
^ "NFL Punting Yards Career Leaders (since 1939)" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on October 28, 2013. Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
^ "NFL Yards per Punt Career Leaders (since 1939)" . Pro Football Reference . Archived from the original on July 4, 2022. Retrieved August 29, 2022 .
^ "NFL Career Leaders – Punting Net Average" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on August 29, 2023. Retrieved August 29, 2022 .
^ "Arizona Cardinals Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
^ "Atlanta Falcons Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Baltimore Ravens Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Buffalo Bills Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on April 17, 2019. Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
^ "Carolina Panthers Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Chicago Bears Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Cincinnati Bengals Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Cleveland Browns Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Dallas Cowboys Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Denver Broncos Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Detroit Lions Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Green Bay Packers Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Houston Texans Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Indianapolis Colts Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on August 15, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Jacksonville Jaguars Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Kansas City Chiefs Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Las Vegas Raiders Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Los Angeles Chargers Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Los Angeles Rams Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Miami Dolphins Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
^ "Minnesota Vikings Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 26, 2022 .
^ "New England Patriots Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "New Orleans Saints Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "New York Giants Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "New York Jets Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Philadelphia Eagles Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Pittsburgh Steelers Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "San Francisco 49ers Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Seattle Seahawks Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Tampa Bay Buccaneers Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Tennessee Titans Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on October 13, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
^ "Washington Commanders Career Punting Leaders" . The Football Database. Archived from the original on September 23, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2022 .
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