The 2024 regular season is here, and NFL kickoffs look very different. The league adopted a new kickoff rule in an effort to encourage more returns and add some more excitement to a play that had become a formality. The new hybrid kickoff has created renewed interest in this play and added some more strategy for special teams coordinators across the league.
Who are the starting kick returners for each NFL team? Who are the starting punt returners? Below are the starting returners listed on each team’s depth chart. We will continue to update this list as teams alter their depth chart throughout the season.
Every NFL Team’s Starting Kick Returners
- Arizona Cardinals: Greg Dortch, DeeJay Dallas
- Atlanta Falcons: Avery Williams, Mike Hughes
- Baltimore Ravens: Deonte Harty, Justice Hill
- Buffalo Bills: Brandon Codrington, Ty Johnson
- Carolina Panthers: Raheem Blackshear, David Moore
- Chicago Bears: Velus Jones Jr., DeAndre Carter
- Cincinnati Bengals: Chase Brown, Trayveon Williams
- Cleveland Browns: Pierre Strong Jr., Jerome Ford
- Dallas Cowboys: KaVontae Turpin, Rico Dowdle
- Denver Broncos: Marvin Mims Jr., Tremon Smith
- Detroit Lions: Craig Reynolds
- Green Bay Packers: Keisean Nixon, Jayden Reed
- Houston Texans: Dameon Pierce, Steven Sims
- Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Gould, Dallis Flowers
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Duvernay, Tank Bigsby
- Kansas City Chiefs: Mecole Hardman, Skyy Moore
- Las Vegas Raiders: Ameer Abdullah, Tyreik McAllister
- Los Angeles Chargers: Derius Davis, Ladd McConkey
- Los Angeles Rams: Kyren Williams
- Miami Dolphins: Braxton Berrios, De’Von Achane
- Minnesota Vikings: Ty Chandler, Brandon Powell
- New England Patriots: JaMycal Hasty, Antonio Gibson
- New Orleans Saints: Rashid Shaheed, Mason Tipton
- New York Giants: Gunner Olszewski, Darius Slayton
- New York Jets: Xavier Gipson, Isaiah Davis
- Philadelphia Eagles: Isaiah Rodgers, Kenneth Gainwell
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Cordarrelle Patterson, Jaylen Warren
- San Francisco 49ers: Ronnie Bell, Trent Taylor
- Seattle Seahawks: Laviska Shenault Jr., Dee Williams
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Bucky Irving, Kam Johnson
- Tennessee Titans: Jha’Quan Jackson, Tyjae Spears
- Washington Commanders: Byron Pringle, Olamide Zaccheaus
Every NFL Team’s Starting Punt Returners
- Arizona Cardinals: Greg Dortch
- Atlanta Falcons: Avery Williams
- Baltimore Ravens: Deonte Harty
- Buffalo Bills: Brandon Codrington
- Carolina Panthers: Raheem Blackshear
- Chicago Bears: DeAndre Carter
- Cincinnati Bengals: Charlie Jones
- Cleveland Browns: Elijah Moore
- Dallas Cowboys: KaVontae Turpin
- Denver Broncos: Marvin Mims Jr.
- Detroit Lions: Kalif Raymond
- Green Bay Packers: Keisean Nixon
- Houston Texans: Steven Sims
- Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Gould
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Duvernay
- Kansas City Chiefs: Xavier Worthy
- Las Vegas Raiders: Tre Tucker
- Los Angeles Chargers: Derius Davis
- Los Angeles Rams: Blake Corum
- Miami Dolphins: Braxton Berrios
- Minnesota Vikings: Brandon Powell
- New England Patriots: Marcus Jones
- New Orleans Saints: Rashid Shaheed
- New York Giants: Gunner Olszewski
- New York Jets: Xavier Gipson
- Philadelphia Eagles: Britain Covey
- Pittsburgh Steelers: Calvin Austin III
- San Francisco 49ers: Trent Taylor
- Seattle Seahawks: Dee Williams
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Trey Palmer
- Tennessee Titans: Jha’Quan Jackson
- Washington Commanders: Jamison Crowder
What Is the NFL’s New Hybrid Kickoff?
The NFL’s hybrid kickoff is inspired by the XFL. Throughout the preseason, there has already been more excitement surrounding kickoffs. Here are the key details:
- The kicker will kick off from the 35-yard line.
- The other 10 members of the kickoff team will line up at the returning team’s 40-yard line.
- At least nine members of the receiving team will line up five yards away at the 35-yard line.
- Up to two returners will line up in the “landing zone” (between the 20-yard line and the goal line).
- Only the kicker and returners can move before the ball hits the ground or the returner within the landing zone.
- The ball will be placed at the 30-yard line if it lands in the end zone.
- Any kick that hits the landing zone must be returned.
- If the ball lands inside the 20-yard line and rolls into the end zone, it must be returned or downed (which results in the ball being placed at the 20-yard line).
- If a kick fails to reach the landing zone or goes out of bounds, the receiving team takes possession at its 40-yard line.
- No fair catches are allowed.
The hope is that this new kickoff format will increase the number of returns (since kickers will try to avoid touchbacks) while decreasing violent, high-speed collisions (since players will line up closely and remain in place until the return begins).
The hybrid kickoff worked in the XFL, with returns on 97% of kickoffs during the 2023 season. For comparison, the NFL saw returns on just 22% of kickoffs during the 2023 season.
MORE: Simulate the NFL Season With PFN’s Playoff Predictor
Last season, Packers CB Keisean Nixon led the league in kickoff returns with 30. Recently, Jets head coach Robert Saleh said he expects kick returners to “touch the ball over 100 times a year” under the new rules.
Regardless of the exact number, NFL fans can expect to see way more kickoff returns this season.