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ANNUAL PUNT RETURN LEADERS

Year Player, Team No. Yards Avg. Long TD
2001 Troy Brown, New England, AFC 29 413 14.2 85 2
  Darrien Gordon, Atlanta, NFC 31 437 14.1 74 0
2000 Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore, AFC 36 578 16.1 89 2
  Az-Zahir Hakim, St. Louis, NFC 32 489 15.3 86 1
1999 *Charlie Rogers, Seattle, AFC 22 318 14.5 94 1
  *Mac Cody, Arizona, NFC 32 373 11.7 31 0
1998 Deion Sanders, Dallas, NFC 24 375 15.6 69 2
  Reggie Barlow, Jacksonville, AFC 43 555 12.9 85 1
1997 Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore, AFC 28 437 15.6 89 2
  David Palmer, Minnesota, NFC 34 444 13.1 57 0
1996 Desmond Howard, Green Bay, NFC 58 875 15.1 92 3
  Darrien Gordon, San Diego, AFC 36 537 14.9 81 1
1995 David Palmer, Minnesota, NFC 26 342 13.2 74 1
  Andre Coleman, San Diego, AFC 28 326 11.6 88 1
1994 Brian Mitchell, Washington, NFC 32 452 14.1 78 2
  Darrien Gordon, San Diego, AFC 36 475 13.2 90 2
1993 *Tyrone Hughes, New Orleans, NFC 37 503 13.6 83 2
  Eric Metcalf, Cleveland, AFC 36 464 12.9 91 2
1992 Johnny Bailey, Phoenix, NFC 20 263 13.2 65 0
  Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh, AFC 32 364 11.4 80 1
1991 Mel Gray, Detroit, NFC 25 385 15.4 78 1
  Rod Woodson, Pittsburgh, AFC 28 320 11.4 40 0
1990 Clarence Verdin, Indianapolis, AFC 31 396 12.8 36 0
  *Johnny Bailey, Chicago, NFC 36 399 11.1 95 1
1989 Walter Stanley, Detroit, NFC 36 496 13.8 74 0
  Clarence Verdin, Indianapolis, AFC 23 296 12.9 49 1
1988 John Taylor, San Francisco, NFC 44 556 12.6 95 2
  JoJo Townsell, N.Y. Jets, AFC 35 409 11.7 59 1
1987 Mel Gray, New Orleans, NFC 24 352 14.7 80 0
  Bobby Joe Edmonds, Seattle, AFC 20 251 12.6 40 0
1986 *Bobby Joe Edmonds, Seattle, AFC 34 419 12.3 75 1
  *Vai Sikahema, St. Louis, NFC 43 522 12.1 71 2
1985 Irving Fryar, New England, AFC 37 520 14.1 85 2
  Henry Ellard, L.A. Rams, NFC 37 501 13.5 80 1
1984 Mike Martin, Cincinnati, AFC 24 376 15.7 55 0
  Henry Ellard, L.A. Rams, NFC 30 403 13.4 83 2
1983 *Henry Ellard, L.A. Rams, NFC 16 217 13.6 72 1
  Kirk Springs, N.Y. Jets, AFC 23 287 12.5 76 1
1982 Rick Upchurch, Denver, AFC 15 242 16.1 78 2
  Billy Johnson, Atlanta, NFC 24 273 11.4 71 0
1981 LeRoy Irvin, Los Angeles, NFC 46 615 13.4 84 3
  *James Brooks, San Diego, AFC 22 290 13.2 42 0
1980 J.T. Smith, Kansas City, AFC 40 581 14.5 75 2
  *Kenny Johnson, Atlanta, NFC 23 281 12.2 56 0
1979 John Sciarra, Philadelphia, NFC 16 182 11.4 38 0
  *Tony Nathan, Miami, AFC 28 306 10.9 86 1
1978 Rick Upchurch, Denver, AFC 36 493 13.7 75 1
  Jackie Wallace, Los Angeles, NFC 52 618 11.9 58 0
1977 Billy Johnson, Houston, AFC 35 539 15.4 87 2
  Larry Marshall, Philadelphia, NFC 46 489 10.6 48 0
1976 Rick Upchurch, Denver, AFC 39 536 13.7 92 4
  Eddie Brown, Washington, NFC 48 646 13.5 71 1
1975 Billy Johnson, Houston, AFC 40 612 15.3 83 3
  Terry Metcalf, St. Louis, NFC 23 285 12.4 69 1
1974 Lemar Parrish, Cincinnati, AFC 18 338 18.8 90 2
  Dick Jauron, Detroit, NFC 17 286 16.8 58 0
1973 Bruce Taylor, San Francisco, NFC 15 207 13.8 61 0
  Ron Smith, San Diego, AFC 27 352 13.0 84 2
1972 Ken Ellis, Green Bay, NFC 14 215 15.4 80 1
  Chris Farasopoulos, N.Y. Jets, AFC 17 179 10.5 65 1
1971 Les (Speedy) Duncan, Washington, NFC 22 233 10.6 33 0
  Leroy Kelly, Cleveland, AFC 30 292 9.7 74 0
1970 Ed Podolak, Kansas City, AFC 23 311 13.5 60 0
  *Bruce Taylor, San Francisco, NFC 43 516 12.0 76 0
1969 Alvin Haymond, Los Angeles, NFL 33 435 13.2 52 0
  *Bill Thompson, Denver, AFL 25 288 11.5 40 0
1968 Bob Hayes, Dallas, NFL 15 312 20.8 90 2
  Noland Smith, Kansas City, AFL 18 270 15.0 80 1
1967 Floyd Little, Denver, AFL 16 270 16.9 72 1
  Ben Davis, Cleveland, NFL 18 229 12.7 52 1
1966 Les (Speedy) Duncan, San Diego, AFL 18 238 13.2 81 1
  Johnny Roland, St. Louis, NFL 20 221 11.1 86 1
1965 Leroy Kelly, Cleveland, NFL 17 265 15.6 67 2
  Les (Speedy) Duncan, San Diego, AFL 30 464 15.5 66 2
1964 Bobby Jancik, Houston, AFL 12 220 18.3 82 1
  Tommy Watkins, Detroit, NFL 16 238 14.9 68 2
1963 Dick James, Washington, NFL 16 214 13.4 39 0
  Claude (Hoot) Gibson, Oakland, AFL 26 307 11.8 85 2
1962 Dick Christy, N.Y. Titans, AFL 15 250 16.7 73 2
  Pat Studstill, Detroit, NFL 29 457 15.8 44 0
1961 Dick Christy, N.Y. Titans, AFL 18 383 21.3 70 2
  Willie Wood, Green Bay, NFL 14 225 16.1 72 2
1960 *Abner Haynes, Dall. Texans, AFL 14 215 15.4 46 0
  Abe Woodson, San Francisco, NFL 13 174 13.4 48 0
1959 Johnny Morris, Chi. Bears 14 171 12.2 78 1
1958 Jon Arnett, Los Angeles 18 223 12.4 58 0
1957 Bert Zagers, Washington 14 217 15.5 76 2
1956 Ken Konz, Cleveland 13 187 14.4 65 1
1955 Ollie Matson, Chi. Cardinals 13 245 18.8 78 2
1954 *Veryl Switzer, Green Bay 24 306 12.8 93 1
1953 Charley Trippi, Chi. Cardinals 21 239 11.4 38 0
1952 Jack Christiansen, Detroit 15 322 21.5 79 2
1951 Claude (Buddy) Young, N.Y. Yanks 12 231 19.3 79 1
1950 *Herb Rich, Baltimore 12 276 23.0 86 1
1949 Verda (Vitamin T) Smith, Los Angeles 27 427 15.8 85 1
1948 George McAfee, Chi. Bears 30 417 13.9 60 1
1947 *Walt Slater, Pittsburgh 28 435 15.5 33 0
1946 Bill Dudley, Pittsburgh 27 385 14.3 52 0
1945 *Dave Ryan, Detroit 15 220 14.7 56 0
1944 *Steve Van Buren, Philadelphia 15 230 15.3 55 1
1943 Andy Farkas, Washington 15 168 11.2 33 0
1942 Merlyn Condit, Brooklyn 21 210 10.0 23 0
1941 Byron (Whizzer) White, Detroit 19 262 13.8 64 0
*First season of professional football.
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