Logo

Sports History

Alpha Index Index by Sport History Bits
Forum Links Search

NFL Career Records - Service,
Combined Yards, Returns, and Fumbles

Table of Contents
  History
Biography
Glossaries
Calendar
Quotations
Trivia
Books
Magazines
Software
Videos/DVDs
Video Games
Rules
Memorabilia
Equipment
Posters
Directory


Most Seasons

26George Blanda, Chi. Bears, 1949, 1950-58; Baltimore, 1950; Houston, 1960-66; Oakland, 1967-1975
22Morten Andersen, New Orleans, 1982-94; Atlanta, 1995-200; NY Giants, 2001; Kansas City, 2002-03
22Gary Anderson, Pittsburgh, 1982-1994; Philadelphia 1995-96; San Francisco, 1997; Minnesota, 1998-2002; Tennessee, 2003
21Earl Morrall, San Francisco, 1956; Pittsburgh, 1957-58; Detroit, 1958-1964; NY Giants, 1965-67; Baltimore, 1968-1971; Miami, 1972-76

Top of page

Most Seasons
With One Team

20Jackie Slater, LA/St. Louis Rams, 1976-1995
20Darrell Green, Washington, 1983-2002
19Jim Marshall, Minnesota, 1961-1979
19Bruce Matthews, Houston/Tennessee, 1983-2001
18Jim Hart, St. Louis, 1966-1983
18Jeff Van Note, Atlanta, 1969-1986
18Pat Leahy, NY Jets, 1974-1991

Top of page

Most Games

382Morten Andersen, New Orleans, 1982-1994; Atlanta, 1995-2000; N.Y. Giants, 2001; Kansas City, 2002-03; Minnesota, 2004; Atlanta, 2006-07
353Gary Anderson, Pittsburgh, 1982-1994; Philadelphia, 1995-96; San Francisco, 1997; Minnesota, 1998-2002; Tennessee, 2003-04
340George Blanda, Chi. Bears, 1949, 1950-58; Baltimore, 1950; Houston, 1960-66; Oakland, 1967-1975
296Bruce Matthews, Houston, 1983-1996; Tennessee, 1997-2001

Top of page

Most Combined Attempts
(Rushing, receiving, and returns)

4,655Emmitt Smith, Dallas, 1990-2002; Arizona, 2003
4,368Walter Payton, Chicago, 1975-1987
4,016Curtis Martin, New England, 1995-97; N.Y. Jets, 1998-2005

Top of page

Most Combined Yards

23,546Jerry Rice, San Francisco, 1985-2000; Oakland, 2001-03; Seattle 2004
23,330Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia, 2000-02; NY Giants, 2003
21,803Walter Payton, Chicago, 1975-1987

Top of page

Most Seasons Leading League
in Combined Yards

5Jim Brown, Cleveland, 1958-1961, 1964
4Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1994-96, 1998
3Cliff Battles, Boston, 1932-33; Washington, 1937
3Gale Sayers, Chicago, 1965-67
3Eric Dickerson, LA Rams, 1983-84, 1986
3Thurman Thomas, Buffalo, 1989, 1991-92

Top of page

Most Consecutive Seasons Leading
League in Combined Yards

4Jim Brown, Cleveland, 1958-1961
3Gale Sayers, Chicago, 1965-67
3Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1994-96
2Cliff Battles, Boston, 1932-33
2Charley Trippi, Chicago Cardinals, 1948-49
2Timmy Brown, Philadelphia, 1962-63
2Floyd Little, Denver, 1967-68
2James Brooks, San Diego, 1981-82
2Eric Dickerson, LA Rams, 1983-84
2Thurman Thomas, Buffalo, 1991-92

Top of page

Yards from Scrimmage
(Rushing and Receiving)

23,540Jerry Rice, San Francisco, 1985-2000; Oakland, 2001-03; Seattle 2004
21,579Emmitt Smith, Dallas, 1990-2003; Arizona 2003-04
21,803Walter Payton, Chicago, 1975-87

Top of page

Most Kickoff Returns

607Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia 2000-02; NY Giants, 2003
514Allen Rossum, Philadelphia, 1998-99; Green Bay 2000-01; Atlanta 2002-06; Pittsburgh 2007; San Francisco 2008-09; Dallas 2009
426Dante Hall, Kansas City 2000-06; St. Louis 2007-08

Top of page

Yards on Kickoff Returns

14,014Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia, 2000-02; NY Giants, 2003
11,947Allen Rossum, Philadelphia, 1998-99; Green Bay 2000-01; Atlanta 2002-06; Pittsburgh 2007; San Francisco 2008-09; Dallas 2009
10,250Mel Gray, New Orleans, 1986-88; Detroit, 1989-1994; Houston, 1995-96; Tennessee, 1997; Philadelphia, 1997

Top of page

Most Seasons Leading
League in Kickoff Return Yardage

3Bruce Harper, NY Jets, 1977-79
3Tyrone Hughes, New Orleans, 1994-96
2Marshall Goldberg, Chicago Cardinals, 1941-42
2Woodley Lewis, Los Angeles, 1953-54
2Al Carmichael, Green Bay, 1956-57
2Timmy Brown, Philadelphia, 1961, 1963
2Bobby Jancik, Houston, 1963, 1966
2Ron Smith, Atlanta, 1966-67

Top of page

Highest Kickoff Return Average
(Minimum 75 Returns)

30.56Gale Sayers, Chicago, 1965-1971 (91 returns, 2,781 yards)
29.57Lynn Chandnois, Pittsburgh, 1950-56 (92 returns, 2,720 yards)
28.69Abe Woodson, San Francisco, 1958-1964; St. Louis, 1965-66 (193 returns, 5,538 yards)

Top of page

Most Seasons Leading League
in Kickoff Return Average

3Abe Woodson, San Francisco, 1959, 1962-63
2Lynn Chandnois, Pittsburgh, 1951-52
2Bobby Jancik, Houston 1962-63
2Travis Williams, Green Bay, 1967; Los Angeles, 1971
2Mel Gray, Detroit, 1991, 1994
2Michael Bates, Carolina, 1996-97

Top of page

Touchdowns on Kickoff Returns

8Josh Cribbs, Cleveland 2005-09
6Ollie Matson, Chicago Cardinals, 1952, 1954-58; LA Rams, 1959-1962; Detroit, 1963; Philadelphia, 1964
6Gale Sayers, Chicago, 1965-1971
6Travis Williams, Green Bay, 1967-1970; Los Angeles, 1971
6Mel Gray, New Orleans, 1986-88; Detroit, 1989-1994; Houston, 1995-96; Tennessee, 1997; Philadelphia, 1997

Top of page

Most Punt Returns

463Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia, 2000-02; NY Giants, 2003
351Eric Metcalf, Cleveland, 1989-1994; Atlanta, 1995-96; San Diego, 1997; Arizona, 1998; Carolina, 1999; Washington, 2001; Green Bay, 2002
349Dave Meggett, NY Giants, 1989-1994; New England, 1995-97; NY Jets, 1998

Top of page

Most Seasons Leading
League in Punt Returns

3Speedy Duncan, San Diego, 1965-66; Washington, 1971
3Rick Upchurch, Denver, 1976,1978,1982
2Dick Christy, NY Titans, 1961-62
2Claude Gibson, Oakland, 1963-64
2Billy Johnson, Houston, 1975, 1977
2Mel Gray, NO, 1987; Detroit, 1991
2Jermaine Lewis, Baltimore, 1997, 2000

Top of page

Most Fair Catches

231Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia, 2000-02; NY Giants, 2003
150Tim Brown, L.A. Raiders, 1988-94; Oakland, 1995-2002
144Glyn Milburn, Denver, 1993-95; Detroit, 1996-97; Chicago, 1998-2000; San Diego, 2001

Top of page

Yards on Punt Returns

4,999Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia, 2000-02; NY Giants, 2003
3,708Dave Meggett, NY Giants, 1989-1994; New England, 1995-97; NY Jets, 1998
3,601Darrien Gordon, San Diego, 1993-94, 1996; Denver, 1997-98; Oakland, 1999-2000; Atlanta, 2001; Green Bay, 2002

Top of page

Most Seasons Leading League
in Punt Return Yardage

3Alvin Haymond, Baltimore, 1965-66; Los Angeles, 1969
2Bill Dudley, Pittsburgh, 1942, 1946
2Emlen Tunnell, NY Giants, 1951-52
2Dick Christy, NY Titans, 1961-62
2Claude Gibson, Oakland, 1963-64
2Rodger Bird, Oakland, 1966-67
2J. T. Smith, Kansas City, 1979-1980
2Vai Sikahema, St. Louis, 1986-87
2David Meggett, NY Giants, 1989-1990
2Tamarick Vanover, Kansas City, 1995, 1999

Top of page

Highest Punt Return Average (Minimum 75 Returns)

12.78George McAfee, Chi. Bears, 1940-41, 1945-1950 (112 returns, 1,431 yards)
12.75Jack Christiansen, Detroit, 1951-58 (85 returns, 1,084 yards)
12.55Claude Gibson, San Diego, 1961-62; Oakland, 1963-65 (110 returns, 1,381 yards)

Top of page

Touchdowns on Punt Returns

10Eric Metcalf, Cleveland, 1989-1994; Atlanta, 1995-96; San Diego, 1997; Arizona, 1998; Carolina, 1999; Washington, 2001; Green Bay, 2002
9Brian Mitchell, Washington, 1990-99; Philadelphia 2000-02; NY Giants, 2003
8Jack Christiansen, Detroit, 1951-58
8Rick Upchurch, Denver, 1975-1983
8Desmond Howard, Washington, 1992-94; Jacksonville, 1995; Green Bay, 1996, 1999; Oakland, 1997-98; Detroit, 1999-2002

Top of page

Most Fumbles

161Warren Moon, Houston, 1984-1993; Minnesota, 1994-96; Seattle, 1997-98; Kansas City, 1999-2000
159Brett Favre, Atlanta, 1991; Green Bay 1992-2007; NY Jets 2008; Minnesota 2009
153Dave Krieg, Seattle, 1980-1991; Kansas City, 1992-93; Detroit, 1994; Arizona, 1995; Chicago, 1996; Tennessee, 1997-98

Top of page

Most Fumbles Recovered

56Warren Moon, Houston, 1984-1993; Minnesota, 1994-96; Seattle, 1997-98; Kansas City, 1999-2000 (56 own)
47Dave Krieg, Seattle, 1980-1991; Kansas City, 1992-93; Detroit, 1994; Arizona, 1995; Chicago, 1996; Tennessee, 1997-98 (47 own)
45Boomer Esiason, Cincinnati, 1984-1992, 1997; NY Jets, 1993-95; Arizona, 1996 (45 own)

Top of page

Most Opponents' Fumbles Recovered

29Jim Marshall, Cleveland, 1960; Minnesota, 1961-1979
28Rickey Jackson, New Orleans, 1981-1993; San Francisco, 1994-95
26Kevin Greene, LA Rams, 1985-1992; Pittsburgh, 1993-95; Carolina, 1996, 1998-99; San Francisco, 1997
26Cornelius Bennett, Buffalo, 1987-1995; Atlanta, 1996-98; Indianapolis, 1999-2000

Top of page

Most Touchdowns on Fumble Recoveries

6Jason Taylor, Miami, 1997-2007, 2009; Washington 2008
5Jessie Tuggle, Atlanta, 1987-2000
4Derrick Thomas, Kansas City, 1989-1999
4Link Lyman, Canton 1922-23, 1925; Cleveland 1924; Frankford 1925; Chicago Bears 1926-31, 1933-34
4Bill Thompson, Denver, 1969-1981
4Keith Bulluck, Tennessee, 2000-07
4Ronde Barber, Tampa Bay, 1997-2007

Top of page

Most Touchdowns on Own Fumble Recoveries

2Ken Kavanaugh, Chi Bears, 1940-41, 1945-50
2Mike Ditka, Chi, 1961-66; Phila, 1967-68; Dal, 1969-72
2Gail Cogdill, Det, 1960-68; Bal, 1968; Atlanta, 1969-70
2Ahmad Rashad, StL, 1972-73; Buf, 1974; Min, 1976-82
2Jim Mitchell, Atlanta, 1969-79
2Drew Pearson, Dallas, 1973-83
2Del Rodgers, Green Bay, 1982,1984; SF, 1987-88
2Alan Richard, Baltimore, 2001-03

Top of page

Most Touchdowns on Opponents' Fumble Recoveries

5Jessie Tuggle, Atlanta, 1987-2000
4Derrick Thomas, Kansas City, 1989-1999
4Jason Taylor, Miami, 1997-2003

Top of page

Other Resources

On This Site

NFL/AFL Single-Season Records

NFL/AFL Career Records: Defense & Punting

NFL/AFL Career Records: Passing

NFL/AFL Career Records: Receiving

NFL/AFL Career Records: Rushing

NFL/AFL Career Records: Scoring

Index to Football


HickokSports.com History

Alpha Index Index by Sport History Bits
Forum Links Search
This page last updated Thursday, 28-Jan-2010 20:53:42 EST
http://www.hickoksports.com/history/nflcareerrecordscombined.shtml