Combined Kick and Punt Return Yardage Leaders - Mostly unchanged in the last decade

[SeahawkFever]

Awhile back I posted a list of NFL records that I think will probably never be broken and that go under acknowledged.

One of the less specific ones is career kick and punt return yards combined (19,013) by Brian Mitchell, who retired after the 2003 season.

I notice that there seems to be a lack of progression of that record and in general that leaderboard in recent years.

The current top 25 in combined return yardage through the 2025 season are the following:

Brian Mitchell - 19,013
Allen Rossum - 15,003
Josh Cribbs - 13,488
Mel Gray - 13,003
Glyn Milburn - 12,772
Dante Hall - 12,397
Darren Sproles - 11,313
Devin Hester - 11,028
Desmond Howard - 10,854
Kevin Williams - 9,604
Ted Ginn Jr. - 9,523
Leon Washington - 9,346
Dave Meggett - 9,274
Eric Metcalf - 9,266
Michael Bates - 9,154
Ron Smith - 8,710
Andre Roberts - 8,631
Tyrone Hughes - 8,410
Cordarelle Patterson - 8,238
Vai Sikahema - 8,102
Jermaine Lewis - 7,893
Brandon Tate - 7,814
Michael Lewis - 7,807
Jacoby Jones - 7,628
Tamarick Hanover - 7,438

A look at the top 25 returners by yardage through the 2015 season will show that the top seven in 2015 are still the top seven now, and a few players that were already in the first 16 moved up in ranking as they got more yardage, but the top 16 players by return yardage in 2015 are still the top 16.

For that matter, Corey Harris who ranked 45th in career return yardage in 2015 still ranks 48th today, and he had 5,545 career return yards, so only three players in the last decade have even reached that total of return yardage.

So did teams not focus on having one player do all their returns like they did decades ago?

And do you all see any player getting very high on the return yards list going forward?

[saturdaysarebetter]

No, the kickoff return rules changed everything in the name of player safety and less concussions. It eliminated Devin Hester being a weapon. I get that but now I don't feel I miss anything if I miss the kickoff.

[Brian wolf]

Coaches still need to attack the the coverage units. Force kickoff teams to tackle their returners. There are still return TDs waiting to be had with good blocking, unless kickers just boom it out of the endzone. Hester's election gives hope to players who can carve their way into a niche, without being full-time players on either unit.

If I am not mistaken, Frank Cooney did an excellent write-up about Brian Mitchell's worthiness for the HOF. It still boggles my mind that the Redskins and Eagles didnt utilize his skills more on offense? As a runner he averaged 5.0 yards a carry and despite having way less starts than Hester, who played as a receiver, only had 1000 less receiving yards, though Hester had more TDs on special teams.

[RichardBak]

I've long thought Mitchell belonged in the Hall.

[Brian wolf]

I agree Richard ... it would be a damn shame if Sproles doesnt make the HOF. He was effective anytime the ball was in his hands. Like Mitchell, teams didnt let him run the ball enough on offense. I even saw him block, though teams wanted to to throw his way ...

[SeahawkFever]

I've long thought Mitchell belonged in the Hall.

I wouldn't be opposed. In particular given that we now have a guy who made it in on special teams play alone in Devin Hester.
Not saying Mitchell is necessarily as good as Hester at returning, but he had another 4,303 yards from scrimmage in addition to his returning.

Mitchell will probably be the top player by return yardage for a very long time given how the game has changed since he retired.