The best kick returns in NFL history

One of the greatest kick returners in NFL history, Josh Cribbs, once said, “In football, special teams win games. It doesn’t matter how good your offense or defense is, if they give up one kickoff return, one fumble on (a) punt return, that changes the whole game drastically.”

In many cases, Cribbs has been right. Although it garners far less praise and attention than offense and defense, special teams can make or break a team’s success on the field, especially in the biggest games.

Let's look back at the times special teams stole the show, with the 10 greatest kick returns in NFL history.

10. Josh Cribbs, Week 6 of 2009

Let’s begin with Cribbs, who turned a near blunder into six points.

The Pittsburgh Steelers held a 14-0 lead in the second quarter, when Cribbs attempted to reel in a bouncy kickoff, but he tipped the ball as it sailed over his head and watched it stall on the goal line.

Cribbs scooped up the ball and cruised down the sideline.

The touchdown was the sixth of eight kick return scores by Cribbs in his career. He is tied with Cordarrelle Patterson and Leon Washington for the most by an NFL player.

9. Randall Cobb, Week 1 of 2011

On the way to a 15-1 campaign, the Green Bay Packers got off to a hot start in 2011, with the help of rookie receiver Randall Cobb.

In the third quarter, with the Packers up eight points against New Orleans, Cobb stood deep in his own end zone, ready to take a touchback, as coach Mike McCarthy ordered.

Instead, Cobb claimed divine intervention told him to act otherwise, and the young receiver made his move down the field.

He was hit around the 23-yard line and even barrelled over a defender, but he landed on his feet and proceeded to run for a 108-yard kickoff return, which tied an NFL record.

8. David Johnson, Week 2 of 2015

As a rookie, Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson announced his presence from the start.

For the opening kickoff against Chicago in Week 2, Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians admitted he expected Johnson to stay in the end zone for a touchback — something players did far more often after a rule change in 2011 pushed back the placement of kickoff teams.

Instead, Johnson saw an open hole forming as the ball was in the air and decided to take off. His risk paid off in the form of a 108-yard kickoff return, the longest in Cardinals franchise history and second-longest kickoff return of all time.

7. Dave Williams, Thanksgiving, 1980 

On Thanksgiving Day, the Bears forced overtime, after they trailed, 17-3, after the third quarter, against Detroit.

The Bears didn’t waste any time to finish the game. On the opening overtime kickoff, Dave Williams ran the ball 95 yards to the end zone to give Chicago a 23-17 victory.

At the time, his touchdown resulted in the shortest overtime in NFL history, and the game became just the second in NFL history to end on a kick-return touchdown.

Teammate Walter Payton was so excited by the win, he accidentally hit lineman Dan Hampton’s nose and broke it while jumping up and down in celebration.

6. DeSean Jackson, Week 15 of 2010

Another game-winner on our list, the "Miracle at the New Meadowlands," featured an incredible special teams moment led by a young DeSean Jackson.

After the Philadelphia Eagles climbed back from a 21-point deficit with just eight minutes left in regulation, Jackson awaited a punt from New York with the score tied, 31-31.

Just 14 seconds remained on the clock, as Jackson bobbled the ball around his team's 35-yard line, then scrambled to recover and sprinted toward the end zone.

The third-year receiver found an open lane and got a nice block from his teammate to set up a 65-yard punt return touchdown to win the game.

The victory landed the Eagles a playoff berth, and etched Jackson's name in history. He became the first player to win a game by scoring on a punt return as time expired. 

5. Devin Hester, Super Bowl XLI

While Devin Hester's 92-yard return in 2007 didn't seal a win for the Bears, it earned one of the best returners of all time a special place in history.

In the biggest game of the season, against the Indianapolis Colts, Hester raced to the end zone at the start of the Super Bowl.

He became the first player to return the opening kickoff of a Super Bowl for a touchdown. At the time, his feat also marked the quickest touchdown scored in Super Bowl history, along with the quickest lead taken by any team.

Colts head coach Tony Dungy had told his team he hoped to lose the coin toss so Indy could kick the ball to Hester and pound him.

"When they know we've taken their best threat, they're going to be finished," Dungy recalled.

After Hester's momentous start, the Colts did not kick the ball directly to him for the remainder of the game.

4. Desmond Howard, Super Bowl XXXI

It is no surprise Heisman Trophy-winning punt returner/receiver Desmond Howard turned in the greatest all-around special teams performance in Super Bowl history.

Against the New England Patriots, Howard piled up 244 all-purpose yards in the Green Bay Packers' 35-21 win.

Howard's best moment came on the final touchdown of the game. His 99-yard return set a Super Bowl record at the time.

Howard earned Super Bowl MVP and is still the only special teams player to receive the honor.

3. Jacoby Jones, Super Bowl XLVII 

Sixteen years after Howard's 99-yard kickoff return, Baltimore Ravens receiver Jacoby Jones set a new record.

On the second-half kickoff of Super Bowl XLVII, against the San Francisco 49ers, Jones dashed 108 yards to put Baltimore up 28-6.

His return was originally measured at 109 yards but was later ruled an 108-yard return. That distance is still the longest return by a player in postseason history and the Ravens were the first team to score on two Super Bowl kickoff returns. Jermaine Lewis notched one in 2000.

Jones' return was the ninth kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl history. He also recorded two return touchdowns during the regular season — a 108-yarder against the Cowboys and a 105-yarder against the Raiders.

2. Cordarrelle Patterson, Week 7 of 2013

Patterson has been lighting up special teams defenses since he entered the league in 2013.

Tied for the most kick-return touchdowns (eight) of all time, Patterson has already amassed five kick returns of more than 100 yards in his career, but his longest came in his rookie season with the Minnesota Vikings.

Against division rival Green Bay, Patterson positioned himself as far back in the end zone as he could on the opening kickoff. As soon as he caught the kick from Tim Masthay, Patterson darted up the middle and hardly experienced any pushback along the way.

With the 109-yard dash, Patterson set the NFL record for longest kickoff return and tied the longest play in NFL history. Antonio Cromartie also accomplished a 109-yard play, when he returned a missed field goal for a touchdown in a 2007 game against the Vikings. 

1. Kevin Dyson, 1999-2000 AFC Wild Card Game

No kick return is more legendary than the one that occurred with 16 seconds remaining in the AFC Wild Card matchup between the Tennessee Titans and Buffalo Bills on Jan. 8, 2000.

After Buffalo nailed a field goal to go up 16-15, Al Del Greco kicked off to Titans fullback Lorenzo Neal, who handed the ball to tight end Frank Wycheck around Tennessee's 25-yard line. 

Dyson then dashed 75 yards to cap a 22-16 win. The moment is known as the "Music City Miracle" and is one of the greatest plays in NFL history.