Longest Punt In NFL History In The Air And Super Bowl Kick Return

Longest punt return in NFL history was a 103-yard punt by Robert Bailey in 1994 for Los Angeles Rams. 

It was October 23rd and Rams were playing against the Saints in the Superdome. Bailey knocked the ball in the air, past the defenders, finding gaps amidst the chaos. The ball then crossed the goalline leaving defenders grasping in the air. The celebration was worth the watch:

Robert’s excellent punt stands as a testament to the miraculous skills possessed by NFL Players. This exceptional record still is the longest in the league’s history. 

Patrick Peterson with 99-yard in 2011 and Dwayne Harris with 99-yard in 2018 stand as the second-longest punters in history. 

Similarly, Terance Mathis (1990), Tavon Austin (2013), Demaris Johnson (2012), Denis Morgan (1974), and Charlie West (1968) has successfully recorded 98-yard punt return setting themselves in the third-longest punt return in the NFL.

There are more than a dozen of punt returns that touched and exceeded the 95-yard range. Let’s go through 12 All-time longest punt returns in NFL in the table below: 

Super Bowl

Longest punt return in Super Bowl history is a 65-yard punt by Kadarius Toney on February 12, 2023.

The Kansas City Chief’s returner kicked the ball down to the opposing team’s 5-yard line, creating Super Bowl history against Philadelphia Eagles. 

Let’s watch the history being created: 

Similarly, the longest punt occurred in Super Bowl in February 2019 when Johnny Hekker struck 65 yards from Los Angeles Rams against the Patriots. 

Longest kickoff return in NFL history was the 109-yard kickoff return by Cordarelle Patterson in 2013 for the Vikings. 

However, Antonio Cromartie had also set the 109-yard return of a misfield goal in 2007 for the Chargers. 

Longest kick returns in NFL history were set by Randall Cobb in 2011, Knile Davis in 2013, Ellis Hobbs in 2007, David Johnson in 2015, and Jacoby Jones in 2012 and 2014. With a kick return of 108 yards, they recorded themselves as the second-longest kickoff returners in history.

There are more than 90 players who have reached and crossed 100-yard kick return on the list. 

Kick Return in American football is the process of catching and returning kickoffs and punts from the opposing team. Kick returners are placed in the defensive backfield whose responsibilities include: returning the ball to a better field position, returning a kick for a touchdown, and more. 

They are supposed to be the fastest player on the field, must possess exceptional field vision, and should be elusive. 

NFL has inscribed many names with such skills in its history book and has relentlessly added top returners to its All time top list. 

Longest Kick return in Super Bowl history was 108 yards by Jacoby Jones on February 3, 2013, against the San Fransisco 49ers. 

After the record-breaking kick return, everyone believed that it would lead the Ravens toward victory against the 49ers. But the 49ers three touchdowns cut their lead to two points. 

At last, a field goal by Justin Tucker and a defensive stand from the five-yard line gave the Ravens a 34-31 win over the 49ers. Tucker’s field goal kick of 66 yards in 2021 against the Lions is the farthest field goal in NFL.

Devin Hester

Devin Hester Super Bowl kick return of 92 yards in February 2007 during Super Bowl XLI in Miami gave his team a 7-0 lead against Colts.

Hester claimed to have envisioned a fantastic play for a week. But unfortunately, they lost the game with a final score of 29-17. The former coach of the Colts Tony Dungy later revealed that they had planned to keep the ball out of his hand as he was a formidable return specialist.

The change of mind of the coach before the match happened and the ball was kicked to Hester thinking that the Colts will defend him. But they were all wrong and gave him the opportunity to set up a record for him. 

Desmond Howard

Desmond Howard Super Bowl kick return covered an impressive 99 yards on January 26, 1997.

This moment shattered the hopes of the New England Patriots, who were starting to believe in a potential comeback.

The Patriots had just scored a touchdown, cutting the Green Bay Packers lead to 27-21 with only 3 minutes 27 seconds remaining in the third quarter. They had time in their favor to turn the game around.

However, their hopes were quickly muted. Howard caught the subsequent kickoff on his own 1-yard line and swiftly moved toward the outer edge of the field. 

He then made a sudden cutback, leaving all the players of the opposing team in the dust. It was exhilarating for the Patriots, and they couldn’t muster another comeback after that.

The Green Bay Packers won the Super Bowl with a final score of 35-21 in the New Orleans Superdome.

Howard’s electrifying run to the end zone was something worth the watch of a Super Bowl week which was earlier filled with distractions.

 After the defeat, Bill Parcells the coach of the Patriots became a major source of attention for people around the globe as people heard that he was planning to leave for the New York Jets, which he eventually did.

Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin Super Bowl kick return of 87 yards in February 2014 against the Denver Broncos is considered another major Super Bowl kick return. 

The first half of the Super Bowl XLVII went horribly for the Seahawks and the second half was also not improving. The excellent returner then showcased his extraordinary returning skills. 

After the long touchdown, he gave his team a lead of 29-0 against the  Broncos and helped the Seahawks to lift their first Super Bowl title. 

Other big names as the Super Bowl kick returners include:

• Fulton Walker for Miami Dolphins and Los Angeles Raiders
• Andrew Coleman for the Seattle Seahawks
• Stephan Starring
•  J. J. Arington
•  Kelvin Martin
• Jermaine Lewis
• Josh Cribbs
• Larry Anderson
• Dave Meggette
• Tim Dwight
• Ellis Hobbs
• Bethel Jhonson
• Dexter Carter and more. 

Players with the most Super Bowl career kickoff returns

Ken Bell has the most Super Bowl career kickoff returns with 10 returns. Similarly, Marcus Knight, Andrew Coleman, Fulton Walker, and Lary Anderson have 8 kickoff returns placing them all in second position. 

Dave Meggett, Stephen Starring, and Preston Pearson have attained 7 kick returns in their career and are on the third on the top list. 

More than 15 other players including Bethel Johnson, Ron Dixon, Vaughn Hebron, Jacoby Jones, Chad Simpson, Derrick Mason, and more are also on the list of top most career kickoff returns in the Super Bowl. 

Longest punt in NFL history is a 98-yard punt by Steve O’Neal during his rookie year in 1996 at Mile High Stadium in Denver. 

Steve blootered the ball standing in the middle of the end zone powering the ball to the 33-yard line on the opposite and making it bounce near the goal line. The ball actually flew from New York Jets’ 1-yard line to the Denver Broncos’ 1-yard line. What magic to watch!

It was Neal’s rookie year with the Jets when the miracle occurred. He has inscribed his name as the longest punter in NFL’s chronicle.

Longest punts in NFL history were made by Shwan McCarthy, Randall Cunnigham, Don Chandler and Rodney Williams.

The second largest punt in NFL history was from Shwan McCarthy of the New England Patriots in 1991 against the Buffalo Bills. It was a 93-yard boot from the middle of the end zone which bounced to Bills’ 1-yard line from 35-yard line. 

The second NFL record was marked in Ralph Willson Stadium currently known as Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York. 

Let’s have a glimpse of that magnificent showcase too. 

The third record was from a quarterback for Philadelphia Eagles in 1989. He was Randall Cunnigham who booted up a 91-yard punt at Giants Stadium. 

Randall kicked the ball from the middle of the end zone to the Jets’ 37-yard line and made it bounce down to 7. It was not his first punt struck. Cunningham had already kicked 105 times during his collegiate career and was repeating in the NFL seasons from time to time. 

There are not many players who have touched 90 yards in punting. The only two players in the range are Don Chandler for the Packers and Rodney Williams for the Giants. They both struck 90 yards, Don in 1965 and Williams in 2001. 

After Robert Malone’s 84-yard in 2013, the longest punt recorded was in the 2021 season by Corey Bozorquez which was 82-yard for the Packers against the Bears in Chicago. 

The longest preseason punt is under the name of Matt Araiza of the Buffalo Bills which is 82-yard in August 2022.

Top 10 longest punts in NFL history: