American/Canadian football player who specializes in kick returns
Devin Hester, the first and only return specialist inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, fielding a punt during special teams practice at the Chicago Bears' 2007 training camp
A return specialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punts and kickoffs. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most also play another position such as wide receiver, defensive back, or running back. The special teams counterpart of a return specialist is a kicking specialist.
According to All-American Venric Mark, "Returning punts is harder. You have to judge the ball more, you have to know when to fair catch and when not to. You can't be a superhero and try to catch everything. With kickoff returns, you catch the ball and—boom—you're going."[1]
^Greenstein, Teddy (2010-08-24). "Northwestern's Mark attracting notice: Freshman likely to get nod returning kickoffs and will get shot at punts". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2012-12-11.
A returnspecialist or kick returner is a player on the special teams unit of a gridiron football team who specializes in returning punts and kickoffs...
Tatum-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Back of the Year, and Rodgers-Dwight Big Ten ReturnSpecialist of the Year. DeJean was a finalist for the Bronko Nagurski Trophy...
bigten.org. December 1, 2014. Retrieved December 21, 2019. "Big Ten creates Rodgers-Dwight ReturnSpecialist of the Year Award". KETV. November 24, 2015....
Alabama. A former track and field star, Hill played primarily as a returnspecialist as a rookie but has transitioned to strictly playing wide receiver...
(born March 19, 2002) is an American football wide receiver and returnspecialist for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played...
(born October 6, 1995) is an American football wide receiver and returnspecialist for the Miami Dolphins in the National Football League (NFL). He played...
schools that recruited him to play wide receiver, instead as only a returnspecialist or planned to move him to the defensive side of the ball. In his first...
(born September 12, 1997) is an American football wide receiver and returnspecialist for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL)...
football primarily at cornerback, while also making appearances as a returnspecialist and wide receiver. During his career, he was named to eight Pro Bowls...
football wide receiver and returnspecialist who played in the National Football League (NFL). The only primary returnspecialist to be enshrined in the Pro...
(born May 15, 1970) is an American former football wide receiver and returnspecialist who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He...
Milne (born June 23, 1999) is an American football wide receiver and returnspecialist for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL)...
returns. He was named a second-team College Football All-American as a returnspecialist. While still a backup to Thomas, he received notable attention from...
Silas Bolden is an American football wide receiver and returnspecialist who will play for the Texas Longhorns. He previously played for the Oregon State...
quarterback, running back, defensive back, punter, and he was also a returnspecialist. In his senior year, he led North Murray to a 9–1 record and the school's...
(born February 16, 2000) is an American football running back and returnspecialist for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL)...
Smith played mostly wide receiver and served as the team's primary returnspecialist and had 22 receptions for 248 yards and three touchdowns. He played...
football. From 1998 to 2001, he played running back, wide receiver, and returnspecialist for the Fightin' Blue Hens. Veach's teammates included quarterback...
football player who spent his entire career as a wide receiver and punt returner for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He registered...
Turpin (born August 2, 1996) is an American football wide receiver and returnspecialist for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played...
Branch (born March 29, 2004) is an American football wide receiver and returnspecialist for the USC Trojans. Branch was born on March 29, 2004, the youngest...
III (born March 24, 1999) is an American football wide receiver and returnspecialist for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL)...
Global Information