Kickoff returner

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In American and Canadian football, a kick returner (KR) is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the air and determine if it would be beneficial to his team for a return. If he decides that it is not, he can make a touchback by kneeling down in the end zone after catching the ball, which gives his team the ball at their own 20-yard line to start the drive.

He is usually one of the faster players on the team, often a backup wide receiver, defensive back, or running back.

A kick returner might also double as a punt returner as well.

Sometimes players who make big plays at the punt or kick returner positions become well known "return specialist" players. (e.g. Dante Hall, Leon Washington, Deion Sanders, Devin Hester, Eric Metcalf, and Brian Mitchell)

Positions in American football and Canadian football
Offense		Defense		Special teams
Linemen	Guard, Tackle, Center	Linemen	Tackle, End, Nose tackle	Kicking players	Placekicker, Punter, Kickoff specialist
Quarterback		Linebackers		Snapping	Long snapper, Holder
Backs	Halfback, Fullback, H-back	Backs	Cornerback, Safety	Returning	Punt returner, Kick returner
Receivers	Wide receiver, Tight end, Slotback	Backs	Nickelback, Dimeback	Tackling	Gunner
Formations - Nomenclature

[edit] Kickoff return touchdown percentage

The following table ranks all National Football League kick returners with at least 4 touchdown returns through the 2006 season (plus Devin Hester & Allen Rossum) by touchdown return percentage:

Top 25 career
Name	TD	Returns	Yards	Average	TD %	Start	End
Gale Sayers	6	91	2781	30.56	6.59%	1965	1971
Devin Hester	4	63	1462	23.21	6.35%	2006	2007
Travis Williams	6	102	2801	27.46	5.88%	1967	1971
Bobby Mitchell	5	102	2690	26.37	4.90%	1958	1968
Ollie Matson	6	143	3746	26.20	4.20%	1952	1964
Jon Vaughn	4	103	2390	23.20	3.88%	1991	1994
Darrick Vaughn	4	103	2620	25.44	3.88%	2000	2003
Cecil Turner	4	108	2616	24.22	3.70%	1968	1973
Tony Horne	4	143	3577	25.01	2.80%	1998	2000
Timmy Brown	5	186	4781	25.70	2.69%	1959	1968
Abe Woodson	5	193	5538	28.69	2.59%	1958	1966
Andre Coleman	4	193	4446	23.04	2.07%	1994	1998
Ron Brown	4	199	4493	22.58	2.01%	1984	1990
Terrence McGee	4	203	5358	26.39	1.97%	2003	2007
Tamarick Vanover	4	226	5422	23.99	1.77%	1995	1999
Dante Hall	6	389	9373	24.10	1.54%	2000	2007
Mel Gray	6	421	10250	24.35	1.43%	1986	1997
Michael Bates	5	373	9110	24.42	1.34%	1993	2003
Allen Rossum	4	459	10520	22.92	0.87%	1998	2007
Brian Mitchell	4	607	14014	23.09	0.66%	1990	2003