The longest punt returns in NFL history and why the greatest one will never be topped
Devin Hester. DeSean Jackson. Antonio Brown. These guys have some of the greatest punt returns of all time. The thing is, they have covered the sort of distance required to cement your name in Return of the Punt. The goal seems simple: cover as many yards as possible on your way to scoring a touchdown. But as those big names prove - it's not that easy.
Find out how someone managed to return a punt over 100 yards, practically cementing his place in NFL history.
Written and produced by Will Buikema
Directed and edited by Ryan Simmons
Graphics by Phil Pasternak
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“Just find dudes that are sneaky.” If you’re able to find them, then they’re not sneaky enough.
Joe Feltz false. What about Gil lefebvre?
Like a hidden society of ascetics the NAIA is loaded with return men who'll never see an NFL field, their brilliance bound by their devotion to being very very sneaky.
Unless they let you find them
@@arthurfidas7254 He's so sneaky he doesn't even have a picture
“That would then definitely be called back for holding” 😂😂 (10:10)
The truth to this statement makes it unfunny to me, its frustrating to see all time great moments get ruined by a piece of yellow cloth
@@muhammadfarhan581 yyyyyccizzozzozzyo
I mean he's not wrong.
Nah man It would be a block in the back
I busted out laughing at this one...partially because it's also true...
109.9 yards would be the ultimate dream for a return.
Larry Highbaugh Edm 116 yards (Oct. 26, 1975 Wpg at Edm) CFL > NFL in the longest punt return game.
@UCpYNF5n1VPBKguJZdJX7-JA if there is a very strong wind on top plus of a great kicker it can be done. Also a team can punt from the back line of their own endzone, but it's extremely risky.
What is so funny is that the 103 return actually did basically bounce at the back edge of the end zone - if only he would've grabbed it sooner.
Someone has returned a kickoff for that long. Vikings Packers Sunday Night Opening Kickoff for 109.87 Yards
@@Mathtron5000 name?
Who's here after Jamal Agnew just returned a missed field goal for a 109 yard touchdown?
I'll begin building my Madden franchise teams with only Sneaky players from now on, 25 straight championships is expected
Omg! That was classic! I'm dead!
Hello jon bois.
The problem with sneaky players is that they need a star to take the spotlight for them. Otherwise, they'll get unwanted attention that will make opposing teams pay attention to them. And, after continuous successes, they'll become well known anyways.
@@gamingtime9716 not if everyone is sneaky
A long time ago on Madden 06, I was playing as the Cowboys and just caught a punt around the other teams 40 yard line. I thought I had time to catch the ball and try to do something with it.. but I got smashed by the coverage team the moment I caught the ball and I fumbled it. The coverage team scooped up the ball and started running the other way. I was furious at myself as I watched the guy get closer and closer to their end zone. With about 20 yards to go, one of my guys pops up on the screen behind the guy with the ball. I immediately started smashing the sprint button and managed to not just make the tackle around the 3 yard line.. but stripped the ball! The ball rolls about 2/3 yards into the end-zone when of all people, my original return man picks up the ball and races down the sideline 102/103 yards for the touchdown! It was probably the craziest play I had ever seen in all my years of playing Madden/NCAA Football.
I would love to see this recreated
At that point, it's technically a fumble return for a touchdown and not a punt return anymore, but still, great job.
Robert Laudun Me too, sad this was before KZhead and game recording was a thing (at least on the level it is today)
matrixphijr Thanks!
It's a little weird that the game would continue the play after the first fumble recovery, because the kicking team can't advance the ball after a muffed punt. In the NFL, players often forget this rule and continue running with it, but I'm not sure if any subsequent fumbles and scores would count.
Wait, Devin Hester's 108 yard missed field goal return was officially a punt return since there's no box score marking for a missed field goal.
Aiden Rae THANK YOU!!! I swear to god no one here is educated
Antonio Cromartie has a 109 yard missed FG return
I thought those are officially fumble returns?
Aiden Rae and Antonio cromarties 109.88 return should be here too
@@mysticalmurray6373 That's who I was thinking of!!! I thought...man someone has a 109 return and I was thinking it was a punt return but didn't remember the asterisk on it that it was a missed FG.
Hester is not arguably the best return man ever, he is the best return man ever. Its not arguable
Guess Josh Cribbs is just a scrub then
@@doylerudolph7965 not a scrub. Just not Hester
@@doylerudolph7965 Cribbs didn't set the records, and he did all his damage in the span of 3-4 years with his last return coming in his seventh year in the league. Hester scored his final two returns in his eighth and ninth seasons. Also, Cribbs had a total of 11 TD returns on punts and kickoffs, and he was much better returning kickoffs than punts. Hester had 11 TD returns on punts and kickoffs *at the end of his second season* and then added to it over the rest of his time in the NFL. Cribbs was good, but when it comes to all-time greats, he's not even in the top 5.
Cribbs was a great kick returner. Hester was a return specialist. Any skill player in football can be coached and practice to get as good as Cribbs was. You cant teach or practice enough to get the level of anticipation, on field awareness/vision and natural instinct that Hester had.
What about "The Human Joystick" Dante Hall!
I need all those video games these guys on SB Nation are always playing 😂
I’d love a “most career interceptions” video. I think there’s an interesting niche for unsuccessful or mediocre quarterbacks if they can consistently put up numbers, despite the many picks they throw.
It’s Brett Favre, which idk I can say it was mediocre QB.
When are you guys gonna release a Beta of all these games you play?
I want to play the basketball foul out one.
Saw the words "pretty good" at 4:28 and now I miss Jon Bois
Joe Lubetski what happened Is he gone or sick
Jackson Reda Probably neither. This is par for the course for Mr Bois.
TheLongDark he waits till we need him most
He's already done an hour long video on punts. I think he's moved on to other things.
He’s making dorktown comic with Alex rn
"Then it would probably get called back for holding" lmao too true
Dennis Morgan is a legend for being on the high score list with exactly 69 touches.
Nice!
u have 68 thumbs-up right now
Was gonna like but unliked to keep ot at 69 likes
@@alexisgeovann thank you for doing your part
5:40 I think the biggest thing u missed here about them being rookies is that they aren't considered a threat yet, like u don't have kickers making sure to kick away from them yet.
This is such a brilliant point to just made.👌👌👌
@@devoncasseus Thanks
That is a good point people like Devin Hester have been playing for a long time and punters know to kick away from him and other people like Tyreek Hill in his rookie year
patrick peterson pulled off the slickest spin move in that OT win, I remember watching that as a kid
2:45 "It can go a Long way", his teammates name is Long. Clever
Number 88 is such a good friend, running with the record setter to be the first to celebrate with him in the endzone.
Big fan of the sneaky low angle cam. Made me laugh each time it cut to it.
In the early 2000's John Lynch had Bailey beat. He did the same thing that Bailey did, grabbed the ball in the end zone when the punting team had seemingly given up. He ran for a fairly easy touchdown. However, some of his Buccaneer teammates didnt see what was going on and sauntered onto the field to start their offensive drive. Penalty for too many men on the field. No touchdown. No record. What dicks!
I can't find video of this one
This is one of my favorite videos you've done - just brilliant all over.
I love Secret Base. You guys are so fun to watch. No frills. No gimmicks. Just good storytelling and well written script. Love it.
"It could go a Long way!" *Shows picture of Chris Long* I see what you did there, even though it was by complete accident
Jake long Not Chris
I know we all love Bois but Buikema is pretty on point with his content. Also, strong T-shirt game.
I went to Micklethwait for lunch on Wednesday and your shirt makes me want to go there again right now.
I like the Dark Souls "You died" shoutout. "You did okay". Thanks, game.
You guys do amazing work
I like how the simulation for gil’s return is 6 on his team including him, and 11 defenders. That’s pretty wild stuff
worth noting about Devin Hester racing a cheetah 1) it's a cheetah, it doesn't know what a race is 2) getting the cheetah to run when the race has started, isn't easy 3) the cheetah isn't really aware of turning around for said race it doesn't understand 4) the race was lengths back and forth, cheetahs are straight shoot sprinters 5) still kinda cool he raced a cheetah
0:29 Speed: 6 Strength: 6 Sexiness: 6 Jon Bois
Directed by Ryan Simmons. Fitting, since this would've made a great episode of Weird Rules.
ur production is amazing
I legit forgot about that 1994 return. That was one of the smartest plays of all time.
They should've spent more time on that.
I like how as this series goes on, each game's graphics get more complex too
Man, these videos are so f*cking good. Enjoying them everytime.
If two people are tied for second, then no one is in third place. 1. T-2. T-2. 4
Cool
pedant
There’s too many people to count that
Depends on the source of and reason for the list. It is called second *place,* not second _person,_ after all. However, if there are awards involved, then they will typically jump to 4th so that, for example, they aren't handing out 4 medals in the Olympics.
@@matrixphijr they do if there's a tie for third.
This is all well and good, all these happy punts, but I wonder what's the saddest punt in history? Oh wait we already know that
This was spectacular.
Sir Donald Bradman please. Ed. As an Aussie fan of us sports anything to do with punting is valued. Thank you SB. Ed 2. I couldn't remember whether the last play was a kickoff or punt. My god I love this play. Anomaly in extremis.
"Awesome, jaw-dropping spectacles..." /shows Antonio Brown kung-fu kicking Spencer Lanning in the face
I was thinking, “didn’t someone do a 109yd return?” then it hit me that was a kickoff, not a punt. Haha
It can go a LONG way 2:45 If you see it you see it
I saw the title and instantly knew, what High Score was gonna come
Either the NCAA recently changed the rule, or the Big East had different rules, because now in college, you can't return a kick if you wave off teammates. I've seen several returns blown dead for that. So, it's amazing that Austin was that aware to know he could make that play.
Cool vid, return TDs are exciting. Curiously enough, Bailey wasn't even the standout special teams player on the day he set his record punt return. On the opposing team, the Rams' Tyrone Hughes set the still-standing single game records of 304 yards in kick returns (2 TDs, both 90+ yards) and 347 yards total return yards. And the Rams also returned a fumble 98 yards for a TD!
Back in highschool I returned a punt the distance. I caught it in the endzone and stood there not moving as the kickoff team sprinted down the entire field. I waited until the first guy got to the end zone, then took off. My idea was, "if they have to run the length of the field before they get to me, they're too gased to stop me". Plus a few apparently thought the play was over. I always wondered why returners don't do this in the end zone, or at the very least make the other team run the full distance before kneeling. You'd tire and frustrate the opponent. I guess I'm a fan of the sneaky stat.
I actually saw the Dwayne Harris one on tv and was excited that he returned the punt, not the fact that he just had the 2nd longest punt return
"can go a long way" Has a photo of him going for a hug with long
That background music goes perfectly with that Harris runback
Awesome
SB Nation teasing us with that Pretty Good reference
Freakin' Austin, man... dude would give the Seahawks special teams coverage FITS! Everytime Austin recovered a punt, 12's hold their breath, until he gets tackled. That guy is a great punt returner.
@SB Nation All the guys with 98-yard returns are tied for fourth, not third.
bring high score back, dope series
Fishers reaction to Auatins play reminds of that story Favres head coach told about him scrambling and throwing a td pass for a win
Antonio carmartie did this on fg miss an jumped up like 4 yards to pick it out of air... crazy play
Someone should do "the creation of SB nation deserves a deep rewind"
Bailey's punt return is my dad's favourite play from the 90s
Y'all should do an episode on the 2003 Carolina Dodge Dealers 300
There was a 113 year return in the CFL back in 1995
Which is sorta equivalent to a 103 yard return. Sure, it's 10 extra yards but the logistics of getting those 10 are more of a hindrance to extending the logistics of someone in the thousands of punt returns finding a way to navigate down field.
2:45 was that intentional, to say long when there's a player who's named Long in the video?
"Sometimes the way to the top isn't by taking advantage of your knowledge, it's by taking advantage of others' stupidity - That's how I got here" LOL (7:49)
I'm pretty sure that AZ-STL game was the same one where one of those teams scored exactly 4 points in a quarter. Super weird game all around.
dude -- awesum recall!! www.nfl.com/gamecenter/2011110611/2011/REG9/rams@cardinals
I like where he used Antonio Brown’s “kicks a man” when he said “jaw-dropping”
Yesssss gimme them special teams vids
Deson Jackson punt return against the giants to win the game was a nice return
A good high score video- though i'm not sure how you'd collate the info- would be 'most tackles/contacts in a RB touchdown run' - like the aim of the game is to run it into the endzone and get touched by as many defenders as possible.
The Cardinals parlayed that win into almost making playoffs that year after a 1-6 start. Finished 8-8
I already knew the high score from the "Worst Effort Plays in Sports Compilation", although I would argue that it was more negligence than bad effort lol
“That’s…. Pretty Good” the Jon Bois reference 👍🏻
SB Nation could you do a deep rewind video on the 8th seed warriors beating the 1st seed Mavericks in the 2007 playoffs
Can you guys do an episode of The Worst for a pitching start? Steven Matz this year gave up 8 runs without recording an out, but it'd be cool to see what the worst ever start was, if not that
2:45 “A “Long” way” lol
Oh snap! Dwayne Harris! ECU Shout out (that isn't Earnest Byner or Vice McMahon)!
I think technically the Bailey return should have been called back due to the fact you can see the Rams offense running on to the field DURING his return. In any case, the way Barnhardt's punt bounced was insane. How it didnt touch the back line is crazy lol
Please do one of kick returns for Devin Hester please and thank you
a replay of devin hester's super bowl kick return would be awesome but i think they did it already
Remember in the super bowl when there was a power outage and a 109 punt return td?
Tavon Austin returned that kick from another WVU alum ( Pat McAfee)
It went from an amazing punt by McAfee to an unbelievable return by Tavon Austin.
very cool intro seems some Basic variant
"nicknamed 'Beetle' by Chris Berman" man, I can't remember back far enough to confirm or deny that, but that's absolutely the kind of thing Berman would do...
For the next collaps video you need to do the Expos after the 1994 mlb strike.
Can you please do a rewinder on the 2014 world cup match between Brazil and Germany
WE LIKE SPORTS AND WE DON'T CARE WHO KNOWS
Kofie Why? football football football hockey golf
I can conclude from this video that the rams are best at punt returns.
Someone *NEEDS* to make that punt return video game a thing. It would work perfectly on mobile, and I would play the hell out of it.
You say it will never be topped, but then you open the door for some bold ass to be like "Hold my Gatorade."
I also think AB kicking the kicker in the face was jaw dropping😂
Maybe a video idea could be field goal miss returns for TD. I think the Chargers had 108 yd return against the Vikings in the mid 2000s.
I was waiting for someone to mention Antonio cromartie
Cordarell Patterson’s 109 yard kick return was insane
Not to contradict you guys, but there is a very real possibility for a player to break the record without being monumentally stupid. Here's the scenario: Team A is down 4 or more points (but crucially less than 9) going into the final seconds. Team B has run out the clock to less than 10 seconds remaining, but it's fourth down, clock has stopped (due to time out, penalty, whatever) and now they have to punt. In this situation, starting a Hail Mary from the 20 isn't going to be significantly better than starting from the 10, so gambling on a big return is worth it. Team B punts, Team A fields the punt deep in their own endzone, defies all odds and scores and bam record broken. Unlikely for sure but it can happen
Yay new vid
former rams fan here, why we punted to peterson on that play i will never know
Ok, but what's the high score if you count the total of the distance of the punt and the distance of the return?
3:00 nice
Come to cfl we rip 116 yard missed fg returns
Ed reeds int returns are legendary
Is there a KR and INT Return version of this too lol?? Please say yes 😐
Bruh that Robert Bailey play was ridiculous on the saints part
7:50 - 7:58 Knowing some of the news reports about SB Nation in the last few months...that's a great joke.
Peterson's is the best given the context of the situation OT return for the Win.