Troy Brown
The top 10 New England Patriots punt returners of all time:1. Troy Brown 1993-2007 - 2,625 punt return yards2. Irving Fryar 1984-92 - 2,055 punt return yards3. David Meggett 1995-97 - 1,438 punt return yards4. Mike Haynes 1976-82 - 1,159 punt return yards5. Stanley Morgan 1977-89 - 960 punt return yards6. Kevin Faulk 1999-2008 - 901 punt return yards7. Mack Herron 1973-75 - 888 punt return yards8. Ricky Smith 1982-83 - 537 punt return yards9. Carl Garrett 1969-72 - 487 punt return yards10. Wes Welker 2007-08 - 486 punt return yards
Troy Brown holds the record for Patriots punt returns. He had 252 punt returns for a total of 2625 yards, an average of 10.4 yards per return.
Johnnie Lee Higgins (WR, Oakland Raiders) and Reggie Bush (RB, New Orleans Saints) had the most punt returns for touchdowns in 2008 with three each. Three punt return touchdowns is just one short of the all time record for punt returns for a TD in a season - 4. Higgins had 44 punt returns for 570 punt return yards, averaging 13 yards per punt return over 16 games. His longest punt return was for 93 yards. Bush had 20 punt returns for 270 punt return yards, averaging 13.5 yards per punt return over only 10 games. His longest punt return was for 71 yards. According to Playerfilter, two other plays also had two punt returns for touchdowns in 2008 - Jacob Jones (WR, Houston Texans) and Will Blackmon (CB, Green Pay Packers) while six had one.
The onside kick from scrimmage was eliminated, in the collegiate game, before WWI -- around 1912, I believe. The NFL started in 1920. So I guess the answer is -- never. In the NFL, an onside kick is only possible on a kickoff or on a free kick after a safety. But has there ever been an onside drop kick? I don't know, but lets consider why that would rarely (if ever) happen: Kickoffs are required to be a place kick (from a tee). So the only time you could even attempt an onside drop kick is after a safety, which is one of the rarest plays in football. An onside kick after a safety is very dangerous, as the kick must be from the 20 yard line. The opponent could recover the ball already in field goal range. An onside kick must hit the ground to prevent the other team from calling for a fair catch. This is more difficult to pull off with a drop kick.
Through Week 4 of the 2009 season, that was December 16, 2007 when T. J. Rushing returned a punt 90 yards for a TD against the Oakland Raiders in the Colts 21-14 victory.
Josh Cribbs, a former NFL player known for his exceptional kick return skills, has a total of 11 return touchdowns in his career. This includes eight kickoff return touchdowns and three punt return touchdowns. His ability to score on special teams made him one of the most dangerous return specialists in the league during his time.
The NFL record for the longest punt hang time is held by Michael Dickson, who recorded a hang time of 5.5 seconds on a punt during a game in 2018. This exceptional punt showcased Dickson's impressive leg strength and ability to control the ball's flight. His record-breaking hang time highlights the skill required in punting, emphasizing both distance and aerial control.
About 45 yards per punt, and the average hang time would be right around 4.5 seconds. Therefore, the punt team would need to travel a yard per 0.1 seconds to reach the punt returner by the time he catches it.
8 seconds
As of my last update in October 2023, the University of Tennessee football team last returned a punt for a touchdown on October 10, 2020, when Callaway returned a punt against Kentucky. For kickoffs, the last return for a touchdown occurred on September 18, 2021, by Velus Jones Jr. against Tennessee Tech. Please verify with the latest sources for any updates beyond that date.
For a punt returner, starting about 10 to 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage is typically recommended. This distance allows the returner to gauge the trajectory and distance of the punt while providing enough time to make a decision on whether to catch it or let it bounce. Adjustments can be made based on the punter's kicking style and the returner’s speed and agility. Ultimately, the goal is to maximize the chance for a successful return while minimizing the risk of a turnover.
Sunshine Patriots was the term.