I love American football, and whenever I hear about one of the most electrifying plays in the sport – the kickoff return – I’m always excited. NFL kickoff return leaders are players that are known not only for their skill, but also for their ability to excite audiences. They are the most daring of players who enter the season with a clear emphasis on making every kick off a thrilling one.
My favorite kickoff return leader in the NFL has always been Cordarrelle Patterson. During his time with the Minnesota Vikings, it seemed like getting the ball in his hands was a guaranteed touchdown. Every time Patterson touched the ball on a kick off, your eyes were glued to the TV. He had an amazing knack of making the impossible happen, time and time again.
Joshua Cribbs was another NFL kickoff leader that could easily take the ball the distance. His style was so smooth and effortless, it almost looked like he wasn’t going to make the touchdown, until he turned on the jets and the crowd started to get loud. He had nearly 7,000 yards in his nine-year NFL career, and with that kind of talent, Cribbs was certainly one of the best kickoff return specialists the league has ever seen.
Jacoby Jones was another great KR and he put up some solid numbers in his nine-year NFL career. After the Ravens released him in 2013, his KR numbers took a dip, but I’ll never forget the performances he put on during his time in Baltimore. The lightning speed return he had against Denver in the 2013 season was nothing short of electrifying.
Tyreek Hill has quickly been gaining the label of kickoff return leader in the NFL, as he already has over 1,800 career kickoff return yards in his three-year career. He’s a player that definitely can take the ball the distance, and with the amount of explosive plays he’s made on returns, it looks like Hill may soon be taking a back seat to nobody in the KR world.
I’m always looking forward to seeing just what kind of explosive plays NFL kickoff return leaders can make. It seems that each and every season, somebody new is emerging from the pack to show that they can make the kickoff one of the most exciting plays in football. With the speed and agility of returners that we’re seeing today, the possibilities are endless.
Now what I want to know is – What are the biggest differences between these NFL kickoff return leaders? What makes Cordarrelle or Hill stand out from the rest? Is it just their pure playmaking ability or something else that makes them so special?