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Return specialist - Wikipedia
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href="/wiki/File:Devin_Hester_in_2007.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Devin_Hester_in_2007.jpg/150px-Devin_Hester_in_2007.jpg" decoding="async" width="150" height="299" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Devin_Hester_in_2007.jpg/225px-Devin_Hester_in_2007.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Devin_Hester_in_2007.jpg/300px-Devin_Hester_in_2007.jpg 2x" data-file-width="318" data-file-height="634" /></a><figcaption><a href="/wiki/Devin_Hester" title="Devin Hester">Devin Hester</a>, the first and only return specialist inducted into the <a href="/wiki/Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame" title="Pro Football Hall of Fame">Pro Football Hall of Fame</a>, fielding a punt during <a href="/wiki/Special_teams" class="mw-redirect" title="Special teams">special teams</a> practice at the <a href="/wiki/Chicago_Bears" title="Chicago Bears">Chicago Bears</a>' 2007 training camp</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>return specialist</b> or <b>kick returner</b> is a player on the <a href="/wiki/Special_teams" class="mw-redirect" title="Special teams">special teams</a> unit of a <a href="/wiki/Gridiron_football" title="Gridiron football">gridiron football</a> team who specializes in returning <a href="/wiki/Punt_(gridiron_football)" title="Punt (gridiron football)">punts</a> and <a href="/wiki/Kickoff_(gridiron_football)" title="Kickoff (gridiron football)">kickoffs</a>. There are few players who are exclusively return specialists; most also play another position such as <a href="/wiki/Wide_receiver" title="Wide receiver">wide receiver</a>, <a href="/wiki/Defensive_back" title="Defensive back">defensive back</a>, or <a href="/wiki/Running_back" title="Running back">running back</a>. The special teams counterpart of a return specialist is a <a href="/wiki/Kicking_specialist" title="Kicking specialist">kicking specialist</a>. </p><p>According to <a href="/wiki/2012_College_Football_All-America_Team" title="2012 College Football All-America Team">All-American</a> <a href="/wiki/Venric_Mark" title="Venric Mark">Venric Mark</a>, "Returning punts is harder. You have to judge the ball more, you have to know when to <a href="/wiki/Fair_catch" title="Fair catch">fair catch</a> 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."<sup id="cite_ref-:0_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-:0-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <meta property="mw:PageProp/toc" /> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Kickoff_returner">Kickoff returner</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Return_specialist&action=edit&section=1" title="Edit section: Kickoff returner"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <p>A <b>kickoff returner</b> (<b>KR</b>) is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible for catching the opposing team's kickoff and attempting to run it towards the end zone to score a touchdown. If the ball is kicked into his own end zone, the kick returner 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 <a href="/wiki/Touchback" title="Touchback">touchback</a> by kneeling down in the end zone after catching the ball, ending the play and starting the next play at the 25-yard line to start the drive. </p><p>The kickoff returner position is often played by a small, faster player such as a <a href="/wiki/Cornerback" title="Cornerback">cornerback</a>, <a href="/wiki/Running_back" title="Running back">running back</a> or <a href="/wiki/Wide_receiver" title="Wide receiver">wide receiver</a>. Backup players frequently assume this role so starting players on the offense take fewer hits as the kickoff returner position, and can play their regular positions. In the days of <a href="/wiki/One-platoon_system" title="One-platoon system">one platoon</a> football, the returner position was synonymous with the "<a href="/wiki/Safety_(gridiron_football_position)" title="Safety (gridiron football position)">safety</a> man"—a quarterback or halfback. </p><p>In 2012, NFL commissioner <a href="/wiki/Roger_Goodell" title="Roger Goodell">Roger Goodell</a> proposed the idea of removing the kickoff play, and quoted that the "kickoff return is too dangerous for the game". The idea was met with criticism and the idea was eventually dropped.<sup id="cite_ref-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> However, rule changes during his tenure have greatly reduced the frequency of NFL kickoff returns. The most significant one was in 2011, when the NFL changed the starting position of the kickoff from the 30 to the 35-yard line, resulting in far more kickoffs going through the end zone or so deep into the end zone that the returner would usually take a touchback. In 2015, another rule change made the touchback give the receiving team the ball on their 25-yard line instead of the 20. </p><p>On October 27, 2013, wide receiver <a href="/wiki/Cordarrelle_Patterson" title="Cordarrelle Patterson">Cordarrelle Patterson</a> of the <a href="/wiki/Minnesota_Vikings" title="Minnesota Vikings">Minnesota Vikings</a> returned the kickoff 109 yards and scored a touchdown, the longest run possible in NFL standards.<sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Notable_kickoff_returners">Notable kickoff returners</h3><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Return_specialist&action=edit&section=2" title="Edit section: Notable kickoff returners"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li>In the movie <i><a href="/wiki/Forrest_Gump" title="Forrest Gump">Forrest Gump</a></i>, <a href="/wiki/Forrest_Gump_(character)" title="Forrest Gump (character)">Forrest</a> was an <a href="/wiki/All-American" class="mw-redirect" title="All-American">All-American</a> kick returner for the <a href="/wiki/Alabama_Crimson_Tide" title="Alabama Crimson Tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> under <a href="/wiki/Bear_Bryant" title="Bear Bryant">Bear Bryant</a> in the mid 1960s.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Brian_Mitchell_(running_back)" title="Brian Mitchell (running back)">Brian Mitchell</a>, who played running back in the NFL for 14 seasons, is the league's career leader in kickoff return yards (14,014) and punt return yards (4,999) by a very wide margin.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Red_Grange" title="Red Grange">Red Grange</a> was one of the sport's first iconic faces, breaking onto the national scene with a 95-yard kickoff return against <a href="/wiki/1924_Michigan_Wolverines_football_team" title="1924 Michigan Wolverines football team">Michigan</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gale_Sayers" title="Gale Sayers">Gale Sayers</a> was an All-Pro running back who also returned punts and kicks for the Chicago Bears. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1977. He currently holds the record for the highest career kickoff return average at 30.56 yards per attempt. Brad Oremland of Sports Central called him the greatest kick returner in NFL history.<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Deion_Sanders" title="Deion Sanders">Deion Sanders</a> played cornerback for multiple NFL teams and also played kick returner and a punt returner on special teams. Sanders was inducted into the <a href="/wiki/Pro_Football_Hall_of_Fame" title="Pro Football Hall of Fame">Pro Football Hall of Fame</a> in 2011. Sanders totaled 3,523 kick return yards in his career, including three touchdowns. Sanders held the record for most non-offensive touchdowns, 19 in total, until Devin Hester broke the record in the 2014 season.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Desmond_Howard" title="Desmond Howard">Desmond Howard</a>, MVP of <a href="/wiki/Super_Bowl_XXXI" title="Super Bowl XXXI">Super Bowl XXXI</a>. Howard is the only player ever to win Super Bowl MVP exclusively due to his special teams performance, setting Super Bowl records for longest kickoff return (99 yards), punt return yards (90), total return yards (244) and combined net yards (244). Incidentally, his 99-yard kickoff return in the game was the only kickoff return touchdown of his entire career.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Dante_Hall" title="Dante Hall">Dante Hall</a> played wide receiver and as a kick returner "was the most dangerous player in the NFL for a couple of seasons".<sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></li> <li><a href="/wiki/Devin_Hester" title="Devin Hester">Devin Hester</a> played wide receiver and as a return specialist holds the record for the most all-time return touchdowns (20) and most all-time punt return touchdowns (14). He is the only primary return specialist to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and is widely considered to be the greatest return specialist of all time.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Cordarrelle_Patterson" title="Cordarrelle Patterson">Cordarrelle Patterson</a> has the NFL record for kick return touchdowns with 9.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Glyn_Milburn" title="Glyn Milburn">Glyn Milburn</a> holds the NFL record for most all-purpose yards in a single game, set while playing for the Denver Broncos (404 yards on December 10, 1995) with John Elway quarterbacking. One of the greatest return specialists of all time, he became the Chicago Bears all-time leading kick returner with 4,596 yards. He had 9,788 NFL career kick returning total yards. He also holds the Denver Broncos' franchise record for the most kick return yards in a single season, with 1,269 in 1995.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Josh_Cribbs" title="Josh Cribbs">Josh Cribbs</a> holds the NFL record as the only player with two kickoffs of 100 yards or more returned for touchdowns in a single game.</li> <li><a href="/wiki/Gizmo_Williams" title="Gizmo Williams">Gizmo Williams</a> is a Canadian Football Hall of Fame member acclaimed as a game-breaking specialist<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> who played longest in the CFL but also played in the NCAA, USFL, and NFL.</li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Punt_returner">Punt returner</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Return_specialist&action=edit&section=3" title="Edit section: Punt returner"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <figure typeof="mw:File/Thumb"><a href="/wiki/File:Chris_Sutton_punt_return_Air_Force_vs_Wyoming_2005.jpg" class="mw-file-description"><img src="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Chris_Sutton_punt_return_Air_Force_vs_Wyoming_2005.jpg/170px-Chris_Sutton_punt_return_Air_Force_vs_Wyoming_2005.jpg" decoding="async" width="170" height="255" class="mw-file-element" srcset="//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Chris_Sutton_punt_return_Air_Force_vs_Wyoming_2005.jpg/255px-Chris_Sutton_punt_return_Air_Force_vs_Wyoming_2005.jpg 1.5x, //upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/85/Chris_Sutton_punt_return_Air_Force_vs_Wyoming_2005.jpg/340px-Chris_Sutton_punt_return_Air_Force_vs_Wyoming_2005.jpg 2x" data-file-width="1600" data-file-height="2400" /></a><figcaption>Chris Sutton of <a href="/wiki/Air_Force_Falcons_football" title="Air Force Falcons football">Air Force</a> returning a punt in 2003</figcaption></figure> <p>A <b>punt returner</b> (<b>PR</b>) has the job of catching the ball after it is <a href="/wiki/Punt_(gridiron_football)" title="Punt (gridiron football)">punted</a> and to give his team good field position (or a <a href="/wiki/Touchdown" title="Touchdown">touchdown</a> if possible) by returning it. Before catching the punted ball, the returner must assess the situation on the field while the ball is still in the air.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> He must determine if it is actually beneficial for his team to attempt a return. If it appears that the players from the punting team will be too close to the returner by the time he catches the ball, or it appears the ball will go into his own <a href="/wiki/End_zone" title="End zone">end zone</a>, the punt returner can elect not to return the ball by choosing one of two options: </p> <ul><li>Call for a <a href="/wiki/Fair_catch" title="Fair catch">fair catch</a> by waving one arm above his head before catching the punt.<sup id="cite_ref-9" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> This means that the play will end once the catch is made; the punt returner's team will get the ball at the spot of the catch and no return attempt can be made. The fair catch minimizes the chances of a <a href="/wiki/Fumble" title="Fumble">fumble</a> or injury because it ensures that the returner is fully protected from the opposing team, whose players may not touch the returner or attempt to interfere with the catch in any way after the fair catch signal is given. In the NFL, a fair catch also allows the <a href="/wiki/Fair_catch_kick" title="Fair catch kick">fair catch kick</a> to be used on the next play, even with no time on the clock remaining, to attempt a <a href="/wiki/Field_goal_(American_and_Canadian_football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Field goal (American and Canadian football)">field goal</a> via free kick. However, this option is rarely exercised.</li> <li>Avoid the ball and let it hit the ground. Under this option the ball will go into the returning team's end zone for a <a href="/wiki/Touchback" title="Touchback">touchback</a>, go <a href="/wiki/Out_of_bounds" title="Out of bounds">out of bounds</a> and be spotted at that point, or come to final rest in the field of play and be downed by a player on the punting team. This is the safest option, as it completely eliminates the chance of a fumble and ensures that the returner's team will get possession of the ball. However, it also provides an opportunity for the punting team to pin the returner's team deep in their own territory by downing the ball or sending it out of bounds near the returner's end zone. This can not only give the return team poor field position, but can even lead to a <a href="/wiki/Safety_(American_football_score)" class="mw-redirect" title="Safety (American football score)">safety</a>.</li></ul> <p>Punt returners sometimes also return <a href="/wiki/Kickoff_(American_football)" class="mw-redirect" title="Kickoff (American football)">kickoffs</a> and usually play other positions, especially <a href="/wiki/Wide_receiver" title="Wide receiver">wide receiver</a>, <a href="/wiki/Cornerback" title="Cornerback">cornerback</a> and <a href="/wiki/Running_back" title="Running back">running back</a>, although sometimes as backups. An analogous position exists in <a href="/wiki/Canadian_football" title="Canadian football">Canadian football</a>, though differences in rules affect play considerably. See <a href="/wiki/Comparison_of_Canadian_and_American_football" class="mw-redirect" title="Comparison of Canadian and American football">comparison of Canadian and American football</a> for a complete discussion of the punt returner's role in the Canadian game. </p><p>In 2014, <a href="/wiki/Devin_Hester" title="Devin Hester">Devin Hester</a> broke <a href="/wiki/Deion_Sanders" title="Deion Sanders">Deion Sanders</a>' record for most punt return touchdowns, with 14. He currently remains the record holder.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> </p> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Return_specialist&action=edit&section=4" title="Edit section: See also"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <ul><li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Football_League_annual_kickoff_return_yards_leaders" class="mw-redirect" title="List of National Football League annual kickoff return yards leaders">List of National Football League annual kickoff return yards leaders</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_National_Football_League_career_kickoff_return_yards_leaders" class="mw-redirect" title="List of National Football League career kickoff return yards leaders">List of National Football League career kickoff return yards leaders</a></li> <li><a href="/wiki/List_of_NCAA_major_college_yearly_punt_and_kickoff_return_leaders" class="mw-redirect" title="List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders">List of NCAA major college yearly punt and kickoff return leaders</a></li></ul> <div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2><span class="mw-editsection"><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">[</span><a href="/w/index.php?title=Return_specialist&action=edit&section=5" title="Edit section: References"><span>edit</span></a><span class="mw-editsection-bracket">]</span></span></div> <style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}</style><div class="reflist"> <div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references"> <li id="cite_note-:0-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-:0_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output 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class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" href="mw-data:TemplateStyles:r1238218222"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.dummies.com/how-to/content/football-special-teams-how-to-return-a-punt.html">"Football Special Teams: How to Return a Punt"</a>.</cite><span title="ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Abook&rft.genre=unknown&rft.btitle=Football+Special+Teams%3A+How+to+Return+a+Punt&rft_id=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dummies.com%2Fhow-to%2Fcontent%2Ffootball-special-teams-how-to-return-a-punt.html&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fen.wikipedia.org%3AReturn+specialist" class="Z3988"></span></span> </li> <li id="cite_note-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-9">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><link rel="mw-deduplicated-inline-style" 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href="/wiki/Skill_position" title="Skill position">Skill position</a>) </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Lineman_(gridiron_football)" title="Lineman (gridiron football)">Linemen</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Tackle_(gridiron_football_position)" title="Tackle (gridiron football position)">Tackle</a>, <a href="/wiki/Guard_(gridiron_football)" title="Guard (gridiron football)">Guard</a>, <a href="/wiki/Center_(gridiron_football)" title="Center (gridiron football)">Center</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Quarterback" title="Quarterback">Quarterback</a> (<a href="/wiki/Dual-threat_quarterback" title="Dual-threat quarterback">Dual-threat</a>, <a href="/wiki/Game_manager" title="Game manager">Game manager</a>, <a href="/wiki/System_quarterback" title="System quarterback">System</a>) </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Running_back" title="Running back">Running backs</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Halfback_(American_football)" title="Halfback (American football)">Halfback/Tailback</a> (<a href="/wiki/Triple-threat_man" title="Triple-threat man">Triple-threat</a>, <a href="/wiki/Change_of_pace_running_back" title="Change of pace running back">Change of pace</a>), <a href="/wiki/Fullback_(gridiron_football)" title="Fullback (gridiron football)">Fullback</a>, <a href="/wiki/H-back" title="H-back">H-back</a>, <a href="/wiki/Wingback_(American_football)" title="Wingback (American football)">Wingback</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Receivers </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Wide_receiver" title="Wide receiver">Wide receiver</a> (<a href="/wiki/Eligible_receiver" title="Eligible receiver">Eligible</a>), <a href="/wiki/Tight_end" title="Tight end">Tight end</a>, <a href="/wiki/Slotback" title="Slotback">Slotback</a>, <a href="/wiki/End_(gridiron_football)" title="End (gridiron football)">End</a> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="display:inline-table;width:33.3333%;"> <table style="margin:0.5%;display:inline-table;" class="wikitable wraplinks"> <caption><a href="/wiki/Defense_(sports)" title="Defense (sports)">Defense</a> </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Lineman_(gridiron_football)" title="Lineman (gridiron football)">Linemen</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Nose_tackle" class="mw-redirect" title="Nose tackle">Nose tackle</a>, <a href="/wiki/Defensive_tackle" title="Defensive tackle">Tackle</a>, <a href="/wiki/Defensive_end" title="Defensive end">End</a>, <a href="/wiki/Edge_rusher" title="Edge rusher">Edge rusher</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><a href="/wiki/Linebacker" title="Linebacker">Linebacker</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Defensive_back" title="Defensive back">Backs</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Cornerback" title="Cornerback">Cornerback</a>, <a href="/wiki/Safety_(gridiron_football_position)" title="Safety (gridiron football position)">Safety</a>, <a href="/wiki/Halfback_(Canadian_football)" title="Halfback (Canadian football)">Halfback</a>, <a href="/wiki/Nickelback_(American_football)" title="Nickelback (American football)">Nickelback</a>, <a href="/wiki/Dimeback" title="Dimeback">Dimeback</a> </td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="display:inline-table;width:33.3333%;"> <table style="margin:0.5%;display:inline-table;" class="wikitable wraplinks"> <caption><a href="/wiki/American_football_positions#Special_teams" title="American football positions">Special teams</a> </caption> <tbody><tr> <td><a href="/wiki/Kicking_specialist" title="Kicking specialist">Kicking</a> </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Placekicker" title="Placekicker">Placekicker</a>, <a href="/wiki/Punter_(gridiron_football)" title="Punter (gridiron football)">Punter</a>, <a href="/wiki/Kickoff_specialist" title="Kickoff specialist">Kickoff specialist</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Snapping </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Long_snapper" title="Long snapper">Long snapper</a>, <a href="/wiki/Holder_(gridiron_football)" title="Holder (gridiron football)">Holder</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Returning </td> <td><a class="mw-selflink selflink">Punt returner</a>, <a class="mw-selflink selflink">Kick returner</a>, <a href="/wiki/Jammer_(American_football)" title="Jammer (American football)">Jammer</a>, <a href="/wiki/Upman" class="mw-redirect" title="Upman">Upman</a> </td></tr> <tr> <td>Tackling </td> <td><a href="/wiki/Gunner_(American_football)" title="Gunner (American football)">Gunner</a>, <a href="/wiki/Upback" title="Upback">Upback</a>, <a href="/wiki/Utility_player#American_football" title="Utility player">Utility</a> </td></tr></tbody></table></div> <div style="text-align:center;"><b><a href="/wiki/Formation_(American_football)" title="Formation (American football)">Formations</a> <small>(<a href="/wiki/List_of_formations_in_American_football" title="List of formations in American football">List</a>)</small> — <a href="/wiki/History_of_American_football_positions" title="History of American football positions">Nomenclature</a> — <a href="/wiki/Strategy_of_American_football" title="Strategy of American football">Strategy</a></b></div> </div> </div></td></tr></tbody></table></div> <!-- NewPP limit report Parsed by mw‐web.codfw.main‐f69cdc8f6‐rhzm7 Cached time: 20241122142916 Cache expiry: 2592000 Reduced expiry: false Complications: [vary‐revision‐sha1, show‐toc] CPU time usage: 0.303 seconds Real time usage: 0.368 seconds Preprocessor visited node count: 658/1000000 Post‐expand include size: 20644/2097152 bytes Template argument size: 750/2097152 bytes Highest expansion depth: 8/100 Expensive parser function count: 1/500 Unstrip recursion depth: 1/20 Unstrip post‐expand size: 41426/5000000 bytes Lua time usage: 0.206/10.000 seconds Lua memory usage: 4675966/52428800 bytes Number of Wikibase entities loaded: 0/400 --> <!-- Transclusion expansion time report (%,ms,calls,template) 100.00% 316.860 1 -total 48.92% 154.997 1 Template:Reflist 41.32% 130.940 10 Template:Cite_web 27.96% 88.608 1 Template:American_football_positions 26.43% 83.739 1 Template:Navbox_top 21.16% 67.049 1 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