While Renfro was better known for his play at defensive backfield, he led the Cowboys in punt returns twice and kickoff returns three times. He was named as the return specialist on the All-Time Cowboy team.  Holds the Cowboy mark with a liftime 26.4 yard punt return average. 
 
Year
Games
Punt Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
Kickoff Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
1964
14
32
418
13.1
1
40
1017
25.4
0
1965 
14 
24 
145 
6.0 
0 
21
630
30.0
1
1966
11
21
123
5.9
0
19
487
25.6
1
1967
9
3
-1
-0.3
0
5
112
22.4
0
1969
14
15
80
5.3
0
-
-
-
-
1970
14
13
77
5.9
0
-
-
-
-
Totals
174
109
842
7.7
1
85
2246
26.4
2
Mel Renfro
Mel Renfro #20

 
Bob Hayes
Bob Hayes
 The "Worlds Fastest Human" led the league with 276 yards in punt returns in 67 and with a 20.8 average in 68.  He returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown against the Steelers in 68. 
 
Year
Games
Punt Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
Kickoff Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
1965
13
12
153
12.8
0
17
450
26.5
0
1966 
14 
17 
106 
6.2 
0 
-
-
-
-
1967
13
24
276
11.5
1
1
17
17.0
0
1968
14
15
312
20.8
2
1
20
20.0
0
1969
10
18
179
9.9
0
3
80
26.7
0
1970
13
15
116
7.7
0
-
-
-
-
1971
14
1
5
5.0
0
1
14
14.0
0
1974
12
2
11
5.5
0
-
-
-
-
Totals
128
104
1158
11.1
3
23
581
25.3
0

 
Cliff Harris was 4th in the NFL in kickoff and punt returns in 1971.  He led the team in returns in 72. 
Year
Games
Punt Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
Kickoff Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
 1971
14 
17 
129 
7.6 
0 
29 
823 
28.4 
0 
1972 
14 
19 
78 
4.1 
0 
26 
615 
23.7 
0 
1973
14
3
20
6.7
0
6
148
24.7
0
1974
14
26
193
7.4
0
1
14
14.0
0
Totals
141
66
418
6.3
0
63
1622
25.7
0
Cliff Harris #43

 
Golden Richards
A speedster out of Hawaii, Richards led the team in punt returns for 3 years.  In 75 he returned a punt 63 yards against the Vikings for a touchdown in the NFC Championship Game. 
Year
Games
Punt Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
 1973
12 
21 
139 
6.6 
0 
1974 
14 
13 
74 
5.7 
0 
1975
14
28
288
10.3
1
Cowboy Totals
66
62
501
8.1
1
Golden Richards #83

 
Butch Johnson Butch Johnson led the team in punt and kickoff returns from 76-78..  He returned 9 punts in one game against Buffalo in 76 and returned a punt 55 yards and a kickoff 74 yards that same year.
Year
Games
Punt Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
Kickoff Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
 1976
14 
45 
489 
10.9 
0 
28 
693 
24.8 
0 
1977
14 
50 
423 
8.5 
0 
 22  536  24.4  0 
1978
16
51
401
7.9
0
29
603
20.8
0
Cowboy Totals
112
146
1313
9.0
0
79
1832
23.2
0
James Jones
As a rookie out of Mississippi State Jones set a Cowboy record with 56 punt returns.  He led the team in punt and kickoff returns in 80 & 81.
Year
Games
Punt Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
Kickoff Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
 1980
 16
56 
548
10.1
0 
32 
720 
22.5 
0 
1981 
16 
33 
188 
15.7 
0 
 27  517  19.1  0 
1982
5
-
-
-
-
2
46
23.0
0
1985
16
-
-
-
-
9
161
17.9
0
Totals
62
87
736
8.5
0
70
1444
20.6
0
James Jones

 
Kelvin Martin #83 Kelvin Martin led the Cowboys in punt returns 5 times during his career.  He is the all-time leading punt returner in Cowboy history.  He led the NFL with 532 yards returning punts in 92 and ran back 2 for touchdowns that year.  He also led the team in kickoff returns in 92.
Year
Games
Punt Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
Kickoff Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
 1987
7 
22 
216 
9.8 
0 
12 
237 
19.8
0 
1988 
16 
44 
360 
8.2 
0 
12 
210
17.5 
0 
1991
16
21
244
11.6
1
3
47
15.7
0
1992
16
42
532
12.7
2
24
503
21.0
0
1996
16
41
373
9.1
0
-
-
-
-
Dal. Totals
98
179
1803
10.1
3
51
997
19.5
0
Kevin Williams came out of Dallas' Roosevelt High via the University of Miami.  As a rookie he ranked third in the NFC in punt returns.  In 94 he seta team record for combined kickoff and punt return yardage with 1,497.  He became the first Cowboy to return both a punt and a kickoff for touchdowns during the same season.  After starting at WR in 96 he went to Arizona as a Free Agent where he led the NFC in return yardage.
Year
Games
Punt Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
Kickoff Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
 1993
16 
36 
381 
10.6 
2 
31 
689 
22.2 
0 
1994 
15 
39 
349 
8.9 
1 
43 
1148 
26.7 
1 
1995
16
18
166
9.2
0
49
1108
22.6
0
1996
10
2
17
8.5
0
21
471
22.4
0
Dal. Totals
57
95
913
9.6
3
144
3416
23.7
1
Kevin Williams #85

 
Herschel Walker
When Walker returned to the Cowboys in 96 he said he was willing to do anything to help the team.  He went on to lead the team in kickoff returns for the next two years.  He had a 89 yard return in 96 and he ended his career as the Cowboys #2 all-time kickoff return leader.
Year
Games
Kickoff Returns
Yards
Avg
TD
 1996
16 
 27
779
28.9 
0 
1997 
16 
50 
1167 
23.3 
0 
Cowboy Totals
81
77
1946
25.3
0

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Copyright © 1997 Tim Stone
Last Modified - February 1998