Kickoff returner

Kickoff returner

In American and Canadian football, a kick returner (KR) is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he 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 touchback by kneeling down in the end zone after catching the ball, which gives his team the ball at their own 20-yard line to start the drive.

He is usually one of the faster players on the team, often a backup wide receiver, defensive back, or running back.

A kick returner might also double as a punt returner as well.

Sometimes players who make big plays at the punt or kick returner positions become well known "return specialist" players. (e.g. Dante Hall, Leon Washington, Desmond Howard, Devin Hester, Eric Metcalf, and Brian Mitchell)


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • kickoff returner — noun a player on the receiving side whose primary job is to catch the football during a kickoff and carry the ball …   Wiktionary

  • Kickoff return — In American and Canadian football a kickoff return is the act of returning a kickoff from the opposing team. KickoffA kickoff occurs at the start of each half and before each overtime (in the National, Canadian, and Arena Football Leagues). After …   Wikipedia

  • Kickoff (American Football) — Ein Kickoff ist ein besonderer Spielzug im American Football. Dabei wird der Ball zu Beginn jeder Spielhälfte und einer Overtime, aber auch nach einem Touchdown und nach jedem Field Goal, vom Kicker des Kicking Teams durch einen meist weiten… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Kickoff — Le kicker donne un coup de pied dans le ballon pour lancer le match …   Wikipédia en Français

  • American football strategy — concerns the deployment of offensive, defensive, and special teams players in American football. Contents 1 Offensive strategy 1.1 Offensive players …   Wikipedia

  • George Hoey — Infobox NFLretired width=150 caption=George Hoey position=DB/KR/PR number= birthdate=birth date and age|mf=yes|1946|11|14 deathdate= debutyear=1971 finalyear=1975 draftyear=1969 draftround=14 draftpick=346 college=Michigan teams=St. Louis… …   Wikipedia

  • Desmond Howard — Howard in Austin, Texas No. 80, 81, 18, 82      Wide receiver / Return specialist Personal inf …   Wikipedia

  • American football positions — A diagram showing an I Formation on offense and a 4 3 Formation on defense In American football, each team has eleven players on the field at one time. Because the rules allow unlimited substitution between plays, the types of players on the… …   Wikipedia

  • Mercury Hayes — No. 89, 84     New Orleans Saints Date of birth: January 1, 1973 (1973 01 01) (age 38) Place of birth: Houston, Texas, United States …   Wikipedia

  • American football — For other uses, see American football (disambiguation). American football The U.S. Naval Academy Midshipmen (left) face off against the …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”