The NFL overhauled kickoff procedures a couple of years ago as a way to increase the number of kickoff returns and it has worked as intended.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent announced on Wednesday that the 2026 season has seen the most kickoff return yards through two games of any season in league history. There have been 256 kickoffs returned for 6,773 yards so far this year.
The 256 kickoff returns are the third-most in the first two weeks of a season, also per the NFL.
Vincent also notes that there have been 16 kickoff returns of 40 or more yards. Dolphins running back Jaylen Wright has the longest return of the season at 79 yards, but no one has taken a kickoff back for a touchdown yet this year.