While not the most exciting unit in the NFL, special teams are critical to a team’s success. It can determine the outcome of a game in a big way and even a team’s season. We’ve seen examples of this throughout NFL history whether it’s in the regular season, a critical moment in the playoffs, or even the Super Bowl. Before anything else, we see teams go all-in and try to fix that part of their game before anything else. Success starts with a good special teams unit and there’s been some great ones and then some bad ones.
NFL Special Teams – the Good and the Bad
Top Special Teams Units
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions were tied for first with the best record in the NFL at 15-2 in 2024. They were ranked eighth in field goal percentage at 89.7 percent with Jake Bates doing the kicking, who has quickly become one of the best in the league. The Lions also were second in kick return average with 31.4 yards. It was a banner year for the club, leaving some players looking at online blackjack to celebrate on-field success.
On the punting side, they had the best overall net punt average and gross punt average, thanks to Jack Fox, who was named First-Team All-Pro. Detroit also ranked third in yards per punt return.
Thanks to these statistics, and more, the Lions finished the season with one of the top-ranked special teams and DVOAs (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average) in the league in 2024 and are expected to carry that over to 2025.
Pittsburgh SteelersÂ
Overall, the Pittsburgh Steelers with a top 10 special teams unit in 2024. They finished just second behind the Lions in special teams DVOA, where it ranked the Steelers first in field goals/extra points and punting while being ninth in punt returns.
Chris Boswell has been so good in Pittsburgh as he only missed three kicks and went 13 of 16 on kicks over 50 yards. At times when the Steelers offense has faltered, Boswell picks up the slack with the points he puts up. He even led the league with 158 total points put up. On the punt returns, Calvin Austin had the sixth-most punt return yards in the league, 289.
Pittsburgh’s strong special teams play continues to help this team and blend in with their identity of defense.Â
Dallas Cowboys
The season didn’t go as planned for the Dallas Cowboys, for multiple reasons, but one thing they relied on was special teams. It all starts with one of the most electric returners in the league, Lavontae Turpin. He helped the Cowboys rank number one in yards per kick return with 32.1 yards. They were also top half of the league in punt yards per return. Dallas has two kick return touchdowns and a punt return touchdown, with one of each coming from Turpin.
 They also have one of the best kickers in the league in Brett Audrey. He made the second most field goals in the league (40) and hit 85.1 percent of his attempts. Audrey also made the most field goals from 50+, making 14 of 17 from that distance. It’s no surprise that he made all of his extra points as well.
Dallas has one of the best overall special teams in the league and has some of the best players in place throughout the unit.
Jacksonville JaguarsÂ
The overall team success might not be there but the Jacksonville Jaguars special teams were a bright spot in 2024. Rookie Cam Little impressed in his first season, making 27 of 29 field goals and 13 of 15 from 40+ yards. He also went perfect on extra points, something impressive for a rookie given the struggles around the league recently. The kick coverage also excelled for the Jaguars, ranking in the top 10 as a unit, allowing the second-lowest kick return rate and yards per return allowed.Â
Punter Logan Cooke ranked eighth in yards per attempt and the punt coverage limited return yards for the opposition, setting up for all-around success in the punt game.
Jacksonville’s special teams are up there with one of the best in the league despite other inefficiencies.Â
Denver Broncos
As the Denver Broncos improve drastically on offense and defense, they do so on special teams as well. They had the fourth DVOA for that unit in the league and that’s in part because of Marvin Mims Jr’s punt return excellence. In his first season, he made the Pro Bowl and was named Second-Team All-Pro. He followed that up with another Pro Bowl and a First-Team All-Pro this time around.Â
The Broncos have emphasized special teams from top to bottom with coaches Sean Peyton and new coordinator Darren Rizzi. Kicker Will Lutz has been a consistent kicker throughout his career and last season he hit 91.2 percent of his kicks and went a perfect 11 for 11 from 40-49 yards out.Â
The team will have a new punter in 2025 but with the way this team operates, not only will they keep a good punting unit, but the blocking should be even better with all-around play, making for one of the top units in the league.
Bottom Special Teams Units
Tennessee Titans
The 2024 Tennessee Titans special teams unit was the worst in the NFL. Not only was it the worst but it was historically bad and that reflects their 3-win season.Â
The unit found different ways to lose each and every week. Blocked punts, penalties, horrible coverage, turnovers, etc, you name it. Their worst week yet was against the Lions in week 8 when they had one of the worst performances on special teams ever.Â
They’ve made sweeping changes across the board in hopes they improve their numbers on a unit that had the worst special teams DVOA in football.
San Francisco 49ers
Surprisingly, the 49ers have fallen off as a whole and that means special teams as well. In fact, special teams were the worst part of their game. The unit had the second-worst DVOA in the league and had some of the worst numbers across almost all major categories.Â
The 49ers finished 28th in gross average punt yards, 31st in net punt yards, and 27th in field goal percentage. They ranked dead last in special teams EPA by a wide margin. Some of their defeats were close losses caused by special teams’ blunders, even allowing fake punts to be converted.Â
Everything went wrong for the 49ers on special teams and now they head into 2025 with changes throughout the unit and an emphasis on special teams play.
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