While the 49ers are often overlooked, they have still had some notable return specialists over the years, including this top five.
Return specialists may not be as overlooked as punters or kickers, but they are still underrated.
Especially when he doesn’t play a key role elsewhere, either on the offensive or defensive end.
Constant change in the NFL has made the return game less important over the years and has led to more touchbacks and fair catches in an effort to cut down on injuries, and that’s fine.
But it also serves to reduce the rare but exhilarating chance of returning a kickoff or punt for a touchdown.
The San Francisco 49ers have had several notable return specialists in the past, some with a knack for finding the end zone after special teams plays, and while some of those contributors were also stars on other parts of the field, some made big contributions in the lesser-known third phase of the game.
Taking into account a player’s tenure, numbers in the return game, individual accolades and a few other factors, here are the five best return specialists in Niners history.
This includes kickoff returns and punt returns.
There are a few honorable mentions that are worthy of praise but don’t make the top five.
As an example, did you know that Pro Football Hall of Famer Hugh McElhenney amassed 1,494 kick return yards during his illustrious career? He could literally do it all on the ground.
Additionally, defensive back Dana McLemore returned punts for four touchdowns and also held the franchise record for most punt return yards with 1,531 during his heyday in the 1980s.
In the 2000s, running back Maurice Hicks had 4,242 yards on kick returns, third-most in San Francisco history, but that’s probably because so many other teams were scoring in droves against the 49ers’ weaker teams of that decade.
5. Ted Ginn Jr. (2010-2012)
Wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. started out as a returner when he entered the league with the Miami Dolphins in 2007, but after joining the team in 2010, he transformed the Niners’ special teams program, recording 992 kick returns and a punt return for a touchdown that year.
But one can’t help but wonder if a series of injuries in the second half of 2011, which led to fellow wide receiver Kyle Williams having to return for that season’s NFC Championship Game, might have made things go awry.
Still, Ginn recorded 2,045 kick return yards (7th in franchise history), 1,113 punt return yards (5th in franchise history) and three touchdowns in three seasons with San Francisco, and continued to play as a return specialist for the rest of his pro career.
4. Kermit Alexander (1963-1969)
Long before the advent of return specialists, offensive and defensive players frequently contributed to the return game.
Cornerback Kermit Alexander was known as a strong defender for the 49ers in the 1960s, but he was also one of the best returners in franchise history.
In 1965, he led the NFL with 741 yards in kick returns and also recorded a career-high 262 yards in punt returns that season, part of a total of 782 yards in punt returns while wearing the red and gold.
Though he never reached the end zone on a kickoff, Alexander had 3,271 kick return yards during his tenure, fifth-best in Niners history.
3. Joe Arenas (1951-1957)
Looking back to a time when players played doubles on offense and defense as well as special teams, it’s hard to overlook Joe Arenas, the running back and defensive back who patrolled all three phases of the game at Kezar Stadium in the 1950s.
Arenas set some notable records during an era when seasons only consisted of 12 games, leading the league with an impressive 34.4 yards per kickoff return in 1953. He then followed that up with an impressive 801-yard kickoff return and a touchdown return in 1956, giving him a career total of 3,798 kick return yards, fourth-most in franchise history.
The versatile Arenas also recorded 774 punt return yards and a touchdown during that time. Those numbers don’t rank in the top five, but they still need to be considered to include him on this list.
2. Dexter Carter (1990-1996)
Running back Dexter Carter never was meant to be the successor to Roger Craig, one of the franchise’s greatest rushers of all time, but he still played a key role in San Francisco’s great teams of the early 1990s.
Carter was a force in the return game, most notably in the 49ers’ Super Bowl win in 1994, when he returned both punts and kickoffs for a combined 1,426 yards.
After a brief stint with the New York Jets in 1995, Carter returned to the Niners and finished his career with San Francisco with 1,213 punt return yards (fourth-most in team history), 4,707 kick return yards (second-most in franchise history) and four touchdowns in kick returns.
If it weren’t for the next player on this list, Carter would arguably be the best returner in 49ers history.
1. Abe Woodson (1958-1964)
Alexander came to the team as a replacement for Abe Woodson, a star cornerback and Pro Bowl regular in the early 1960s, and both players were solid in the return game as well.
But Woodson was clearly better than his protégé on both defense and special teams.
The versatile Woodson led the NFL in return statistics for several seasons, including a 174-yard punt return in 1960 and a 1,157-yard kick return in 1962. He also recorded the league’s longest kickoff returns twice, with more than 100 yards in 1959 and 1963.
The 1,157 yards he gained during that special 1962 season still remain the fourth-most in a single season in franchise history.
Additionally, Woodson holds the franchise record for kick return yards (4,873) and also has the seventh-most punt return yards with 949.
With an incredible seven special teams touchdowns (Carter is next with four), Woodson is arguably the No. 1 returner in Niners history.
Player (year)
Kick Return Yards
KR Average
Kickoff TD
Punt Return Yards
PR Average
Punt return TD
Abe Woodson (1958-1964)
4,873
29.4
Five
949
9.0
2
Dexter Carter (1990-1996)
4,707
21.7
2
1,213
10.4
2
Joe Arenas (1951-1957)
3,798
27.3
1
774
6.2
1
Kermit Alexander (1963-1969)
3,271
23.9
0
782
6.5
2
Ted Ginn Jr. (2010-2012)
2,045
23.5
1
1,113
11.8
2
