The 5 best returners in the history of the LA Chargers

Returners are responsible for the most exciting plays in all of football and they have gotten even more exciting in 2024 after the NFL rolled out new kickoff return rules. These new rules may give someone the runway to cement themselves as an all-time great returner with more natural opportunities to score. Heck, the LA Chargers currently have someone on the roster in Derius Davis who could do exactly that.

As great as Davis was in his rookie season with the team he still has not cracked the list of the best returners in team history. There have been many talented returners to don the powder blue and making it into this top five is a true honor.

The 5 best returners in LA Chargers history:

Honorable mention: Eric Metcalf

Eric Metcalf has the best season of any returner in franchise history, so he deserves to at least be acknowledged on this list. Metcalf was named an All-Pro after his 1997 season in which he finished with three punt return touchdowns. Nobody on this list has a season as dominating as Metcalf's 1997.

However, 1997 was the only year Metcalf was on the Chargers. With a true lack of counting statistics due to an extremely short tenure, he is on the outside looking in when it comes to the top five.

5. Ronney Jenkins

Ronney Jenkins has the second-most kickoff return yards in franchise history, which theoretically should put him higher on this list. Jenkins also has the third-highest yards per kickoff return of anyone on this list, which only strengthens his case.

However, the old area that holds Jenkins back in relation to this list is punt returns. Despite having the second-most kickoff return yards in team history, Jenkins is the only player on this list to have never returned a punt for the Chargers.

All in all, Jenkins has the third-most kickoff returns in franchise history and found the endzone three times in his three years with the Bolts.

4. Mike Fuller

In terms of total yardage, Mike Fuller just barely edges out Jenkins. Fuller has a combined 4,046 return yards between punts and kickoffs whereas Jenkins logged 3,997 yards just with his kickoff returns. Having experience in both the punt game and kickoff game gives Fuller the edge.

Fuller didn't just return punts for the Bolts but he has some of the best punt return numbers in franchise history. Fuller returned 212 punts in his six-year tenure with the team for 2,388 total yards — both are franchise highs.

Fuller's 11.3 yards per punt return average is not the most impressive compared to his peers but the sheer number of punt returns gets him on the list. The defensive back found the endzone twice via punt return and even returned 77 kickoffs for an average of 21.5 yards.

3. Andre Coleman

Andre Coleman actually has more combined return touchdowns than any other player on this list with five. Coleman returned four kickoffs to the house in his career to go with his single punt return touchdown. Only one other player on this list has both a punt and kickoff return touchdown, which is something only six Chargers have done in franchise history.

What makes Coleman's numbers all the more impressive is the fact he only spent three years on the team from 1994 through 1996. In those three years he managed to haul in a combined 4,240 return yards between kickoffs and punts.

Coleman only returned 28 punts during his tenure with the Bolts but his 3,914 kickoff return yards are the third-most in franchise history. If his career with the Chargers lasted longer then he might have stolen the top spot on this list.

2. Darren Sproles

Darren Sproles is the only other player on this list to have both a kickoff and punt return touchdown and he is in even more exclusive company than that. Sproles is the only player in Chargers history to record multiple kickoff and punt return touchdowns. He returned two kickoffs and two punts to the house during his six-year tenure.

Sproles has the second-longest kickoff return touchdown in franchise history (and longest for anyone on this list) at 103 yards while also having the franchise lead in total kickoff return yards. In fact, it is not even close. Sproles' 6,469 kickoff return yards gives him a 2,472-yard cushion on second place.

Sproles has the most kickoff returns and fourth-most punt returns in franchise history, giving him the most returns of any player on this list. As great as he was, though, there is still one player in franchise history who is the undisputed GOAT when it comes to returners.

1. Speedy Duncan

Speedy Duncan does not have the overall counting stats Sproles has and any younger fans are going to side with the recent running back over the defensive back who played in the 1960s. Sproles is probably the far better athlete (simply because of the natural progression of professional sports) but Duncan has accomplished the most.

Duncan was a four-time AFL All-Star simply due to his return skills for the Chargers during the 1960s. As great as Sproles was, he never made the Pro Bowl with the Chargers because of his production as a returner.

Duncan has the second-most punt return yards in franchise history with 1,651 while also having the most punt return touchdowns with four. His 12.0 yards per punt return is higher than anyone else's on this list and his 95-yard punt return touchdown is the longest in franchise history.

Nobody on this list averaged as many yards per kickoff return as Duncan did (25.3). In fact, Duncan has the best average of any player in franchise history to return at least 100 kickoffs.

The top 5 returners in Chargers history by total touchdowns: