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Factoid

Andrew Beck

Fullback comes up big on kickoff return

Andrew Beck had the weirdest play of Week 3 – a 255-pound fullback returning a kickoff 85 yards for a touchdown at Jacksonville. It was strange to see a player that large run that far for a touchdown. (Nice coverage, Jaguars.)

I made a mental note of it, wanting to look into it further after putting together the preview products of the week.

Turns out there are only two other players weighing more than 240 pounds who’ve scored on kickoff returns, and both were under 50 yards (so returns, I presume, where a team was attempting an onside kick).

Casey FitzSimmons did it for the Lions in 2007. FitzSimmons was a 258-pound tight end. And guard Mal Snider scored on a 48-yard return for the Falcons in 1969. If we adjust for players being smaller at that time, Snider’s 254 pounds is relatively a lot larger than FitzSimmons’ 258 or Beck’s 255.

The search tools at pro-football-reference.com indicate that seven other players weighing from 230-240 pounds have scored on kickoff returns. That includes six running backs who were kickoff returners (Cullen Bryant did it three times) and linebacker Tyjuan Hagler scoring on a short one in 2010 (presumably on an onside kick attempt).

HEAVIEST PLAYERS TO SCORE ON KICKOFF RETURNS
YearPlayerHtWtOppResultYds
2007Casey FitzSimmons, Det.6-4258Chi.W 37-2741
2023• Andrew Beck, Hou.6-3255at Jac.W 37-1785
1969Mal Snider, Atl.6-4254Chi.W 48-3148
2004Derrick Ward, NYG5-11240at Was.L 7-3192
1964Andy Livingston, Chi.6-1236Min.L 14-4186
2010Tyjuan Hagler, Ind.6-0236Jac.W 34-2441
1974Cullen Bryant, LAR6-1234at Den.W 17-1084
1973Cullen Bryant, LAR6-1234at S.F.W 40-2093
1976Cullen Bryant, LAR6-1234St.L.L 28-3090
1992Darren Lewis, Chi.5-10230Cin.L 28-3197

Statistics compiled using search tools at Pro-Football-Reference.com

—Ian Allan

8 Reader Comments:

James Costello

Portland, ME
2023-09-29T18:07:05Z
Dan Connolly is my favorite big guy kick return. He didn’t quite score which is a shame

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2023-09-29T19:15:23Z
I had to look up Connolly (a 305-pound guard for the Patriots). He had a 71-yard kickoff return in 2020. I don't remember it. I wonder if that's the longest play in league history for a 300-pounder? Probably.

Ben Hogevoll

Siletz, OR
2023-09-29T19:39:23Z
The NFL record for longest TD was 35 yard TD pass from Mat Ryan to Lineman Ty Sambrailo who weighed 311 in 2019. The heaviest player to catch a TD in the NFL history was Vita Vea TB who weighed 347 lbs.

Adam Bjork

Waunakee, WI
2023-09-30T01:20:40Z
Patriots had legarret Blount returning kicks for a season
He might not have been 255 but he was not their fastest player by a mile

Todd Weigel

Milwaukee, WI
2023-09-30T01:47:16Z
Well it’s hard to tackle the fast, quick returners, but when guys like Andrew Beck build up a head of steam, you don’t want to tackle them.

Andy Richardson

Port Chester, NY
2023-09-30T15:58:43Z
Yeah there might have been some players making business decisions on that play

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2023-09-30T17:56:32Z
Steve Emtman had a disappointing career. But halfway through his rookie season had a game-clinching Pick Six against Dan Marino in Miami. At 290 pounds, got the ball in his hands and ran 90 yards for a touchdown. I doubt that a heavier player has ever run farther with the ball.

Ian Allan

Seattle, WA
2023-09-30T17:59:02Z
(For those who may have forgotten him, Emtman was a defensive lineman who played at the University of Washington. He was the No. 1 pick in the 1992 draft. His career was marred by injuries, with the Colts releasing him after three seasons.)
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