The 5 best kick returners in the history of the Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have had some electrifying kick returners over the years. Most fans can probably think of a few spectacular return men off the top of their heads. Some of the greatest at fielding kickoffs for Pittsburgh had a niche role, while others were star players who were too special with the ball in their hands not to field kicks.

The Steelers have had lengthy stretches where their kick returning has been unspectacular, and rule changes over the years have devalued this role at times. However, we have seen how excellent returners can swing field position and even shift the tides of a game.

Some of these forgotten names deserve recognition for how they aided their team and routinely gave the offense an excellent starting field position. Some notable names fell short of cracking this elite list of rankings, but let's break down the top five kick returners to ever play for the Steelers.

Criteria for selection

Numerous factors go into ranking criteria for determining the best kick returners in Pittsburgh Steelers' history. Statistics are important. I considered every player's return average and kick return touchdowns. I also factored in the total number of kick returns, and those who performed well with a big sample size received a boost.

Additionally, I factored in the impact each return man had on their team and the starting field position they offered the offense. Longevity and consistency at the position were important, as were explosive returns.

It's important to note that I did not take into consideration a player's star power or performance at another position. This criteria strictly evaluates their performance as kick returners (which excludes each player's history as a punt returner).

To qualify for a ranking, players needed to play a minimum of one full season in Pittsburgh and return at least 25 kicks during their tenure with the Steelers.

The top 5 kick returners in Pittsburgh Steelers history

5. Antonio Brown

Before Antonio Brown was a superstar and one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, he was a fascinating return man. As a sixth-round pick by the Steelers in the 2010 NFL Draft, Brown was forced to begin his career at the bottom of the depth chart and work his way up the ladder.

What helped him do this quickly was his electrifying ability as a kick returner. In his second NFL season, Brown averaged an outstanding 27.3 yards per kick return on 27 attempts and ultimately made the Pro Bowl as a special teams player.

Brown saw just three total kick returns from 2012 to 2017 in Pittsburgh, as he was considered one of the best non-quarterbacks in the NFL. His kick return sample isn't the biggest (just 47 career returns), but with a 25.0 average and a touchdown, Brown is deserving of ranking on this list.

4. Stefan Logan

Good things come in little packages, and Stefan Logan was proof of that. Despite being listed at 5'7'' and 177 pounds, Logan was a phenomenal kick returner for the Steelers. Logan spent just one season in Pittsburgh but returned 55 kicks for a remarkable 26.7 yards per return.

Interestingly, Logan didn't log a snap in the NFL until fielding his first return with the Steelers at the age of 28 in 2009. Though he didn't return one of his 55 attempts for a touchdown in Pittsburgh, he busted out an 83-yard return and instantly put himself on the map as a dangerous return man.

The Steelers would have been wise to hang onto Logan a while longer. He spent the next three years with the Detroit Lions where he returned 116 kicks for 2,877 yards -- including a 105-yard return for a touchdown. Despite just one season in Pittsburgh, Logan's 55 kick returns rank 10th in franchise history, and his average is tied with Gary Ballman for the second-best in Steelers history among players with at least 25 returns.

3. Gary Ballman

Like Brown, Gary Ballman was a wide receiver who didn't return kicks his whole career; rather he helped this team in this regard early in his tenure in Pittsburgh. After barely seeing the field as a rookie in 1962, Ballman became the Steelers' primary kick returner in 1963.

Ballman immediately caught the attention of the football world when he returned 22 kicks for an average of 31.7 yards per return and a touchdown in year two. Though Ballman was known as a two-time Pro Bowl receiver, his ability as a return man often gets overlooked.

In five years with the Steelers, Ballman fielded 64 kicks for 1,711 yards (26.7 yards per return) while punching in one kick return touchdown. His speed and ability with the ball in his hands made him one of the best kick returners in Steelers history.

2. Rod Woodson

Rod Woodson was a different kind of football player. Though he developed a reputation as a star early in his career, Woodson was never too big to help his team as a return man.

Woodson's best season as a return man came during an All-Pro year as a cornerback in 1989 when he shredded opposing teams for 982 yards and a kick return touchdown on 27.3 yards per attempt. The Hall of Fame defensive back returned kicks for the first eight seasons of his career. Over time, his efficiency took a dip, but his longevity was unmatched.

Woodson finished his Steelers career with an impressive 220 kick returns for 4,894 yards (22.2 yards per return) and two touchdowns.

1. Lynn Chandnois

Many Steelers fans reading this are probably seeing this name for the first time. Lynn Chandnois began his professional football career all the way back in 1950 -- two decades before the NFL merger. But that doesn't that his accomplishments as a kick returner should be forgotten.

Chandnois was a halfback during his time in the NFL, but he was also the best return man in Pittsburgh's history. As a rookie, Chandnois averaged 29.3 return yards on 12 attempts, but he was only scratching the surface of his potential with the ball in his hands.

By his third season in 1952, Chandnois earned Pro Bowl honors, but it was his ability as a kick returner that was so impressive. the talented football player managed 599 kick return yards and 35.2 yards per return with a pair of touchdowns. This is back when the league only had 12-game seasons.

Chandnois played all seven seasons of professional football with the Pittsburgh Steelers -- finishing 3rd in kick return yards, 1st in touchdowns (3), and 1st in kick return average among players with more than 10 returns.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference.

The 5 best kick returners in Pittsburgh Steelers history by average yards per return (min. 25 attempts)