122:
191:
534:
222:
25:
401:
309:
Conversely, placekickers and punters can also have very short careers, mainly because of a lack of opportunity. Because the risk of injury is remote, NFL teams typically only carry one punter on their roster at any given time. Thus, the only opportunity a punter has of breaking into the league is if
706:
A punter's job is no longer simply to kick the ball high and far while fans hold their collective breath that this time isn't the time when the ball flies sideways into the stands. No, punters are now neutralizing and terrorizing the most electric return men in the NFL with kicks that spin and move
350:
Two CFL punters share the record for the longest punt in professional football history at 108 yards. Such a punt is theoretically possible in
American football, but would likely result in a touchback, moreover this would require the line of scrimmage to be on the punting team's two yard line, thus
217:
from advancing the ball). Punters therefore must be able to kick the ball high, long distances, and precisely. One standard is that a punt should be in the air for at least 1 second for every 10 yards it travels, but the linear relationship drops off once it hits over 50 yards.
391:
as a punter but performed other kicking duties as well. Guy is credited with raising the status of punters in the NFL because he proved to be a major ingredient in the
Raiders' success during the 1970s by preventing opponents from gaining field position advantage.
293:
position players (there is a similar tendency with kickers). One reason for this is that their limited time on the field and heavy protection by penalties against defensive players for late hits makes them far less likely to be injured than other positions.
659:
revolutionized punting by developing many variations, due to his flexible hips in an effort to increase net punting average by giving the ball variable trajectories and bounce, making it more difficult for returners to catch and return.
265:
and understand kicking mechanics, such as how far back to lean the ball as the kicker makes an attempt, and when a field goal attempt should be aborted. Punters may pass or run the ball on fake field goal attempts and fake punts.
314:, but the second punter is typically "camp fodder" and seldom makes the opening day roster. Unlike backups at other positions, backup placekickers and punters are not employed by any given team until they are needed; most
354:
Steve O'Neal set the record for the longest punt in a
National Football League game in 1969 with a punt measuring 98 yards. It is the longest recorded punt in a game possible that did not end in a touchback.
281:, have filled in as worthy backup field goal kickers. Punters seldom receive much attention or fan support, in part because they are called upon when a team's offense has just failed.
454:, who set the NFL single-season scoring record with 176 points in 12 games in 1960, was suspended for gambling in 1963 and suffered a sharp decline in accuracy in 1964. Linebacker
551:. A quarterback and punter in college, Tupa started his career in the NFL as a quarterback but eventually settled into a role as a full-time punter and emergency quarterback.
213:(making it impossible to advance the ball until the next play) or after being kicked exceptionally high (allowing the kicking team time to run down the field and prevent the
344:
164:(kicks) the football to the opposing team so as to limit any field position advantage. This generally happens on a fourth down in American football and a third down in
602:. In recent years, an increasing number of Australians have been making the transition to gridiron football at earlier ages, with a significant number now playing for
952:
570:
in his career, was one of the first successful
Australian rules football players to make the jump from that sport's top professional competition, the
42:
318:
teams, because of smaller rosters and fields along with rules that either ban or discourage punting, do not employ punting specialists.
863:
422:(which effectively required a punter to play offensive and defensive positions on top of their duties) was abolished in the 1940s. The
89:
945:
650:
61:
646:
813:
1230:
68:
1278:
1236:
541:
537:
1268:
938:
679:, who claimed it was unintentional. Left-footed punters have been increasingly used at the NFL level; at the start of the
75:
1144:
1013:
889:
759:
638:
590:. Graham is now a free agent. Other former AFL players who made the transition to NFL punters include former NFL punter
526:
from 1976 through 1979, but was the team's primary punter from 1975 through 1984, when he gave up the kicking duties to
1273:
1001:
311:
785:
210:
108:
57:
1263:
684:
559:
326:
1152:
46:
1240:
1225:
672:
481:
as a punting specialist in 1966. Wilson punted for the Chiefs for 13 seasons, and combined with placekicker
1148:
1130:
1122:
1110:
698:
By the late 2010s and early 2020s, punters were highly specialized players on an NFL roster. Louis Bien of
575:
194:
1118:
1026:
1008:
961:
209:. Accordingly, the most effective punts land just outside the receiving team's end zone and land either
1210:
1172:
1098:
1021:
930:
925:
747:
730:
571:
408:
250:
82:
1017:
555:
372:
310:
the incumbent punter leaves the team or is injured. Some NFL teams will carry two punters during the
205:
is to force the team that is receiving the kick to start as far as possible from the punting team's
121:
843:
Boomerangs, Knuckleballs, Hooks: How Sam Koch & the Ravens
Changed Punting | NFL Films Presents
642:
334:
315:
290:
242:
Punters may also impart a spin to the ball that makes it harder to catch, increasing the odds of a
202:
185:
173:
161:
153:
1218:
1202:
1072:
814:"Mitch Wishnowsky and Utah Are Setting the Pace in a New Phase of the Australian Punter Pipeline"
622:
414:
Before Guy's arrival in
Oakland, many teams trained a position player to double as a punter (the
35:
790:
501:
330:
190:
168:. Punters may also occasionally take part in fake punts in those same situations, when they
664:
8:
599:
497:
1080:
1061:
1048:
818:
630:
563:
470:
459:
419:
388:
270:
262:
261:
and is thus accustomed to catching a long-snapped ball. Additionally, punters are also
1190:
1168:
1164:
1114:
969:
965:
587:
567:
505:
423:
274:
165:
157:
145:
347:
with 71,211 yards. He played from 1988 to 2009 for five different teams in the NFL.
1035:
994:
982:
634:
603:
583:
380:
533:
692:
680:
614:
443:
364:
129:
1135:
986:
676:
523:
519:
489:
447:
435:
384:
337:), in a 23-year career, has the most career punting yards, with 134,301 yards.
278:
919:
841:
741:
724:
500:, served as the team's primary punter for the first four years of his career.
1257:
1186:
1039:
688:
610:
579:
509:
478:
474:
463:
450:
brought
Chandler in from his old team to serve exclusively as a kicker after
431:
225:
214:
149:
125:
1105:
1094:
1076:
743:
65-yd, 5.4 sec Punt by
Australian Punter Joe Gardener - NFL Free Agent Camp
482:
455:
451:
439:
427:
404:
340:
303:
295:
258:
236:
229:
169:
786:"Utah football: Mitch Wishnowsky wins Utah's third straight Ray Guy Award"
418:
was likewise expected to "double-up" at another position), even after the
1068:
1053:
1043:
1031:
707:
and bounce and flip in all sorts of unpredictable, terror-inducing ways".
645:, 2017). All three finalists for the 2016 award were Australians. In the
626:
618:
591:
515:
493:
415:
375:, as well as the only pure punter to be picked in the first round of the
243:
233:
960:
582:, became the first AFL player to play in a Super Bowl when he played in
1140:
1086:
668:
527:
289:
Certain punters can have exceptionally long careers, compared to other
254:
221:
1194:
894:
699:
683:, there were 26 right-footed punters, four left-footed ones and one (
595:
485:
to give the team one of the best kicking combinations in the league.
376:
649:, nearly one-fourth of the schools in college football's top level,
558:
players to punt for them, as punting is a basic skill in that game.
488:
Backup quarterbacks were commonly used to punt well into the 1970s.
24:
1198:
1156:
656:
548:
351:
increasing the difficulty of achieving an exceptionally long punt.
206:
368:
257:
attempts. The punter has typically developed chemistry with the
1214:
1126:
695:, there were 22 right-footed punters and 10 left-footed ones.
400:
1176:
508:
in the late 1960s and early 1970s, punting for the club in
299:
726:
Punt
Competition To Play In Under Armour All-America Game
246:
that may lead to the punter's team regaining possession.
554:
Starting in the 1990s, some NFL teams turned to retired
383:
was selected as the 11th pick in the first round of the
306:
played 22 seasons as a punter, on five different teams.
760:"Just Because: Here's the longest NFL punt in history"
653:, had at least one Australian punter on their roster.
547:
One of the last examples of a punting quarterback was
438:as their punter. The Packers' regular placekicker,
49:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
1255:
371:is the only pure punter to be inducted into the
298:, for instance, played 19 NFL seasons and three
946:
667:were noted for almost exclusively employing
953:
939:
477:, bucked the trend at the time by signing
839:
518:played little as a backup quarterback to
109:Learn how and when to remove this message
532:
458:served as a punter for the AFL-champion
399:
220:
189:
120:
16:Gridiron football special teams position
890:"This is the golden age of NFL punting"
861:
273:as most punters have been at one point
1256:
811:
934:
574:(AFL), to the NFL, doing so in 1994.
473:, who played in Super Bowl I and won
887:
783:
249:The punter frequently serves as the
47:adding citations to reliable sources
18:
862:Vrentas, Jenny (January 11, 2018).
617:football, were won by Australians:
302:seasons for eight different teams.
179:
13:
578:, who entered the league with the
321:
14:
1290:
913:
888:Bien, Louis (December 11, 2018).
613:, presented to the top punter in
442:, was an All-Pro punter with the
284:
269:Many punters also double duty as
812:Niesen, Joan (August 16, 2018).
609:Between 2013 and 2017, all five
23:
921:Example of a coffin corner punt
784:Goon, Kyle (December 8, 2016).
358:
132:punts the ball in November 2008
58:"Punter" gridiron football
34:needs additional citations for
881:
855:
833:
805:
777:
752:
735:
718:
504:took on the same role for the
407:was a punter and fullback for
1:
1279:American football terminology
395:
7:
1269:American football positions
864:"Punting Takes a Left Turn"
542:Michigan Wolverines in 2008
277:as well, and some, such as
10:
1295:
673:during the coaching tenure
572:Australian Football League
183:
1274:American football punters
1224:
1139:
1134:
1085:
1067:
1000:
998:
993:
991:
981:
976:
556:Australian rules football
373:Pro Football Hall of Fame
343:holds the NFL record for
840:NFL Films (2016-09-26),
711:
316:indoor American football
186:Punt (gridiron football)
152:player who receives the
1264:American football plays
496:at quarterback for the
492:, who was stuck behind
709:
544:
411:
239:
198:
133:
791:The Salt Lake Tribune
704:
562:, who played for the
536:
403:
331:Winnipeg Blue Bombers
224:
197:punting for the 49ers
193:
184:Further information:
124:
665:New England Patriots
345:career punting yards
176:instead of punting.
43:improve this article
600:Washington Redskins
498:San Francisco 49ers
434:using running back
271:kickoff specialists
201:The purpose of the
1062:Kickoff specialist
868:Sports Illustrated
819:Sports Illustrated
633:, 2014 and 2015),
598:, formerly of the
564:San Diego Chargers
545:
471:Kansas City Chiefs
460:San Diego Chargers
420:one-platoon system
412:
389:New Orleans Saints
275:field goal kickers
240:
199:
156:directly from the
134:
1251:
1250:
1246:
1245:
1234:
1111:Halfback/Tailback
970:Canadian football
966:American football
766:. 16 October 2014
637:(Utah, 2016) and
588:Arizona Cardinals
568:Minnesota Vikings
506:Minnesota Vikings
424:Green Bay Packers
166:Canadian football
158:line of scrimmage
146:gridiron football
119:
118:
111:
93:
1286:
1228:
979:
978:
955:
948:
941:
932:
931:
922:
907:
906:
904:
902:
885:
879:
878:
876:
874:
859:
853:
852:
851:
850:
837:
831:
830:
828:
826:
809:
803:
802:
800:
798:
781:
775:
774:
772:
771:
756:
750:
744:
739:
733:
727:
722:
635:Mitch Wishnowsky
584:Super Bowl XLIII
540:punting for the
381:Russell Erxleben
180:Skills and usage
174:run the football
114:
107:
103:
100:
94:
92:
51:
27:
19:
1294:
1293:
1289:
1288:
1287:
1285:
1284:
1283:
1254:
1253:
1252:
1247:
972:
959:
920:
916:
911:
910:
900:
898:
886:
882:
872:
870:
860:
856:
848:
846:
838:
834:
824:
822:
810:
806:
796:
794:
782:
778:
769:
767:
758:
757:
753:
742:
740:
736:
725:
723:
719:
714:
693:2017 NFL season
681:2001 NFL season
639:Michael Dickson
615:NCAA Division I
444:New York Giants
398:
365:Oakland Raiders
361:
324:
322:Notable records
287:
232:(#4) holds for
188:
182:
130:Oakland Raiders
115:
104:
98:
95:
52:
50:
40:
28:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1292:
1282:
1281:
1276:
1271:
1266:
1249:
1248:
1244:
1243:
1222:
1221:
1208:
1205:
1184:
1180:
1179:
1162:
1159:
1138:
1133:
1119:Change of pace
1108:
1102:
1101:
1092:
1089:
1084:
1065:
1064:
1051:
1046:
1029:
1024:
1011:
1005:
1004:
999:
997:
992:
990:
987:Skill position
977:
974:
973:
958:
957:
950:
943:
935:
929:
928:
915:
914:External links
912:
909:
908:
880:
854:
832:
804:
776:
751:
734:
716:
715:
713:
710:
677:Bill Belichick
651:Division I FBS
611:Ray Guy Awards
560:Darren Bennett
524:Dallas Cowboys
520:Roger Staubach
490:Steve Spurrier
466:in the 1960s.
448:Vince Lombardi
436:Donny Anderson
397:
394:
360:
357:
323:
320:
286:
285:Career lengths
283:
279:Craig Hentrich
181:
178:
117:
116:
31:
29:
22:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1291:
1280:
1277:
1275:
1272:
1270:
1267:
1265:
1262:
1261:
1259:
1242:
1238:
1232:
1227:
1223:
1220:
1216:
1212:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1200:
1196:
1192:
1188:
1187:Wide receiver
1185:
1182:
1181:
1178:
1174:
1170:
1169:Kick returner
1166:
1165:Punt returner
1163:
1160:
1158:
1154:
1150:
1146:
1142:
1137:
1132:
1128:
1124:
1120:
1116:
1115:Triple-threat
1112:
1109:
1107:
1106:Running backs
1104:
1103:
1100:
1096:
1093:
1090:
1088:
1082:
1078:
1074:
1070:
1066:
1063:
1059:
1055:
1052:
1050:
1047:
1045:
1041:
1037:
1033:
1030:
1028:
1025:
1023:
1019:
1015:
1012:
1010:
1007:
1006:
1003:
1002:Special teams
996:
988:
984:
980:
975:
971:
967:
963:
956:
951:
949:
944:
942:
937:
936:
933:
927:
923:
918:
917:
897:
896:
891:
884:
869:
865:
858:
845:
844:
836:
821:
820:
815:
808:
793:
792:
787:
780:
765:
764:CBSSports.com
761:
755:
749:
745:
738:
732:
728:
721:
717:
708:
703:
701:
696:
694:
690:
686:
682:
678:
674:
670:
666:
661:
658:
654:
652:
648:
644:
640:
636:
632:
628:
624:
620:
616:
612:
607:
605:
601:
597:
593:
589:
585:
581:
580:New York Jets
577:
573:
569:
565:
561:
557:
552:
550:
543:
539:
535:
531:
529:
525:
521:
517:
513:
511:
510:Super Bowl IV
507:
503:
499:
495:
491:
486:
484:
480:
479:Jerrel Wilson
476:
475:Super Bowl IV
472:
467:
465:
464:Buffalo Bills
461:
457:
453:
449:
445:
441:
437:
433:
432:Super Bowl II
429:
425:
421:
417:
410:
406:
402:
393:
390:
386:
382:
378:
374:
370:
366:
356:
352:
348:
346:
342:
338:
336:
332:
328:
319:
317:
313:
307:
305:
301:
297:
292:
282:
280:
276:
272:
267:
264:
260:
256:
252:
247:
245:
238:
235:
231:
227:
226:Chicago Bears
223:
219:
216:
215:punt returner
212:
211:out of bounds
208:
204:
196:
192:
187:
177:
175:
171:
167:
163:
159:
155:
151:
150:special teams
147:
143:
139:
131:
127:
126:Shane Lechler
123:
113:
110:
102:
91:
88:
84:
81:
77:
74:
70:
67:
63:
60: –
59:
55:
54:Find sources:
48:
44:
38:
37:
32:This article
30:
26:
21:
20:
1237:Nomenclature
1095:Long snapper
1077:Game manager
1057:
901:September 6,
899:. Retrieved
893:
883:
871:. Retrieved
867:
857:
847:, retrieved
842:
835:
823:. Retrieved
817:
807:
795:. Retrieved
789:
779:
768:. Retrieved
763:
754:
737:
720:
705:
697:
685:Chris Hanson
662:
655:
608:
604:U.S. college
553:
546:
538:Zoltán Meskó
514:
487:
483:Jan Stenerud
468:
456:Paul Maguire
452:Paul Hornung
440:Don Chandler
428:Super Bowl I
413:
362:
359:Draft status
353:
349:
341:Jeff Feagles
339:
325:
308:
304:Jeff Feagles
296:Sean Landeta
288:
268:
259:long snapper
248:
241:
237:Robbie Gould
230:Brad Maynard
200:
154:snapped ball
141:
137:
135:
105:
96:
86:
79:
72:
65:
53:
41:Please help
36:verification
33:
1073:Dual-threat
1069:Quarterback
1054:Placekicker
1044:Edge rusher
1032:Nose tackle
873:January 11,
797:February 4,
689:dual-footed
669:left-footed
647:2018 season
627:Tom Hackett
619:Tom Hornsey
592:Mat McBriar
516:Danny White
494:John Brodie
416:placekicker
327:Bob Cameron
234:placekicker
99:August 2010
1258:Categories
1226:Formations
1183:Receivers
1161:Returning
1153:Nickelback
1141:Cornerback
1087:Linebacker
849:2016-11-08
825:August 20,
770:2021-02-27
687:) who was
576:Ben Graham
528:Mike Saxon
385:1979 draft
255:field goal
69:newspapers
1207:Tackling
1195:Tight end
1091:Snapping
962:Positions
895:SB Nation
700:SB Nation
691:. By the
625:, 2013),
596:Sav Rocca
586:with the
522:with the
409:Wisconsin
405:Pat O'Dea
396:Evolution
377:NFL Draft
312:preseason
160:and then
1241:Strategy
1199:Slotback
1191:Eligible
1157:Dimeback
1149:Halfback
1131:Wingback
1123:Fullback
671:punters
657:Sam Koch
606:teams.
549:Tom Tupa
207:end zone
195:Andy Lee
1219:Utility
1049:Kicking
1027:Linemen
1009:Linemen
995:Defense
983:Offense
926:YouTube
748:YouTube
731:YouTube
702:wrote:
623:Memphis
502:Bob Lee
387:by the
369:Ray Guy
367:player
363:Former
329:of the
263:kickers
228:punter
128:of the
83:scholar
1215:Upback
1211:Gunner
1173:Jammer
1145:Safety
1127:H-back
1099:Holder
1081:System
1058:Punter
1036:Tackle
1022:Center
1014:Tackle
251:holder
138:punter
85:
78:
71:
64:
56:
1177:Upman
1136:Backs
1018:Guard
712:Notes
643:Texas
170:throw
162:punts
148:is a
144:) in
90:JSTOR
76:books
1231:List
968:and
903:2022
875:2018
827:2018
799:2017
663:The
631:Utah
594:and
566:and
469:The
462:and
446:but
430:and
426:won
300:USFL
244:muff
203:punt
62:news
1203:End
1193:),
1121:),
1040:End
964:in
924:on
746:on
729:on
675:of
335:CFL
291:NFL
253:on
172:or
45:by
1260::
1239:—
1235:—
1217:,
1213:,
1201:,
1197:,
1175:,
1171:,
1167:,
1155:,
1151:,
1147:,
1143:,
1129:,
1125:,
1117:,
1097:,
1083:)
1079:,
1075:,
1060:,
1056:,
1042:,
1038:,
1034:,
1020:,
1016:,
989:)
892:.
866:.
816:.
788:.
762:.
530:.
512:.
379:.
136:A
1233:)
1229:(
1189:(
1113:(
1071:(
985:(
954:e
947:t
940:v
905:.
877:.
829:.
801:.
773:.
641:(
629:(
621:(
333:(
142:P
140:(
112:)
106:(
101:)
97:(
87:·
80:·
73:·
66:·
39:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
