American football is a sport known for its exciting plays, meticulous strategy and high-performance athletes. Within the game, the punters play a crucial role in the success of the teams, being responsible for repositioning the ball on the pitch with their precise and powerful kicks.
Although they often don’t get as much attention as quarterbacks or running backs, punters have a significant impact on games and can change the course of a match with a single well-executed kick.
Punters combine strength, precision and strategic ability to maximise their team’s position on the field. So let’s find out who are the 20 best punters in the history of American football?
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The 20 best punters in American football history: complete list
- Ray Guy
- Shane Lechler
- Sammy Baugh
- Jerrel Wilson
- Jeff Feagles
- Sean Landeta
- Reggie Roby
- Pat McAfee
- Darren Bennett
- Thomas Morstead
- Johnny Hekker
- Donnie Jones
- Craig Hentrich
- Dave Jennings
- Tom Tupa
- Brad Maynard
- Lee Johnson
- Mitch Berger
- Brian Moorman
- Rick Tuten
The 20 best punters in American football history: find out more about them
1. Ray Guy
- Titles: 3x Super Bowl Champion (XI, XV, XVIII)
- Team: Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
- Fun facts: First punter to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
- Life Story: Born in 1949, Guy was a multi-talented athlete at school, playing American soccer, basketball and baseball. His professional career made him an icon at the punter position.
2. Shane Lechler
- Titles: 9x Pro Bowl, 6x First-team All-Pro
- Team: Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans
- Fun facts: Holds the record for highest career punt return average.
- Life Story: Lechler was born in 1976 in Texas and played for Texas A&M before being drafted by the Raiders in 2000. He is widely regarded as one of the NFL’s most consistent and dominant punters.
3. Sammy Baugh
- Titles: 2x NFL Champion, 4x First-team All-Pro
- Team: Washington Redskins
- Fun facts: Known as “Slingin’ Sammy”, he was also one of the best quarterbacks of his era.
- Life Story: Born in 1914, Baugh played college soccer for TCU before joining the Redskins. His versatility on the field is legendary.
4. Jerrel Wilson
- Titles: 3x Pro Bowl, Super Bowl IV Champion
- Team: Kansas City Chiefs
- Fun facts: Nicknamed “Thunderfoot” because of the power of his kicks.
- Life Story: Born in 1941, Wilson began his NFL career in 1963. He played for the Chiefs for 15 years, leaving a lasting mark on the franchise.
5. Jeff Feagles
- Titles: Super Bowl XLII Champion
- Team: New York Giants, Seattle Seahawks, among others
- Fun facts: Record holder for consecutive games played in the NFL with 352.
- Life Story: Feagles was born in 1966 and played college soccer for the University of Miami. His longevity and consistency have been hallmarks of his career.
6. Sean Landeta
- Titles: 2x Super Bowl Champion (XXI, XXV)
- Team: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, among others
- Fun facts: He played for 22 seasons in the NFL.
- Life Story: Born in 1962, Landeta began his soccer career at Towson University. He is one of the most respected and longest-tenured punters in league history.
7. Reggie Roby
- Titles: 3x Pro Bowl
- Team: Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, among others
- Fun facts: Known for his unique kicking style, with his leg extended almost parallel to the ground.
- Life Story: Born in 1961, Roby was a revolutionary punter who brought innovation to the position. He was also a college soccer standout for the University of Iowa.
8. Pat McAfee
- Titles: 2x Pro Bowl, 1x First-team All-Pro
- Team: Indianapolis Colts
- Trivia: After retiring, he became a popular sports media personality.
- Life Story: McAfee was born in 1987 and played college soccer for West Virginia University. Known for his charismatic personality and athletic abilities, he has become one of the most popular punters of the 21st century.
9. Darren Bennett
- Titles: 2x Pro Bowl
- Team: San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings
- Fun facts: Former Australian soccer player who became one of the best punters in the NFL.
- Life Story: Born in Australia in 1965, Bennett brought a different style to the NFL, using Australian soccer techniques to excel as a punter.
10. Thomas Morstead
- Titles: Super Bowl XLIV Champion
- Team: New Orleans Saints, New York Jets
- Fun facts: Known for his crucial onside kick in Super Bowl XLIV.
Life Story: Morstead was born in 1986 and played college soccer for SMU University. He excelled in the NFL for his accuracy and ability in critical situations.
11. Johnny Hekker
- Titles: 4x First-team All-Pro, 4x Pro Bowl
- Team: Los Angeles Rams
- Fun facts: Known for his ability to execute fake punts and accurate passes.
- Life Story: Hekker was born in 1990 and played college soccer for Oregon State University. His versatility and accuracy have made him one of the most valuable punters in the NFL.
12. Donnie Jones
- Titles: Super Bowl LII Champion
- Team: Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, among others
- Fun facts: Recognized for his consistency throughout his career.
- Life Story: Born in 1980, Jones played college soccer for the University of LSU. He had a long career in the NFL, standing out for his long kicking ability.
13. Craig Hentrich
- Titles: 2x Pro Bowl, Super Bowl XXXI Champion
- Team: Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans
- Fun facts: He also played kicker during his career.
- Life Story: Born in 1971, Hentrich played college soccer for the University of Notre Dame. His ability to play multiple roles has made him a valuable asset to his teams.
14. Dave Jennings
- Titles: 4x Pro Bowl
- Team: New York Giants, New York Jets
- Trivia: After retiring, he became a respected sports commentator.
- Life Story: Born in 1952, Jennings played college soccer for St. Lawrence University. He had an outstanding career in the NFL and is remembered as one of the best punters of his era.
15. Tom Tupa
- Titles: Super Bowl XXVII Champion
- Team: New England Patriots, New York Jets, among others
- Fun facts: He also played quarterback during his NFL career.
- Life Story: Tupa was born in 1966 and played college soccer for Ohio State University. His versatility on the field was a distinguishing feature of his career.
16. Brad Maynard
- Titles: Super Bowl XLI Champion
- Team: Chicago Bears, New York Giants, among others
- Fun facts: Recognized for his accuracy in getting the ball inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
- Life Story: Born in 1974, Maynard played college soccer for Ball State University. He excelled in the NFL for his technical ability and consistency.
17. Lee Johnson
- Titles: Super Bowl Champion (XXIII)
- Team: Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, among others
- Fun facts: Played 18 seasons in the NFL.
- Life Story: Born in 1961, Johnson played college soccer for BYU. His longevity and consistent performance made him one of the most respected punters of his generation.
18. Mitch Berger
- Titles: Super Bowl XLIII Champion
- Team: Pittsburgh Steelers, Minnesota Vikings, among others
- Fun facts: Known for his long, powerful kicks.
- Life Story: Berger was born in 1972 and played college soccer for the University of Colorado. He had a distinguished career in the NFL, especially recognized for his performance in decisive moments.
19. Brian Moorman
- Titles: 2x Pro Bowl
- Team: Buffalo Bills
- Fun facts: He was also a standout sprinter in college.
- Life Story: Born in 1976, Moorman played college soccer for Pittsburg State University. His speed and ability in the open field made him a unique and effective punter.
20. Rick Tuten
- Titles: Pro Bowl
- Team: Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, among others
- Fun facts: Nicknamed “Bootin’ Tuten” for the power of his kicks.
- Life Story: Born in 1965, Tuten played college soccer for the University of Miami. His NFL career was marked by his ability to kick long, accurate kicks.
The 20 best punters in American football history: complete list
- Ray Guy
- Shane Lechler
- Sammy Baugh
- Jerrel Wilson
- Jeff Feagles
- Sean Landeta
- Reggie Roby
- Pat McAfee
- Darren Bennett
- Thomas Morstead
- Johnny Hekker
- Donnie Jones
- Craig Hentrich
- Dave Jennings
- Tom Tupa
- Brad Maynard
- Lee Johnson
- Mitch Berger
- Brian Moorman
- Rick Tuten
The 20 best punters in American football history
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