Who Is the Best Punter in NFL History?

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the best punters in NFL history and try to answer the question: who is the best punter of all time?

Introduction

In American professional football, the punter is a specialized position that is responsible for the kicking of the ball on special teams. This player is typically among the team’s best athletes and is often called upon to make important plays. Given the nature of their job, punters are often some of the most underrated and forgotten players in the game. However, their contributions can be crucial to a team’s success.

With that said, there have been some truly great punters in NFL history. These are the players who have excelled at their craft and helped their teams win games. Here is a look at the best punters in NFL history.

Sammy Baugh

Sammy Baugh was a professional American football player and coach. He played college football for the TCU Horned Frogs and was selected as the first-team All-American quarterback in 1936. Baugh played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Washington Redskins from 1937 to 1952.

Career Highlights

In his rookie season, Baugh led the NFL in passing yardage, completions, and touchdowns, en route to being named NFL Rookie of the Year. He continued to be a dominant passer throughout his career, leading the league in passing yards six times and completion percentage eight times. He also was a skilled punter and led the league in punting four times. In 1943, he set an NFL record for the highest single-season punting average.

Baugh was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1963, his first year of eligibility. In 1969, he was named to the NFL 1920s All-Decade Team and in 1970 he was named to the NFL 1930s All-Decade Team. He is also a member of the Washington Redskins Ring of Fame.

Why He’s the Best

Saying that Sammy Baugh is the best punter in NFL history is like saying Michael Jordan is the best basketball player of all time. It’s just a given.

Baugh was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1937 and played for them his entire 16-year career. He was an immediate sensation, leading the NFL in passing yards as a rookie. He would go on to lead the league in passing six times, interception percentage five times, and quarterback rating four times. Oh, and he also punted and played defense.

Baugh was the first player ever to be named first-team All-Pro at two positions (quarterback and defensive back) in the same year (1940). He did it again in 1943. In all, he was named first-team All-Pro six times (1937, 1940-42, 1945) and second-team All-Pro three times (1938, 1944, 1946). He was also selected to six Pro Bowls (1937, 1939-42, 1945).

Baugh’s career passing yardage (21,886) and touchdown total (187) were both tops among quarterbacks when he retired after the 1952 season. His 71.4 career passing percentage is still second all time behind only Steve Young. His career passer rating of 82.6 is 11th all time.

But it’s as a punter where Baugh really made his mark on the game. He averaged 45 yards per punt for his career, which is still 10th all time despite the fact that punters now kick from much closer to midfield than they did during Baugh’s day. In 1940, he had an incredible 51% of his punts downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. In 1942, he set an NFL record with a 57 yard punt (which stood until 1963). In 1943, he led the league with a 49 yard average per punt.

In short, Sammy Baugh was one of greatest players in NFL history…at any position.

Shane Lechler

Shane Lechler is widely considered to be the best punter in NFL history. He played for the Oakland Raiders for 18 seasons and is currently the all-time leader in punting yards. He is a six-time Pro Bowler and a five-time All-Pro.

Career Highlights

Shane Lechler is widely considered to be one of the best punters in NFL history. He played college football at Texas A&M, and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Lechler spent his entire 13-year career with the Raiders, and holds several franchise records.

During his NFL career, Lechler was selected to seven Pro Bowls and was named a First-Team All-Pro six times. He led the league in punting average five times, and is the only player in NFL history to do so. His career punting average of 47.5 yards is second all-time behind only Jeff Feagles, and he ranks third all-time in gross punting yards with 62,444.

Lechler was also an outstanding placekicker during his college career, and made 17 of 20 field goal attempts while at Texas A&M. He is one of only two players in NFL history (Joel Dreessen being the other) to have ever scored a touchdown on a punt return, a kickoff return, and a field goal return.

Why He’s the Best

Shane Lechler is the best punter in NFL history. He’s a 6-time Pro Bowler and a 5-time All-Pro. He’s also the NFL’s all-time leader in punt average (45.6 yards per punt).

Lechler was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the 5th round of the 2000 NFL Draft. He’s spent his entire 18-year career with the Raiders, and he’s been one of the most consistent and reliable punters in the league. In his 18 seasons, Lechler has only had two seasons where he’s averaged less than 40 yards per punt. And in 12 of those seasons, he’s averaged over 45 yards per punt.

Lechler has also been remarkably durable, appearing in all 16 games in 14 of his 18 seasons. In fact, Lechler has missed just four games in his entire career.

So what makes Shane Lechler the best punter in NFL history? It’s his combination of longevity, consistency, and durability that sets him apart from everyone else.

Ray Guy

Ray Guy is widely considered to be the best punter in NFL history. He was a first-team All-Pro six times and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Guy was known for his exceptional ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory. He was also a valuable member of the Oakland Raiders teams that won Super Bowls XI and XV.

Career Highlights

Ray Guy is a retired American football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons. He played college football for the University of Southern Mississippi, and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the first round of the 1973 NFL Draft. Guy was a member of three Super Bowl-winning teams during his NFL career. He is widely considered to be the greatest punter in NFL history.

Guy was born in Swansboro, North Carolina, and attended Swansboro High School. He played football and baseball, andwas voted “Most Athletic” by his senior class. Guy enrolled at the University of Southern Mississippi, where he played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles football team from 1970 to 1972. As a senior in 1972, he led the nation with a 43.4-yard (39.6 m) punting average. He was named an All-American by several publications, including The Sporting News and Associated Press (AP), and finished ninth in voting for the Heisman Trophy.

Why He’s the Best

Ray Guy is widely considered to be the best punter in NFL history. He played for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1973-1986 and was a 7-time All-Pro and 6-time Pro Bowler. He was also named to the NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team and the NFL 1960s All-Decade Team. Guy was the first pure punter to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Guy was known for his ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory, as well as his booming kicks that could reach 60 yards or more. He helped the Raiders win 3 Super Bowls during his career, and his impact on the game cannot be understated.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is difficult to say who the best punter in NFL history is. There are many great punters who have made a significant impact on the game. Some of the most successful punters include Ray Guy, Sean Landeta, Reggie Roby, and Andy Lee. Each of these punters has their own unique story and career. It would be impossible to select just one as the best.