The special team’s part of the NFL sometimes goes unnoticed with many of the greatest special team’s players getting little recognition. This includes a long list of the best NFL punters of All-Time. Many of these great punters dominated during their time while playing a key role for their team including helping set up field position and pinning their opponents under the 20-yard line.

As you look at the Top 10 NFL Punters All-Time, many of the punters if not all of them put together long careers.

As you start to look at the group of punters, each had the ability not only to punt the ball a long distance but also control the location of where the punt landed and the type of spin the ball had. 

For guys like Ray Guy, Sean Landeta, and Shane Lechler to name a few, the ability to drop the ball on the five-yard line and stop on the one was as important as any play within a football game. With that said, here is our list of the Top 10 NFL Punters All-Time rankings.

Honorable Mention

Andy Lee

Team(s): San Francisco 49ers, Cleveland Browns, Carolina Panthers, Arizona Cardinals

One name that has been around the NFL for a long time is that of the Arizona Cardinals current punter Andy Lee.

Lee, who was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers during the 6th round of the 2004 NFL draft, is coming off one of his best seasons in the NFL averaging 49.0 yards per punt while pushing his career total to 65,248 total punt yards.

In addition, over his career Lee has posted five different seasons averaging at least 41 net average yards per punt and 437 career punts inside of 20 yards.

Accolades:

• 3× First-team All-Pro (2007, 2011, 2012)

• Second-team All-Pro (2009)

• 3× Pro Bowl (2007, 2009, 2011)

• PFW Golden Toe Award (2011)

Thomas Morstead

Team(s): New Orleans Saints, New York Jets, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins

Just missing the Top 10 NFL Punters All-Time rankings list is the New Orleans Saints long time punter Thomas Morstead.

Morstead, who is currently a member of the Miami Dolphins spent his first 12 years of his career with the Saints before splitting time with the New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons last season. 

Over his 13-year career, Morstead has racked up 32,190 total punting yards to go along with a career average of 46.6 yards per punt while making one Pro Bowl team and being selected to one All-Pro second team.

In addition, Morstead has posted a career 42.9 net average to go along with pinning 269 career punts inside the 20-yard line.

Accolades:

• Super Bowl champion (XLIV)

• Second-team All-Pro (2012)

• Pro Bowl (2012)

Top 10 NFL Punters of All Time

10. Sam Koch

Team(s): Baltimore Ravens

Coming in at number 10 on the Top 10 NFL Punters All-Time rankings is the long time Baltimore Ravens punter Sam Koch.

Koch, who retired after the 2021 NFL season, put together a storied 16-year career in the NFL all with the Baltimore Ravens while being one of the most accurate punters during his playing days. 

Over his 16-year career, Koch racked up 7 seasons with a net punting average of at least 40 while also recording at least 20 kicks inside of the 20-yard line in all 16 NFL seasons. Koch has 1,168 career punts over his career for 52,868 total punt yards.

Accolades:

• Super Bowl champion (XLVII)

• Second-team All-Pro (2015)

• Pro Bowl (2015)

9. Pat McAfee

Team(s): Indianapolis Colts

One of the most vocal and known punters of modern times is that of Pat McAfee. The long time Indianapolis Colts punter has made a name for himself both on the football field and off including spending time in the WWE wrestling ring as well.

Over his NFL career, McAfee made two NFL Pro Bowl teams and was selected to one All-Pro first team which has him #9 on the best punters of All-Time list.

Like Koch, McAfee spent his entire career with one organization while racking up 26,659 total punt yards and a 46.4 yard per punt average.

Accolades:

• First-team All-Pro (2014)

• 2× Pro Bowl (2014, 2016)

• PFWA All-Rookie Team (2009)

• First-team All-American (2008)

• Highest career net average punting yards: (41.1)

8. Jerrel Wilson

Team(s): Kansas City Chiefs, New England Patriots

After being selected by the Kansas City Chiefs during the 11th round of the 1963 AFL Draft, Jerrel Wilson went on to put together a stellar career as one of the NFL’s top overall punters.

Wilson spent all but one season with the Chiefs, one an AFL All-Team 1st team selection as well as a three-time Pro Bowler from 1970 to 1972.

Wilson led the NFL in 1965, 1968, 1972 and 1973 in average punt yard per punt and two times in total punt yards.

Accolades:

• Super Bowl Champion (IV)

• 3× Pro Bowl (1970–1972)

• Pro Football Hall of Fame 2nd Team All-1970s Team

• AFL All-Time 1st Team

• NFL 1970s All-Decade Team

• Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame

7. Reggie Roby

Team(s): Miami Dolphins, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Oilers, San Francisco 49ers

A fan favorite and one notable punter of the 1980’s and 1990’s is the long time Miami Dolphins Reggie Roby who put together a strong NFL resume.

Roby, who was drafted in the 6th round of the 1983 NFL draft out of Iowa, went on to punt for the Dolphins from 1983 to 1992 before bounding around the league till he retired after the 1998 NFL season.

Over his career, Roby made three Pro Bowl teams while being selected to two first team All-Pro honors and one second team All-Pro honor.

Over his 992 career punts, Roby averaged 40.4 net yards per punt while pinning 161 career punts inside of the 20-yard line.

Accolades:

• 2× First-team All-Pro (1984, 1994)

• Second-team All-Pro (1991)

• 3× Pro Bowl (1984, 1989, 1994)

• PFWA All-Rookie Team (1983)

• NFL 1980s All-Decade Team

6. Johnny Hekker

Team(s): St. Louis Rams, Los Angeles Rams, Carolina Panthers

Another name landing on the Top 10 NFL Punters All-Time rankings list that is still playing in the NFL is Johnny Hekker.

Hekker who started his career with the St. Louis Rams and won Super Bowl LVI with the Los Angeles Rams, will move on to the next chapter of his punting career in 2022 with the Carolina Panthers.

Nonetheless, Hekker has racked up four Pro Bowl selections while being named to four first team All-Pro teams and was voted to the NFL 2010’s All-Decade team.

Currently Hekker owns the record for the longest punt in a Super Bowl (65 yards), and highest net average punting yards in a season (44.23).

Accolades:

• Super Bowl champion (LVI)

• 4× First-team All-Pro (2013, 2015–2017)

• 2× Second-team All-Pro (2014, 2018)

• 4× Pro Bowl (2013, 2015–2017)

• NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

• Highest net average punting yards in a season: (44.23 – 2013)

• Longest punt in a Super Bowl: (65 yards – LIII)

5. Sean Landeta

Team(s): New York Giants, St. Louis Rams, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Philadelphia Eagles

The long time NFL veteran spent his NFL career putting a mark on the punting game while racking up the 4th most punting yards of All-Time (60,707).

In addition to the yards, Landeta was named to the All-Decade teams for the NFL for the 1980’s and 1990’s while also racking up three first team All-Pro honors and two Pro Bowl selections. 

Over his 21 NFL career, Landeta recorded 1,401 career punts while recording 280 punts inside 20 yards and a career 38.9 net average per punt.

Accolades:

• 2× Super Bowl champion (XXI, XXV)

• 3× First-team All-Pro (1986, 1989, 1990)

• 2× Pro Bowl (1986, 1990)

• 2× USFL champion

• ESPN 40th Anniversary Super Bowl Team

• NFL 1980s All-Decade Team

• NFL 1990s All-Decade Team

• New York Giants All-Time Team

• Philadelphia Eagles 75th Anniversary Team

• St. Louis Rams 10th Anniversary Team

• USFL All-Time Team

4. Yale Lary

Team(s): Detroit Lions

During a playing time well before dedicated special team’s players, Yale Lary was a dynamic threat as both a punter as well as on the defensive side of the football.

Lary racked up 22,279 career punt yards on 503 career punts to go along with 50 career interceptions.

Over his career, Lary led the NFL in punting yards in three different seasons while being named to nine Pro Bowl teams both as a punter.

Upon retiring, Lary ranked 2nd all-time with a 443 yard per punt average over his 503 career punts.

Accolades:

• 3× NFL champion (1952, 1953, 1957)

• 3× First-team All-Pro (1956, 1958, 1962)

• 2× Second-team All-Pro (1967, 1959)

• 9× Pro Bowl (1953, 1956–1962, 1964)

• NFL 1950s All-Decade Team

• Pride of the Lions

• Detroit Lions All-Time Team

3. Sammy Baugh

Team(s): Washington Redskins

Much like Yale Lary, Sammy Baugh was a two-way player that not only played offense and defense but also took on the punting duties of the Washington Redskins.

Bought, who was selected in the 1st round of the 1937 NFL draft, put together a long NFL career with the Redskins.

When his career was over, he had finished leading the NFL in punting yards per season in five different seasons.

Baugh still currently owns the NFL record for punting yard average for a season with a 51.4 mark set during the 1940 NFL season. Over 338 career punts, Baugh averaged 45.1 yards per punt for 15,245 total punt yards.

Accolades:

• 2× NFL champion (1937, 1942)

• 4× First-team All-Pro (1937, 1940, 1942, 1943)

• 4× Second-team All-Pro (1938, 1941, 1947, 1948)

• 6× Pro Bowl (1938–1942, 1951)

• 4× NFL passing yards leader (1937, 1940, 1947, 1948)

• 2× NFL passing touchdowns leader (1940, 1947)

• 3× NFL passer rating leader (1940, 1945, 1947)

• 8× NFL completion percentage leader (1940, 1942, 1943, 1945–1949)

• 5× NFL punting average leader (1940–1945)

• NFL punting yards leader (1943)

• NFL interceptions (made) leader (1943)

• NFL 1940s All-Decade Team

• NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

• 80 Greatest Redskins

• Washington Commanders Ring of Fame

• Washington Commanders No. 33 retired

• Highest average punting yards in a season: (51.40 – 1940)

2. Shane Lechler

Team(s): Oakland Raiders, Houston Texans

The debate over which punter should land at number one on the Top 10 NFL Punters All-Time rankings can be debated with some slotting in Shane Lechler while others slotting in Ray Guy.

Nonetheless, Shane Lechler lands at number three on our list of the greatest NFL punters list. Lechler, who spent 18 seasons in the NFL, took home multiple honors at the punter position over that time frame.

These honors included being named to six first team All-Pro teams and seven NFL Pro Bowl teams. In addition, Lechler has led the NFL in four different seasons for most punting yards.

The longtime Oakland Raiders punter racked up 1,444 career punts for 68,676 yards to go along with 469 career punts inside of the 20-yard line.

Accolades:

• 6× First-team All-Pro (2000, 2003, 2004, 2008–2010)

• 3× Second-team All-Pro (2001, 2007, 2011)

• 7× Pro Bowl (2001, 2004, 2007–2011)

• 4× NFL punting yards leader (2003, 2008, 2009, 2017)

• Golden Toe Award (2009)

• NFL 2000s All-Decade Team

• NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

• PFWA All-Rookie Team (2000)

• 3× First-team All-Big 12 (1997–1999)

• Highest career average yards per punt: 47.6

1. Ray Guy

Team(s): Oakland Raiders, Los Angeles Raiders

Lastly landing at number one on the Top 10 NFL Punters All-Time rankings list is another famous Oakland Raider Ray Guy.

Guy, who was drafted by the Raiders with the 23rd pick during the 1973 NFL draft, would go on to rack up 1,049 career punts all for one team.

Over those 1,049 career punts, Guy recorded 44,493 career punt yards to go along with an average punt yard per kick mark of 42.4 over his career.

His performance on the field earned him seven trips to the NFL Pro Bowl team while being selected to six first-team All-Pro teams.

Accolades:

• 3× Super Bowl champion (XI, XV, XVIII)

• 6× First-team All-Pro (1973–1978)

• 2× Second-team All-Pro (1979, 1980)

• 7× Pro Bowl (1973–1978, 1980)

• Golden Toe Award (1975)

• NFL 1970s All-Decade Team

• NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

• NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team

How would you rank the greatest Punters in NFL history? Rank below to be added in the Power Rankings.

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