Top 5 Bettors in Atlanta Falcons History

The punter is one of the few members of an NFL team that fans never want to see on the field. Regardless of his skill level, his appearance is a sign of failure for the team and often indicates a level of offensive frustration. However, that doesn’t take away from the impact of the position and the value that can be found in having a competent punter.

This is one aspect of any dynasty that gets overlooked. Whether it’s Tom Brady’s Patriots of the past or Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs today, special teams never make the headlines. Yet one overlooked aspect of both dynasties is the extremely reliable special teams units. That includes the punting game. To be a truly complete team, you need to have someone you can count on when the offense inevitably fails.

It is extremely difficult to judge punters in Atlanta Falcons history. Yes, some players have good numbers due to their longevity or a single great streak. Dustin Colquitt is one example, who leads all punters in Atlanta history with an average of 47.7 yards per punt. However, Colquitt has only punted for Atlanta 23 times during the 2021 season.

It’s not enough to rely solely on averages. The selection criteria are simple: they focus on averages, longevity, and team impact. Any one of the three criteria alone is not enough to qualify you for the list. Rather, sustained success, accompanied by positive impact and numbers, is required to make the top 5.

With that in mind, let’s look at the top five punters in Atlanta history, starting with the current starter, who with another strong season could climb higher on the list.

5. Bradley Pinion

With Arthur Smith’s offense on the field during Bradley Pinion’s tenure in Atlanta, we know the punter has had a myriad of chances. He doesn’t have the longevity to match up yet, but he has put up impressive numbers during his time with the Falcons.

Despite playing just two seasons, Pinion already ranks 10th in all-time punting yards in franchise history. He’s averaging 46.5 yards per punt and has been arguably more reliable than any part of Atlanta’s offense. While the additions of Kirk Cousins ​​and Darnell Mooney, along with the coaching changes, should change that, having Pinion is a welcome backup plan.

This isn’t the only top-five finish Pinion has had. He’s had a consistent career and shown he has the longevity to continue to be an important and overlooked part of Atlanta’s roster.

4. Dan Stryzinski

Dan Stryzinski was Atlanta’s punter from 1995-2000 during his 14-year career. While his averages and numbers weren’t elite, they were consistent and useful. Given Atlanta’s history at the position and the increasing importance of longevity, he ranks fourth.

That said, it wouldn’t be surprising at all to see Bradley Pinion pass Stryzinski if he remains in a Falcons uniform. Stryzinski has 18,982 career punting yards for Atlanta, good enough for third all-time in franchise history.

The former Falcons player has made 120 attempts inside the 20-yard line and has only had one blocked punt in his entire career. He has also only had six blocked punts in his entire career. While one would like to see an average above 40.5 yards, the overall numbers and longevity command respect.

John James punted for Atlanta from 1972-81, during a time in franchise history when the position was used a lot. It’s part of what allowed him to accumulate 35,633 punting yards, which easily ranks first overall and surpasses the closest total by over 12,000 yards — a truly shocking gap when you consider the solid options Atlanta has had over the years.

James has the career stats and longevity to be considered a bit higher on this list. However, his 40.8 yards per punt keep him out of the top two spots.

Yes, the game has changed and kickers have learned, through conditioning and training, to gain power and range. Yet, had James kicked in the 2023 season, his average would not have cracked the top 30. While the historical feats are there, it’s too hard to argue that he deserves a higher spot given how much better kickers are in today’s game.

While Michael Koenen had his best averages with Tampa Bay, the former kicker’s time in Atlanta is often underappreciated. He was a kicker for the Falcons from 2005-10, filling the gap between the end of Michael Vick’s career and the beginning of Matt Ryan’s impressive tenure.

Koenen has placed the opposing offense inside the 20-yard line 150 times in his career. Although he has played fewer seasons with the team than John James, he has more kicks inside the 20-yard line and a higher career average of 42.0 yards per punt with an impressive career-high 70 yards. He has been a great piece for the Falcons and has helped stabilize the team during a turbulent time.

Yes, Koenen’s stint as a backup was awful. However, this isn’t about his field goal percentage, it’s simply about his time in Atlanta as a kicker.

In terms of pure talent, Koenen is arguably the second-best player on this list. While he may not have the longevity of his peers, his career stats in Atlanta are still more than adequate.

1. Matt Bosher

Matt Bosher is arguably the best punter in Atlanta history, and it’s not really close.

He is the player who has punted the most times inside the 20-yard line in Atlanta history with 190. His 45.7 yards per punt easily ranks him first among punters who played more than two seasons. He ranks second all-time in punting yards and was part of the best kicking duo in Atlanta history.

Matt Bryant and Bosher represented stability at kicker, starter and punter. Each played their roles at an impressive level and made special teams the last thing Atlanta needed to worry about. It’s no coincidence that their careers coincided with the best seasons of the Matt Ryan era.

Bosher was Atlanta’s kicker from 2011-19 and was part of the best stretch we’ve seen in recent franchise history. While it may not have ended the way the veteran wanted, his career-defining play as a tackle perfectly summed up his time in Atlanta and who he was as a player.

He’s a player who is the only choice to decide the best punter in Atlanta history.