Is the following record unbreakable?

[RichardBak]

I would think probably by the late 30s when rules re passing and the ball itself were modified, making it more of an offensive game. But change is never instantaneous, so some teams may have been still employing third-down punts longer than others. I'll defer to Bob Gill and other experts on this one.

[Brian wolf]

Ironically, Lewellen's punting prowess is probably why he isn't in the HOF. Known more as a punter than the first player to officially score over 50 TDs. Once Hutson broke open the career record, Lewellen's achievement got more forgotten over the years. He should have been voted in by 1975.

[Bob Gill]

Is it known roughly when teams began punting for purposes like what we are used to seeing in more recent decades?

It was a gradual process, without an obvious break, but I'd say the change took place from maybe 1933-48 or so -- and especially during the 1940s, as more and more teams switched from the single wing to the T-formation. I'd say teams were punting almost exclusively on fourth downs by 1950, maybe a few years earlier.

[Bryan]

Is it known roughly when teams began punting for purposes like what we are used to seeing in more recent decades?

It was a gradual process, without an obvious break, but I'd say the change took place from maybe 1933-48 or so -- and especially during the 1940s, as more and more teams switched from the single wing to the T-formation. I'd say teams were punting almost exclusively on fourth downs by 1950, maybe a few years earlier.

I would like to look at this from the opposite end....when was the last time someone actually punted on 3rd down? I remember in the 80's that the Seahawks would do screwy things like the 'quick kick' with Dan Doornink and sometimes John Elway or Randall Cunningham would punt from the shotgun, but I don't have any recent memory of a team doing a 'quick kick'.

[ChrisBabcock]

Is it known roughly when teams began punting for purposes like what we are used to seeing in more recent decades?

It was a gradual process, without an obvious break, but I'd say the change took place from maybe 1933-48 or so -- and especially during the 1940s, as more and more teams switched from the single wing to the T-formation. I'd say teams were punting almost exclusively on fourth downs by 1950, maybe a few years earlier.

I would like to look at this from the opposite end....when was the last time someone actually punted on 3rd down? I remember in the 80's that the Seahawks would do screwy things like the 'quick kick' with Dan Doornink and sometimes John Elway or Randall Cunningham would punt from the shotgun, but I don't have any recent memory of a team doing a 'quick kick'.

I have a memory of Ben Roethlisberger doing that once or twice. Which is interesting in that this was during an era that Tomlin would have them going for 2 at odd times because their Ben/Bell/Brown offense was so potent. You'd see them with 8-0 and 16-0 first quarter leads every now and then.

[rhickok1109]

It was a gradual process, without an obvious break, but I'd say the change took place from maybe 1933-48 or so -- and especially during the 1940s, as more and more teams switched from the single wing to the T-formation. I'd say teams were punting almost exclusively on fourth downs by 1950, maybe a few years earlier.

I would like to look at this from the opposite end....when was the last time someone actually punted on 3rd down? I remember in the 80's that the Seahawks would do screwy things like the 'quick kick' with Dan Doornink and sometimes John Elway or Randall Cunningham would punt from the shotgun, but I don't have any recent memory of a team doing a 'quick kick'.

I have a memory of Ben Roethlisberger doing that once or twice. Which is interesting in that this was during an era that Tomlin would have them going for 2 at odd times because their Ben/Bell/Brown offense was so potent. You'd see them with 8-0 and 16-0 first quarter leads every now and then.

The last 4 punts before 4th down were all done by the Patriots...twice by Brady, once by Matt Cassell, and once by their regular punter. The two by Brady came in the same game, Dec. 28, 2008, against the Bills.

[Sonny9]

The last 4 punts before 4th down were all done by the Patriots...twice by Brady, once by Matt Cassell, and once by their regular punter. The two by Brady came in the same game, Dec. 28, 2008, against the Bills.

vs Bills you mean Cassel and Hansen punted

Brady in the 2011 playoffs vs Denver. Up 45-10, 3 minutes left, 3rd and 10 he punted and it rolled dead on the 10

[rhickok1109]

The last 4 punts before 4th down were all done by the Patriots...twice by Brady, once by Matt Cassell, and once by their regular punter. The two by Brady came in the same game, Dec. 28, 2008, against the Bills.

vs Bills you mean Cassel and Hansen punted

Brady in the 2011 playoffs vs Denver. Up 45-10, 3 minutes left, 3rd and 10 he punted and it rolled dead on the 10

Yep, you're right...my bad.

Brady's other quick kick came against the Bills on Dec. 29, 2013.

[JohnR]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t punting in the 1930’s used very differently than it is now?

Oh, yeah. It was often used as an offensive weapon, because in those days field position could be more important than possession of the ball. The football itself was bigger and harder to handle, so fumbles were more common, and passes were intercepted two or three or five times more frequently than they are today. The rules were much tougher on the offensive team, too, so if you had the ball on your own 30 you didn't have a great chance of moving all the way down the field for a touchdown.

But if you punted and the other team took over on its own 30, you might recover a fumble or intercept a pass and find yourself only one or two first downs away from the end zone. That's why teams often punted on first or second down when they got the ball relatively deep in their own territory. Even the good teams did that at times, and the bad teams did it a lot, especially when they were facing the toughest opponents.

Making Baugh's quick kicks devastating if he gets a good roll.

[conace21]

Is it known roughly when teams began punting for purposes like what we are used to seeing in more recent decades?

It was a gradual process, without an obvious break, but I'd say the change took place from maybe 1933-48 or so -- and especially during the 1940s, as more and more teams switched from the single wing to the T-formation. I'd say teams were punting almost exclusively on fourth downs by 1950, maybe a few years earlier.

I'm sure your right, but 1950 did feature a true throwback game - the Browns-Eagles rematch where Cleveland (officially) had zero pass attempts. The Browns' strategy wasn't about showing up Greasy Neale (who had derided the Browns as a basketball team after they beat Philadelphia in the season opener behind Graham's passing.) The weather was terrible in that game. Cleveland intercepted an early pass, and returned it for a touchdown. After that, they sat on the lead, and even punted five times on third down. Two more Eagles mistakes led to Browns field goals and a 13-0 lead. Philadelphia finally scored in the final minute