Professional Football Researchers Association Forum

Sonny9 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 12, 2025 11:43 am
Dan Pastorini starting QB and punted through 1976

Danny White starting QB and punted through 1984. Although a part time punter in '83 and a part time QB in '84

Oh, you're right! I had forgotten that Pastorini was ever a punter, and I got confused and thought White stopped punting when he took over from Staubach in 1980. So White is the last full-time player to serve as punter, and nobody else is really close. Good to know.

Bob Parsons, the Bears punter from 1972-1983, was Chicago starting TE in 1975. He later played with the Birmingham Stallions of the original USFL, but I doubt he played TE by then.

Jeff West (drafted by the Bengals just two spots after Pat McInally in 1975) was also a TE. He caught one pass for the Chargers in 1977, but I doubt he started any game in his decade in the NFL.

David Greenwood, a safety drafted in th 8th round of the 1983 Draft by the Saints, went to the Michigan Panthers of the USFL and was the starter at SS and also the punter for most of 1983 and 1984. He played later in the NFL for Green Bay, Tampa Bay and the Raiders, but he didn't punt by then.

In a 1979 game between New Orleans and Green Bay, Saints rookie K/P Russell Erxleben got injured, forcing RB Tony Galbreath to kick and WR Wes Chandler to punt.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... 090gnb.htm

Bob Gill wrote: ↑Sun Aug 10, 2025 9:21 pm Good stuff, everybody. So it looks like McInally was the last punter who spent any substantial time at another position, edging out Danny White, but Blanda is still the last kicker to qualify. At least until somebody finds another qualifier.

White was the Cowboys starting quarterback and punter from 1980 through 1982. In 1983 they brought rookie John Warren and former 49ers barefoot Jim Miller for a total of eleven games as punters, but White punted in the other five games. In 1984 Warren and Miller punted in a total of four games, while in the other twelve games White was the punter (and White started six games at QB, and also replaced Gary Hogeboom in other games). By 1985, the Cowboys finally found a capable replacement at punter for White in Mike Saxon.

In 1972, Colts Super Bowl V hero K Jim O'Brien also started 8 games as a WR.

In a 1980 Oilers-Jets game at Shea Stadium (which was an NFL Films Game of the Week) Houston LB (and future Green Bay executive) Ted Thompson kicked 4 extra points replacing the injured Toni Fritsch.

I'm embarrassed to mention (but just for completeness' sake) Doug Flutie's drop kick for an extra point on 1/1/06.

Roger LeClair LB on Bears Championship Team 1963.
Max McGee was tight end and punter for Green Bay,
Lou Groza was an offensive tackle for 10 years.
Gary Collins was a punter for the Cleveland Browns
Gordy Souteau was a pass receiver at San Francisco
Frankie Albert was a quarterback and punter for the 49ers.
Boyd Dowler was a pass receiver and punter for Green Bay
Jim Martin was a placekicker and LB.for Detriot.
Norman van Brocklin was a punter and quarterback for the Rams and Eagles.

Sonny9 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 12, 2025 11:43 am Dan Pastorini starting QB and punted through 1976

In the days of much shorter rosters, starting QBs punted A LOT, but Pastorini was perhaps the last one. Working on a PFRA piece about this very subject right now.

Throwin_Samoan wrote: ↑Sun Aug 24, 2025 8:15 pm

Sonny9 wrote: ↑Tue Aug 12, 2025 11:43 am Dan Pastorini starting QB and punted through 1976

In the days of much shorter rosters, starting QBs punted A LOT, but Pastorini was perhaps the last one. Working on a PFRA piece about this very subject right now.

What about Danny White from 1980 through 1984?