Last kickers/punters who were actual players

Jay Z
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Re: Last kickers/punters who were actual players

Post by Jay Z »

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.
Once the 40 man rosters came about, most teams had at least one specialist. The last team I can think of without any specialists was the 1968 Packers, who started the year with Jerry Kramer doing the kicking and Donny Anderson doing the punting. Though they had added a kicker by the end of the year.
SeahawkFever
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Re: Last kickers/punters who were actual players

Post by SeahawkFever »

Jay Z wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 4:23 pm
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.
Once the 40 man rosters came about, most teams had at least one specialist. The last team I can think of without any specialists was the 1968 Packers, who started the year with Jerry Kramer doing the kicking and Donny Anderson doing the punting. Though they had added a kicker by the end of the year.
When do 40 man rosters begin?
Jay Z
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Re: Last kickers/punters who were actual players

Post by Jay Z »

SeahawkFever wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 8:13 pm
Jay Z wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 4:23 pm
Throwin_Samoan wrote: Sun Aug 24, 2025 8:15 pm

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.
Once the 40 man rosters came about, most teams had at least one specialist. The last team I can think of without any specialists was the 1968 Packers, who started the year with Jerry Kramer doing the kicking and Donny Anderson doing the punting. Though they had added a kicker by the end of the year.
When do 40 man rosters begin?
In 1964, but I believe after the regular season began teams had to have 4 players go on the IR before they could add more.

From 1965 to 1972 it was 40 men plus a 7 man taxi squad and there were limits on the number of moves a team could make in a year. IR players counted against the total limit. In 1971 the Giants wound up with less than 40 players because they had too many on the IR. There was also a "move list" that players could be put on two weeks at a time, I would have to look up all of the details on that. But basically it was 40 man roster, 7 man taxi squad with certain limitations.

In 1973 the taxi squad remained but it was like today's active list. The teams just had to designate the 7 inactive players on the day before the game. In 1974 the NFL went to a 47 man roster and the 40 man roster was gone.
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Throwin_Samoan
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Re: Last kickers/punters who were actual players

Post by Throwin_Samoan »

Gary Najman wrote: Mon Aug 25, 2025 4:02 pm
What about Danny White from 1980 through 1984?
Yeah, you're right.
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Throwin_Samoan
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Re: Last kickers/punters who were actual players

Post by Throwin_Samoan »

Jay Z wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 4:23 pm Once the 40 man rosters came about, most teams had at least one specialist.
And yet...there were still people who did double-duty.
Sonny9
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Re: Last kickers/punters who were actual players

Post by Sonny9 »

Jay Z wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 4:23 pm Once the 40 man rosters came about, most teams had at least one specialist. The last team I can think of without any specialists was the 1968 Packers, who started the year with Jerry Kramer doing the kicking and Donny Anderson doing the punting. Though they had added a kicker by the end of the year.
Willie Wood kicked off for them from time to time. Dunno what years
Sonny9
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Re: Last kickers/punters who were actual players

Post by Sonny9 »

Also Pat Studstill of the Lions in the mid 1960s. In 1966 he led the NFL in receiving yardage.

I wonder if he is the only punter to lead the league in either rushing, receiving, or passing yards from 1960 on? I know Baugh and Luckman did it back in the day. Probably others back then too.
Jay Z
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Re: Last kickers/punters who were actual players

Post by Jay Z »

Sonny9 wrote: Wed Sep 03, 2025 12:23 pm
Jay Z wrote: Tue Aug 26, 2025 4:23 pm Once the 40 man rosters came about, most teams had at least one specialist. The last team I can think of without any specialists was the 1968 Packers, who started the year with Jerry Kramer doing the kicking and Donny Anderson doing the punting. Though they had added a kicker by the end of the year.
Willie Wood kicked off for them from time to time. Dunno what years
1961-62 he definitely did. Lombardi wanted to rest Hornung and Jerry Kramer was not a deep kicker. Wood, Gremminger, and Dave Robinson all did it at various times. Dan Grimm did it at least in pre-season.
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