Last kickers/punters who were actual players

[Bob Gill]

This question occurred to me yesterday, and these were the guys I came up with . . .

Last punter who played another position: Danny White, 1978-79. Just a backup QB, yes, but he did play. He threw 30-some passes each season and also led a comeback win in a 1978 playoff game -- against the Falcons, if I'm not mistaken.

Last kicker who played another position: George Blanda, 1971. He threw 50-some players that year and also in 1970, when he had that famous run of late-game heroics in midseason. You could count him a little later than that, because he kept kicking for another three or four years, but threw only about 20 passes altogether, so I prefer to stop at 1971.

Last kicker who was also a starter at a "real" position: Wayne Walker, 1962-68. Played in three Pro Bowls and got all-pro mention in several seasons as a linebacker during this stretch.

Special mention for Chuck Latourette, who led the NFL with 28 punt returns, 345 yards, and a 12.3-yard average in 1968 while also punting 65 times for a 41.6-yard average. After missing the 1969 season, he returned 30 punts in 1970 while still serving as the Cardinals' punter.

Those are just off the top of my head, though. I could easily be missing some obvious guys here. Anybody have any additions?

[RichardBak]

Lem Barney comes to mind. He was the Lions' regular punter in 1969 while also making 1st Team All-Pro at CB. Also returned a punt for a TD that year.

Somewhere on this site (too lazy to find it) somebody started a similar thread. I brought up Jim O'Brien of the Cols and Lions of the early '70s, and how he bounced back and forth between K and WR.

[ChrisBabcock]

Pat McInally was the Bengals punter and WR from 1976-85, however he didn't catch any passes after 1981.

https://www.pro-football-reference.com/ ... InPa00.htm

[Jay Z]

Lem Barney comes to mind. He was the Lions' regular punter in 1969 while also making 1st Team All-Pro at CB. Also returned a punt for a TD that year.

Somewhere on this site (too lazy to find it) somebody started a similar thread. I brought up Jim O'Brien of the Cols and Lions of the early '70s, and how he bounced back and forth between K and WR.

I believe Barney was also the punter in the Pro Bowl that year.

[Bob Gill]

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.

I had forgotten all about Barney as a punter, though I was looking at his career not long ago. So he and Walker, teammates for several seasons, are the last full-time starters who punted and kicked, respectively. That may be the most interesting tidbit of all in this conversation.

[SixtiesFan]

Donny Anderson punted as well as played running back for the Packers.

[Brian wolf]

We cant forget about Bob Lee and Tom Tupa, who punted and played QB. Lee actually had a winning record as a starting QB and also led the Falcons to their first winning season. He was beaten twice in the postseason with the Vikings, both times by the Cowboys.

[RichardBak]

Looking at PFR, I see that in 1971 Bob Lee started 4 games at QB for the Vikes (threw 90 passes for the season) and led the NFL with 89 punts.

Tupa never was a full-time punter or QB at the same time. He was either one or the other.

[Bob Gill]

Donny Anderson punted as well as played running back for the Packers.

Good one. He beats out Walker and Barney as the last full-time starter to double as a punter.

[Sonny9]

Donny Anderson punted as well as played running back for the Packers.

And the Cardinals after that in 1972

Bill Bradley starting DB and punted through 1971

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