Shane Lechler

At 47 years old, Shane Lechler has this physical status:

Edward Shane Lechler (born August 7, 1976) is a retired American football punter who played 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL).

He played college football at Texas A&M and was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL Draft. Lechler, who has been dubbed an All-Pro nine times throughout his career and played seven Pro Bowls.

He led the league in punting average five times and is the NFL's all-time champion in career punting average.

Early years

Lechler attended East Bernard High School in East Bernard, Texas, and was a standout in football, basketball, golf, and baseball. He led East Bernard to the state quarterfinals last year as quarterback, punter, and placekicker, totaling 87 of 101 (86.1%) passes for 1,640 yards and 11 touchdowns. He passed for nearly 5,000 yards and averaged 41.6 yards per punt in his high school career. He was the longest punt in high school at 85 yards.

Personal life

Lechler's wedding to Erin Gibson, who was an All-American volleyball player at Texas A&M, was arranged. He comes from an athletic family: both of his parents were active in Baylor athletics, and his brother Derek was a punter for Texas A&M.

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College career

Lechler attended Texas A&M University and played for the Aggies football team from 1996 to 1999. He was not only the Aggies' punter but also kicked off, served as the holder for short field goals and PATs, and was the emergency quarterback. In a hard-fought 17–10 victory over Texas Tech, he earned a 29-yard pass on a fake punt against Baylor and threw a touchdown pass to Dan Campbell on a fake field goal.

Lechler served as the backup quarterback for the 1998 Big 12 championship game when injuries reduced the depth chart. Branndon Stewart, the Aggies' last healthy quarterback, appeared shaken, and Lechler threw warmup passes on the sideline at one point in the game. Stewart was able to remain in the game, leading the Aggies to a 36–33 victory over Kansas State, earning the Aggies their first Big 12 Championship. Lechler was named "the team's Most Valuable Player" because of his work in so many aspects of the game, according to coach R. C. Slocum.

Lechler started his career at Texas A&M University, winning Freshman All-America awards in 1996 for a punting average of 42.7 yards. After breaking the Aggie single-season record of 47.0 yards per punt, he was drafted to the All-Big 12 team in his sophomore season. He joined the Sporting News All-America team as a youth in 1998 and was also an Associated Press first-American honors as a senior, only second in the nation's second year to his second record of 47.0. With a score of 44.7 yards per punt, he is the NCAA record holder for career punt average.

In the 1999 Sugar Bowl, Lechler had only one punt blocked against Ohio State.

Professional career

With the 142nd overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, Lechler was drafted in the fifth round. He was the only punter chosen that year.

The Oakland Raiders defeated the San Diego Chargers on September 3, 2000, in his NFL debut against the San Diego Chargers, Lechler made his NFL debut and had a season-high 10 punts (42.4 average) on a season-high 424 net yards (42.4 percent). He converted all seven extra-point attempts in the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10, when the Raiders defeated by a score of 49-31. Lechler had four punts for 219 net yards against the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago, with a season-high 54.75 average. The Raiders defeated by a score of 31–22.

Lechler's rookie season saw him throw 64 punts for 2,984 net yards, a 45.91 average. The Raiders debuted their 12–4 record in AFC West and qualified for the playoffs. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and received First Team All-Pro recognition. In the Divisional Round against the Miami Dolphins, Lechler made his playoff debut. In the 27–0 victory, he had five punts for 234 net yards (46.8 average). In the 16–3 loss, he had seven punts for 315 net yards (45.00 average) in the AFC Championship against the Baltimore Ravens.

In the 27–24 road victory over Lechler, he had four punts for 185 net yards (46.25 average) in the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs. In the 18-23 road loss, he had a season-high seven punts against the Miami Dolphins for a season-high 345 net yards in a 49.29 average. In the 23–18 road victory over the Indianapolis Colts, Lechler had five punts for 262 net yards for a season-high 52.4 average. He received his first Pro Bowl nomination.

Lechler's second season was a success with 73 punts for 3,375 yards on a 46.23 average. The Raiders finished ten-up in the AFC West for the second season in a row with a 10–6 record and made the playoffs, but their season ended in a 16–13 road loss to the New England Patriots in the Divisional Round.

Lechler's third season as coach brought his team a lot of success. In his season debut, he had three punts for 134 net yards in a 52-28 victory over the Tennessee Titans for a 44.67 average. In the 49–31 road win, he had five punts for a 50.00 average. In the 28–16 victory over the Denver Broncos, he had a season-high six punts for 244 net yards on December 22, the Denver Broncos had a 40.67 average. Overall, Lechler had 53 punts for 2,251 yards for a 42.47 average in the regular season.

For the third year in a row, the Raiders dominated the AFC West, posting an 11–5 record and making the playoffs. Lechler appeared in his first Super Bowl after two victories over the New York Jets and the Tennessee Titans in the AFC Championship. In the 48-21 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had five punts for 195 net yards for a 39.00 average.

In the 25–20 road loss, Lechler had seven punts for 353 net yards for a 50.43 average. He had three punts for 166 net yards during a season-high 55.33 average on Week 524-21. When the Oakland Browns lost on the road by a score of 21-21-16, he had a season-high nine punts for a 47.11 average. Lechler's longest punt in the NFL for the 2003 season was 73 yards, the longest in the game.

Lechler's career ended with 96 punts for 4,503 yards on a 46.91 average as the Raiders finished the season with a 4–12 record. For the second time, he was chosen as a member of First Team All-Pro.

Lechler's fourth season as a coach in the Pittsburgh Steelers' season-opening 24–21 road loss, with punting thrice for 132 net yards and a 44 average. He had a season-high seven punts for a 47.57 average during a Week 6 31–3. In the 27-24 road win over the Carolina Panthers, Lechler punched thrice for 167 net yards on a season-high 55.67 average. As the Raiders posted a 5–11 record, he finished the season with 73 punts for 3,409 yards on a 46.7 average. For the second time, he earned his second Pro Bowl nomination and was named as a First Team All-Pro for the second time.

In the season-opening game against the New England Patriots, Lechler had eight punts for 356 net yards for a 44.5 percent average. He had five punts for 295 net yards against the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve for a season-high 59.00 average. He had a season-high nine punts against the New York Giants on New Year's Eve for a season-high 421 net yards for a 46.78 average. Overall, he had 82 punts for 3,744 yards on a 45.66 average in 2005, the Raiders finished with a 4–12 record.

He had nine punts for 420 net yards on a 46.67 average on September 11, in a shutout loss to the San Diego Chargers in the season's opener. He had a season-high ten punts against the Seattle Seahawks on November 6, a season-high 450 net yards for a 45.00 average. Overall, he had 77 punts for 3,660 net yards on a 47.53 percent pace in the 2006 season as the Raiders failed to a 2–14 record.

Lechler was a member of the 2007 Oakland Raiders team that went 4-12 on the season. He had a season-high nine punts against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 21, a season-high 461 net yards for a 51.22 average. He had nine punts for 433 net yards against the Chicago Bears on November 11, an average of 48.11. He had 73 total punts for 3,585 net yards for a 49.11 average. For the third time, he received a Pro Bowl nomination.

Lechler made five punts for 255 net yards in the Denver Broncos' season opener on September 8. He had a season-high 11 punts against the Carolina Panthers on November 9, a season-high 556 net yards for a 50.55 average. He had three punts for 176 net yards in his second divisional game against the Denver Broncos on November 23, a season-high 58.67 average. He had 90 punts for 4,391 yards in 2008, a new record for a 48.79 average. For the fourth time, he received his fourth Pro Bowl nomination and was named as a First Team All-Pro for the fourth time.

On February 18, 2009, he agreed to a four-year, $12 million contract, making him the highest-paid punter in NFL history.

In the Raiders' season opener against the San Diego Chargers, Lechler had four punts for 195 net yards on a 48.75 average on September 14 for a 48.75 percent. In the 13–10 road win, he had seven punts for 398 net yards for a season-high 56.86 average. The Raiders lost by a score of 16-19 on November 15, during his second divisional game against the Chiefs. He had a season-high 11 punts for a 48.27 average.

Lechler finished the 2009 season with 96 punts for 4,909 net yards, a 52.14 average. He ran for 4,909 yards in the 2009 season, the Raiders' highest punting yards in a season. For the fourth time, he received his fifth Pro Bowl nomination and was named a First Team All-Pro for the fifth time. Lechler was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2000s Team.

He had four punts for 219 net yards on September 12, his first road loss to the Tennessee Titans. He had a season-high eight punts against the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 21, a season-high 390 net yards for a 48.75 average. On the 2010 season, he had 77 total punts for 3,618 net yards for a 46.99 average. For the sixth time, he earned his sixth Pro Bowl nomination and was named as a member of the First Team All-Pro for the fifth time.

Lechler had six punts for 349 net yards against the Denver Broncos on September 12, a season-best 58.17 average. Sebastian Janikowski, the placekicker, threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kevin Boss on a false field goal try in Week 6 of the 2011 season. He kicked a career-best 80-yard kick against the Chicago Bears in Week 12, on November 27. That punt, kicked from his own 10-yard line (the Oakland 20-yard line was the line of scrimmage), recovered at the Chicago 11 and into the endzone after traveling 79 yards in the air, breaking a franchise record for the longest punt by an Oakland Raider. He had a season-high eight punts against the Miami Dolphins on December 4, a season-high 372 net yards for a 46.5 average. In total, he had 78 punts for 3,960 yards on a 50.77 average in the 2011 season. He received his seventh Pro Bowl nomination.

He had a quiet season opener against the San Diego Chargers on September 10 with only two punts for 114 net yards in a season-high 57.00 average. His usage in the upcoming game against the Miami Dolphins soared with a season-high nine punts for a season-high 422 net yards for a 46.89 average. In 2012, Lechler and the Raiders struggled to a 4–12 record, with 81 total punts for 3,826 net yards for a 47.23 average.

Lechler joined the Houston Texans on March 23, 2013. The three-year deal was worth $5.5 million with a $1 million signing bonus.

In his Texans debut, he had three punts for 135 net yards against the San Diego Chargers on September 9. During Week 10, Lechler became the sixth player in NFL history to reach the 50,000 punt-yard mark after his second punt of the game against the Arizona Cardinals. He had a season-high nine punts for 442 net yards against his old team, the Oakland Raiders, on November 17, a 49.11 average. He made 88 punts for 4,189 yards on a 47.60 average throughout the 2013 season.

Lechler made six punts for 306 net yards in the season's opener against the Washington Redskins on September 7, on a 55.00 average. He had four punts for 218 net yards against the Indianapolis Colts on October 9, a season-high 54.5 average. During Week 15 on December 14, third-string quarterback Tom Savage was hurt with under 2 minutes to the game's end, with Houston down seven, needing a touchdown to tie the game. All of their other quarterbacks were injured, and Lechler, a former high school quarterback, started to warm up. After the injury, Houston called a timeout, but Savage stayed in the game, throwing an interception on the next play. Lechler was never allowed to play. He made a season-high eight punts against the Baltimore Ravens on December 21, a season-high 361 net yards for a 45.13 average. He had 83 punts for 3,845 net yards on a 46.33 average in 2014, the 2014 season.

He had seven punts for 329 net yards against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 13, a 47.00 average. He had eight punts against the New York Jets on November 22, a season-high 417 net yards for a 52.13 average. He had 95 total punts for 4,497 net yards on a 47.34 average during the 2015 season.

The Texans ended the 2015 season with a 9-7 record and qualified for the playoffs. In Lechler's 30–0 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in his first playoff game since the 2002 season, he had five punts for 228 net yards (45.60 percent).

Lechler agreed to a one-year, $1.3 million deal with the Texans on March 11, 2016.

Lechler had five punts for 243 net yards against the Chicago Bears on September 11, a 48.6 average. Lechler made four punts for 203 net yards against the Detroit Lions in Week 8, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He had a season-high eight punts against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16, resulting in a season-high 371 net yards for a 46.38 average. He had 72 total punts for 3,423 net yards in a 47.54 average on the 2016 season.

The Texans finished the 2016 season with a 9-7 record and qualified for the playoffs. Lechler had nine punts for 414 net yards (46.00 average) in the Wild Card Round victory over the Oakland Raiders. In the 34–16 loss, he had eight punts for 341 net yards (42.63 percent average) in the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots.

Lechler signed a one-year contract extension with the Texans on March 8, 2017.

Lechler had five punts for 216 net yards on a 43.2 average on September 10, in the Jacksonville Jaguars' season-opening loss. He had a season-high 11 punts in a 2nd divisional game against the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 17, a season-high 518 net yards for a 47.09 average. Overall, the Texans and Lechler combined for a 4–12 record in 2017. He had 92 total punts for 4,507 yards on a 48.99 average.

Lechler signed a one-year deal with the Texans on March 8, 2018.

After rookie Trevor Daniel took the starting job on August 31, 2018, Lechler was released by the Texans on August 31, 2018. He did not intend to resign after all.

Lechler officially announced his retirement on March 30, 2019. After being out of the league for the entire 2018 season, he has officially announced his resignation. He was voted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame and the NFL 100 All-Time Team in the 2010s and 2011s.

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