Bill Lafleur

Last updated
Bill Lafleur
No. 4
Position: Punter
Personal information
Born: (1976-02-25) February 25, 1976 (age 48)
Norfolk, Nebraska, U.S.
Career information
High school: Norfolk (NE) Catholic
College: Nebraska
Undrafted: 1999
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Punts:90
Punting yards:3,434
Punting average:38.2
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

William Lafleur (born February 25, 1976) is a former American football punter who played four pro seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He spent two seasons playing in Europe for the Barcelona Dragons, and played another two for the San Francisco 49ers. He played college football at Nebraska.

Contents

Lafleur was also a member of the San Diego Chargers.

Lafleur's nicknames are "the Goat" pertaining to facial hair, or "Guy" which is a reference to professional hockey player Guy Lafleur of Montreal.

Early years

Lafleur attended Norfolk Catholic High School, where he played quarterback, safety, and handled all kicking duties for coach Jeff Bellar. He led the Knights to the Class C state title in 1991 and a runner-up finish as a senior in 1993. As a punter, he averaged 44 yards per punt as a senior. Lafleur claimed all-state honors as both a quarterback and a punter in 1993.

He was also a three-time state track qualifier in Long, Triple, and High Jump, as well as the 100M. Lafleur placed second in the triple jump by covering 45 feet as a Junior. His senior year was lost to an ACL injury as was his Junior campaign in the fall and winter sports.

College career

Lafleur spent five years playing football for the University of Nebraska, where he walked on as a punter. He was redshirted in 1994 and was used sparingly the next three seasons, backing up Jesse Kosch.

Lafleur finally got his chance as a starting punter his senior season and did not disappoint, as he posted one of the best punting seasons in school history. He averaged 44.9 yards on 52 punts, including a career-long 64-yard blast against Colorado. He also buried opponents inside their own 20-yard line on 17 occasions.

Lafleur also set performance index records for P/K in Vertical Jump (35"), 10 (1.52), and Pro Agility (3.82), and total score for his position. Lafleur now is a principal in Norfolk Nebraska


Lafleur left Nebraska as a member of three National Championship teams and held a 3.5 GPA at the conclusion of his academic career. [1]

Professional career

Lafleur went undrafted in the 1999 NFL Draft and spent nearly three years out of football before signing with the Barcelona Dragons of NFL Europa in 2001, where he played for two seasons.

His performance earned him a contract with the San Diego Chargers in training camp 2002. He was later released before the regular season.

He was the punter for the 49ers in 2002 and 2003. He played in 21 games and made 90 punts for 3,434 yards and 3,019 net yards. After a successful rookie season in 2002, Lafleur's performance dropped after 5 games in 2003. Lafleur served as the team's holder for the remainder of the season. He would be released during the 2004 offseason.

He was then signed back by the San Diego Chargers to a one-year contract on June 3, 2004, but was released on August 31.

As of 2021, Lafleur is the principal of Norfolk Catholic Elementary [ citation needed ].

Personal

Lafleur is the son of Jim and Libby Lafleur. He was an education major at Nebraska. [2] Bill frequently is referred to "Buffalo Bill" Lafleur, despite never playing for the Buffalo Bills. He is a scratch golfer and a teacher at Norfolk Catholic Schools.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Super Bowl XXIX</span> 1995 edition of the Super Bowl

Super Bowl XXIX was an American football game between the American Football Conference (AFC) champion San Diego Chargers and the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers to decide the National Football League (NFL) champion for the 1994 season. The 49ers defeated the Chargers by the score of 49–26, becoming the first team to win five Super Bowl championships. The game was played on January 29, 1995, at Joe Robbie Stadium in Miami, Florida. In turn, this was the first Super Bowl to be played in that area after Hurricane Andrew ravaged the city in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paul Maguire</span> American football player and sportscaster (born 1938)

Paul Leo Maguire is an American former professional football player and television sportscaster. He played as a punter and linebacker in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL).

John Willard Hadl was an American football quarterback who played in the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL) for 16 years. He won an AFL championship with the San Diego Chargers in 1963. Hadl was named an AFL All-Star four times and was selected to two Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame.

The National Football League playoffs for the 1992 season began on January 2, 1993. The postseason tournament concluded with the Dallas Cowboys defeating the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXVII, 52–17, on January 31, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1981–82 NFL playoffs</span> NFL seasonal playoff games

The National Football League playoffs for the 1981 season began on December 27, 1981. The postseason tournament concluded with the San Francisco 49ers defeating the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl XVI, 26–21, on January 24, 1982, at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtis Conway</span> American football player (born 1971)

Curtis Lamont Conway Sr is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans and was selected by the Chicago Bears in the first round of the 1993 NFL Draft. Conway also played in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers, New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team</span> American college football season

The 1995 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and was the national champion of the 1995 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Cornhuskers scored 638 points while only allowing 174. Their average margin of victory was 38.7 points, and their lowest margin of victory, against Washington State, was 14 points. The Cornhuskers successfully defended their 1994 national championship by defeating 2nd ranked Florida 62–24 in the Fiesta Bowl, at the time the second largest margin of victory ever between a No. 1 and No. 2 school. The team is widely regarded as the greatest college football team of all time.

Philip Joseph McConkey is a former American football wide receiver who played for the New York Giants (1984–1988), Green Bay Packers (1986), Phoenix Cardinals (1989), and San Diego Chargers (1989) of the National Football League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kellen Clemens</span> American football player (born 1983)

Kellen Vincent Clemens is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback for 11 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks and was selected by the New York Jets in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. He was also been a member of the Washington Redskins, Houston Texans, St. Louis Rams, and San Diego / Los Angeles Chargers.

Bruce Martin Mathison is an American former professional football player who was a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He played in the NFL for the San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, and as a replacement player for the Seattle Seahawks during the 1987 strike season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1976 San Diego Chargers season</span> 1976 NFL team season

The 1976 San Diego Chargers season was the franchise's seventh season in the National Football League (NFL), and its 17th overall. The Chargers improved on their 2–12 record from 1975 and finished 6–8, but missed the playoffs for the 11th straight season. The Chargers started off the season by winning their first 3 games, but they struggled through the rest of the season by losing 8 of their last 11 games, which included 4 shutout losses, two of which were to division rival Denver.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Johnson</span> American football player (born 1986)

Steven John Johnson Jr. is an American former professional football player who was a wide receiver in the National Football League (NFL). Johnson was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft and has also played for the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Kentucky. Despite never making the Pro Bowl, Johnson was the first Bills receiver to post back-to-back seasons with over 1,000 yards receiving, and has been considered one of the best draft steals in franchise history.

The 1982 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1982 NCAA Division I-A football season. The team was coached by Tom Osborne and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Dahrran Diedrick was a Canadian professional football player who was a running back in the Canadian Football League (CFL). He was a three-time Grey Cup champion, winning with the Edmonton Eskimos in 2005 and the Montreal Alouettes in 2009 and 2010. Diedrick played college football in the United States with the Nebraska Cornhuskers. He began his pro career in the National Football League (NFL) with the San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Redskins. He played for ten seasons in the CFL, primarily with the Alouettes.

The 1970 Nebraska Cornhuskers football team represented the University of Nebraska–Lincoln in the 1970 NCAA University Division football season. The team was coached by Bob Devaney and played their home games in Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. The Huskers went 11–0–1 to win the first of two consecutive national championships.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremy Kerley</span> American football player (born 1988)

Jeremy Dashon Kerley is a former American football wide receiver and return specialist. He played college football at TCU and was drafted by the New York Jets in the fifth round of the 2011 NFL Draft and has also had stints with the Detroit Lions, San Francisco 49ers, and Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Travis Benjamin</span> American football player (born 1989)

Travis Benjamin is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at the University of Miami. He was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the fourth round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeremiah Sirles</span> American football player (born 1991)

Jeremiah Sirles is a former American football guard. He played college football at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and attended Bear Creek High School in Lakewood, Colorado. He played in the NFL as a member of the San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, and Buffalo Bills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">No Punt Game</span> First game in NFL history without a punt by either team

The No Punt Game is the nickname given to a National Football League game held between the Buffalo Bills and San Francisco 49ers on September 13, 1992 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The game is notable for being the first game in NFL history not to feature a single punt by either team, as the Bills and 49ers, led by quarterbacks Jim Kelly and Steve Young, respectively, combined for 1,086 total yards of offense, with both quarterbacks passing for over 400 yards. Promoted as a potential Super Bowl "preview", the No Punt Game featured several players now enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including Kelly, Young, Andre Reed, James Lofton, Jerry Rice, Thurman Thomas and Bruce Smith, and is now remembered as one of the greatest games ever played.

Luke McCaffrey is an American football wide receiver and former quarterback for the Rice Owls. He previously played at Nebraska.

References

  1. ↑ "Bill Lafleur - Nebraska Cornhuskers Profile". Huskers.com. Nebraska Athletics. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
  2. ↑ "Bill Lafleur - Nebraska Cornhuskers Profile". Huskers.com. Nebraska Athletics. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.