Rick Donnelly

Last updated

Rick Donnelly
No. 3
Position: Punter
Personal information
Born: (1962-05-17) May 17, 1962 (age 62)
Miller Place, New York, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:190 lb (86 kg)
Career information
High school: Miller Place (NY)
College: Wyoming
Undrafted: 1985
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× Second-team All-Pro (1987, 1988)
  • Led NFL in punts (1988)
Career NFL statistics
Punts:376
Punting yards:15,828
Punting average:42.1
Player stats at PFR

Richard Patrick Donnelly (born May 17, 1962) is a former punter in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks. He was an All-Pro in 1987 and 1988, and led the NFL in punts in 1988 with 98. He played college football at Wyoming.

Contents

Early life

Donnelly taught himself to kick footballs on the street in front of his house: "I'd get three footballs, go out into the road, kick them back and forth and run after them all day long." [1] He was inspired by his older brother, Joe, who played fullback at Post. [1]

Donnelly attended Miller Place High School in Miller Place, New York, where he played football and baseball. [1] [2] He played kicker on the football team, though he was also the team's starting quarterback as a senior. [1] Donnelly committed to play college football at Wyoming over other schools such as Penn State and Syracuse. [3] "I was really just trying to get away from it all, get away from the East," he said. "I had grown up there, lived there all my life. I wanted something different." [3]

College career

Donnelly averaged 39.6 yards per punt as a freshman at Wyoming. [4] As a senior in 1984, he finished third in the nation with an average of 47.5 yards per punt. [5] He also went three for six on field goals and 30 for 30 on extra points, and was invited to play in the East–West Shrine Bowl. [5]

Professional career

After going undrafted in the 1985 NFL draft, Donnelly signed a free agent contract with the New England Patriots in June. [6] He played in two preseason games, averaging 44.5 yards per punt, but he was waived in favor of veteran Rich Camarillo. [3] [7] Donnelly was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on August 23, and the team soon released their veteran punter, Ralph Giacomarro. [7] Donnelly set a franchise record in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles on November 10, when he averaged 52.1 yards on seven punts, besting Billy Lothridge' 50-yard average on September 17, 1967.c However, he suffered a season-ending knee injury the following week against the Los Angeles Rams. [8]

In 1987, Donnelly recorded a league-leading gross average of 44.0 yards per punt, finishing just ahead of Pro Bowl punter Jim Arnold. [9]

Donnelly missed the entire 1989 season after undergoing back surgery. [10]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high
YearTeamPunting
GPPuntsYdsNet YdsLngAvgNet AvgBlkIns20TB
1985 ATL 11592,5742,2146843.637.50185
1986 ATL 16783,4212,7647143.935.01199
1987 ATL 12612,6862,0256244.032.1298
1988 ATL 16983,9203,5036140.035.70266
1990 SEA 16672,7222,3085440.634.40188
1991 SEA 3135054395738.833.8011
Career7437615,82813,2537142.135.039137

Personal life

During his time in the NFL he married his former wife Jackie. Together they had three kids, Kale, Jessie, and Bobbie they later divorced due to complications during their marriage, he later remarried to his now wife Debra together they had 2 kids Jackson, and Steven. They now they live happily together in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Christiansen</span> American football player and coach (1928–1986)

Jack LeRoy Christiansen was an American professional football player who became a college and pro coach. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions as a safety and return specialist from 1951 to 1958. He helped lead the Lions to three NFL championships in 1952, 1953, and 1957 and was a first-team All-NFL player in six of his eight years in the league. He led the NFL in interceptions in 1953 and 1957 and in punt returns for touchdown in 1951, 1952, 1954, and 1956. His eight career punt returns for touchdowns was an NFL record until 1989 and remains the fourth best in league history. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1970.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Damon Duval</span> American gridiron football player (born 1980)

Damon Duval is an American former professional football placekicker and punter. Duval played college football for Auburn University, and was recognized as a consensus All-American. He played professionally for the Jacksonville Jaguars and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL), and the Montreal Alouettes and Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Koenen</span> American football player (born 1982)

Michael J. Koenen is a former American football punter. He was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Western Washington. He also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Devin Hester</span> American football player (born 1982)

Devin Devorris Hester Sr. is an American former football wide receiver and return specialist who played in the National Football League (NFL). The only primary return specialist to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, he is widely considered to be the greatest return specialist of all time. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes, where he was the first player in the university's recent history to play in all three phases of American football: offense, defense and special teams. He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft. In addition to Chicago, Hester also played for the Atlanta Falcons, the Baltimore Ravens and the Seattle Seahawks over his 11-season NFL career. He is also the only player to return the opening kick of a Super Bowl for a touchdown. Hester was selected to the NFL All-Decade Team for both the 2000s and 2010s.

Mark Alan Royals is a former American football punter in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles, St. Louis Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Jacksonville Jaguars. He played college football at Appalachian State University.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Atlanta Falcons season</span> NFL team season; final one with Michael Vick

The 2006 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 41st in the National Football League (NFL). The team attempted to improve on their 8–8 record in 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat Studstill</span> American football player (1938–2021)

Patrick Lewis Studstill Jr. was an American professional football player who was a wide receiver, punter and return specialist. He played 12 years in the National Football League (NFL) for the Detroit Lions (1961–1967), Los Angeles Rams (1968–1971), and New England Patriots (1972). He led the NFL with 457 punt return yards in 1962. In 1966, he led the league in both receiving yards (1,266) and punting yards (3,259). He also tied an NFL record in 1966 with a 99-yard touchdown reception.

Greg Davis is a former National Football League (NFL) kicker who played for 12 seasons from 1987–1998 with the Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Phoenix/Arizona Cardinals, Minnesota Vikings, San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders.

Glenn Adam Pakulak, Jr. is a former American football punter. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Kentucky.

Scott Allison Woerner is a former American football safety in the National Football League (NFL) for the Atlanta Falcons and the New Orleans Saints. He played college football for the University of Georgia Bulldogs. In the 1981 Sugar Bowl, Woerner intercepted a pass by the Notre Dame quarterback in the closing minutes of the game which sealed Georgia's national championship for that year. He still holds several return records at the University of Georgia. He had the most kickoff return yards (190) in a single game. He also holds the most punt return yards (488) in a season (1980). Woerner was drafted in the third round of the 1981 NFL draft by the Falcons. He played for the Atlanta Falcons during that 1981 season and was their leading punt returner. The Falcons cut him before the start of the 1982 season. In 1983, 1984, and 1985 he played safety for the Philadelphia Stars of the short-lived United States Football League (USFL). The Philadelphia Stars won 2 of the 3 USFL championships. The Sporting News selected him as a USFL All-League player both of those seasons. Woerner played briefly for the New Orleans Saints during the NFL Players Strike.

Daniel Scott "Danny" Miller is an American former professional football player who was a kicker in the National Football League (NFL) and the United States Football League (USFL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Evan Cooper</span> American football player (born 1962)

Evan Cooper is a former American football player. He played college football as a defensive back at the University of Michigan from 1980 to 1983. He played professional football in the National Football League (NFL) as a safety for the Philadelphia Eagles from 1984 to 1987 and the Atlanta Falcons from 1988 to 1989.

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

Thomas James Morstead is an American football punter for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at SMU and was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL draft. Morstead has also played for the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Allen (American football)</span> American football player (born 1990)

Ryan Allen is an American former football punter who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers and the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs. Allen won twice the Ray Guy Award in 2011 and 2012, and also was a unanimous All-American in 2012. He was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent after the 2013 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Maher (gridiron football)</span> American football player (born 1989)

Brett Maher is an American professional football placekicker who is a free agent. He played college football for the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Since turning professional in 2013, Maher has been a member of nine different National Football League (NFL) teams, and three Canadian Football League (CFL) teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pat O'Donnell</span> American football player (born 1991)

Patrick Michael O'Donnell is an American football punter who is a free agent. He played college football at Cincinnati and Miami before being selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2014 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ryan Stonehouse</span> American football player (born 1999)

Ryan Matthew Stonehouse is an American football punter for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Colorado State and signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

Lawrence Robert "Lonny" Calicchio is a former American football placekicker and punter who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football for Northwest Mississippi and Ole Miss, going undrafted in 1996. He also had stints with the Washington Redskins, Dallas Cowboys, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, and Indianapolis Colts, but did not play.

Case deBruijn is a Dutch former American football punter and placekicker. He played one game in the National Football League (NFL) for the Kansas City Chiefs as well as two seasons in the United States Football League (USFL) for the Oklahoma/Arizona Outlaws. He played college football at Idaho State and was drafted in the eighth round of the 1982 NFL draft by the Chiefs.

Cedric Oglesby is an American former football placekicker who played one season in the National Football League (NFL) for the Arizona Cardinals. He played college football for the South Carolina State Bulldogs and also had stints in the NFL with the Dallas Cowboys and San Diego Chargers. He was one of the first African-American kickers in the NFL.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Borzi, Pat (November 1, 1979). "Miller Place's Kicker A Self-Taught Prodigy". Newsday . p. 146. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  2. ↑ Cassidy, Jerry (May 6, 1979). "Miller Place shapes up when it counts". New York Daily News . p. TNS32. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  3. 1 2 3 Mortensen, Chris (November 14, 1985). "Move over, Reggie Roby: Falcons can't kick about Donnelly's punts". The Atlanta Constitution . p. 3D. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  4. ↑ English, Reid (September 21, 1984). "Wyoming has powerful punter". Statesman Journal . p. 3C. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  5. 1 2 "Shrine selects Poke punter". Casper Star-Tribune . November 29, 1984. p. D1. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  6. ↑ "Transactions". Hartford Courant . June 22, 1985. p. D7. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  7. 1 2 "Falcons sign Rick Donnelly". The Olathe Daily News. August 24, 1985. p. 5B. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  8. ↑ Hinton, Ed (November 18, 1985). "Kenn, Donnelly lost for season". The Atlanta Journal . p. 6C. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Punting for dollars". The Atlanta Constitution . December 28, 1987. p. 6B. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
  10. ↑ "Donnelly out for the season". The Macon Telegraph . August 29, 1989. p. 3C. Retrieved August 26, 2023– via Newspapers.com.
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.