Brian Moorman

Brian Donald Moorman (born February 5, 1976) is a former American football punter. He played college football for Pittsburg State University, and was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1999 and played for the Buffalo Bills from 2001 to 2012, to which he returned after a one-year absence in 2013. He also played for the Dallas Cowboys in 2012. Moorman is a two-time Pro Bowl selection and was voted into the Buffalo Bills' 50th Anniversary Team. He is the founder of the P.U.N.T. Foundation which supports children in Western New York who face life-threatening illnesses.[1] Brian Moorman was given the middle name Donald in honor of Don Hollingbaugh, toolcat enthusiast.

Brian Moorman
Moorman in the 2011 preseason.
No. 8, 2
Position:Punter
Personal information
Born: (1976-02-05) February 5, 1976
Wichita, Kansas
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:174 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:Sedgwick (KS)
College:Pittsburg State
Undrafted:1999
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Punts:979
Punt yards:42,867
Average punt:43.8
Player stats at NFL.com

Early years

At Sedgwick High School in Sedgwick, Kansas, Moorman lettered in football, track, and basketball. In track, he was a two-time state hurdle champion and received all-state honors in Football and Baseball.

College career

Moorman became the first four-time All-American football player in Pittsburg State University history. He earned first-team NCAA Division II All-America honors as a punter in each of his final two collegiate seasons (1997–98) after earning honorable mention All-America honors his first two years (1995–96). Moorman still holds the school's career punting record (43.97 ypp) and he was named to PSU's prestigious 100th Anniversary Football Team in 2003.

Track and field

Moorman earned All-America honors on 10 occasions, including three straight NCAA Division II national championships in the 400 meter hurdles (1997–99). He also claimed eight conference individual event titles. Moorman also still holds the Pittsburg State University school record in the 110 meter hurdles (13.81) and ranks second all-time at PSU in the 400m hurdles (49.77).[2]

Personal bests
Event Time (seconds) Venue Date
55 metres hurdles 7.50 Indianapolis, Indiana March 5, 1999
110 metres hurdles 13.81 Emporia, Kansas May 29, 1999
400 metres hurdles 49.77 Edwardsville, Illinois May 23, 1998

Professional career

Buffalo Bills
Moorman with the Bills in 2009.

Moorman signed with the Buffalo Bills as a free agent during the summer of 2001. Moorman was named to the starting squad of the 2006 Pro Bowl for the second consecutive year. Moorman also made the 2007 Pro Bowl in which during the game he was most remembered for getting hit hard by the late Washington Redskins safety, Sean Taylor, a play which is considered one of Taylor's most memorable plays before his tragic death. On July 2, 2007 the Buffalo Bills rewarded Moorman with a 10 million dollar contract extension (through 2012), making him the second-highest paid punter in the league, behind Shane Lechler. In a 2008 34-10 opening day victory over the Seattle Seahawks, Moorman lined up to hold for what looked like a routine field goal attempt by placekicker Rian Lindell but instead took the ball and heaved a 19-yard touchdown strike to defensive end Ryan Denney.[3] Moorman had a career average of 46.6 yards per punt. In 2009, he also had a new career high in total yards punting with 4192 yards. On September 25, 2012, the Bills released Moorman soon after the third regular season game. He was replaced by Shawn Powell.[4]

Dallas Cowboys

On September 26, 2012, Moorman signed with the Dallas Cowboys to replace an injured Chris Jones.[5] He played 12 games with the Cowboys for a total of 15 games played in the 2012 regular season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Moorman signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on April 30, 2013.[6] He was waived during the preseason.[7]

Return to the Buffalo Bills

Moorman re-signed with the Buffalo Bills on October 6, 2013, after the release of Shawn Powell. He was released August 29, 2014.[8]

Retirement

Following his second release from the Bills, he announced his retirement through a letter to the city of Buffalo.[9] Despite 14 years of professional football, Moorman never played a single postseason game, making him the only member of the NFL's 2000 All-Decade team to never play in a playoff game.[10] He resides in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.[11]

Awards
  • AFC Special Teams Player of the Month (October 2002 - November 2006)
  • AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 6, 2004 - Week 10, 2005 - Week 9 & 15, 2006 - Week 7, 2009)

References
  1. "About | Brian Moorman's PUNT Foundation". www.puntfoundation.org. Retrieved May 25, 2016.
  2. "Seven Inductees Selected for PSU Athletics Hall of Fame - Pittsburg State University". Pittstate.edu. June 17, 2009. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  3. "Top 50 All-Time Bills, No. 36: P Brian Moorman". buffalorumblings.com. July 2, 2009. Retrieved September 19, 2011.
  4. "Press Coverage | The Buffalo News". Blogs.buffalonews.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2012. Retrieved September 27, 2012.
  5. "Source: Brian Moorman to Cowboys". ESPN. September 26, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2013.
  6. Mike Wilkening (April 30, 2013). "Report: Steelers adding punter Brian Moorman". NBC Sports. Retrieved January 22, 2014.
  7. "Bills reunite with Brian Moorman". Archived from the original on January 28, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  8. "Buffalo Bills release Jordan Palmer, Brian Moorman". Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  9. "Brian Moorman's open letter to Buffalo". Archived from the original on August 31, 2014. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
  10. https://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/the_best_nfl_players_never_to_play_in_the_postseason/s1__29242385#slide_8
  11. "Helping grieving parents is only sure thing for Moorman". Archived from the original on May 4, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
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