Former Gator punter Tommy Townsend named to First Player-Voted All-Pro Team
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Former Florida Gators and current Kansas City Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend was named an All-Pro on Wednesday. The honor was the first of its kind as this was the first time NFL players voted for the All-Pro Team.
“Players compete against each other all season long, watching hours and hours of film week after week; and yet, we have never had an opportunity to truly use our expertise to select the best of us,” NFLPA President JC Tretter said in a release. “We think it is important that players take the time to define ourselves. Because so far, we have allowed everyone else to either pick or dilute our voices.”
Only active NFL were allowed to vote and they only received a single vote. If a player missed five or more games as of Week 15, they’re considered ineligible for voting. Players were not allowed to vote for themselves or their teammates. They could also only vote for the positions they play in and line up against.
Townsend signed with Kansas City as an undrafted free agent in 2020. The Chiefs released 15-year veteran in Dustin Colquitt just days after Townsend joined the team. Townsend would prove the decision-makers in KC right. He was named PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 2020 and a spot in the upcoming 2023 Pro Bowl.
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Townsend had a career year. He posted career-highs in yards per punt (50.4), net yards per punt (45.6), longest punt (76), and punts pinned inside the 20-yard line (22) in 2022, across 17 games.
Townsend with some big punts
Townsend led the league in net punting yards this season. That’s nothing new to Gators fans that have followed him during his time at Florida. His biggest punt might have been this 80-yarder against Michigan in the Peach Bowl.
Townsend also got former Indianapolis Colt punter and current ESPN personality, Pat Mcafee. The larger-than-life analyst went crazy for this 58-yard fair catch earlier in the 2022 NFL season.
