[jwplayer IDiKsvju-ThvAeFxT]
The Kansas City Chiefs have made the release of longtime punter Dustin Colquitt official on Tuesday.
Late Monday night, Colquitt posted a farewell message to Chiefs Kingdom, announcing his departure from the Chiefs after 15 seasons with the team.
“My family and I are immensely grateful for the contributions Dustin and his family have made to the Chiefs over the last 15 years,” Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in a press release. “Dustin has cemented his place as one greatest punters in the history of the NFL. In addition to his exceptional play on the field, Dustin has been an invaluable member of the Kansas City community, and his dedication and generosity improved the lives of countless families throughout Chiefs Kingdom. Dustin consistently represented himself, the Chiefs and the Kansas City community with integrity and class, and he will always be a member of the Chiefs family.”
Colquitt leaves the Chiefs as the all-time leader in games played, appearing in 238 games from 2005-2019. He has achieved a number of career accolades with the Chiefs, including becoming the all-time franchise leader in punts (1,124), punt yards (50,393) and punt average (44.8). Colquitt’s 462 punts inside the 20-yard line are good for the third-most in NFL history. Colquitt also holds the franchise record for the most postseason appearances of any player with 12, his final appearance coming in Super Bowl LIV.
“I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Dustin and the incredible career he was able to put together here in Kansas City,” Chiefs general manager Brett Veach said of Colquitt. “When you have a player that special, and someone who has meant so much to our team and community for so long, it makes these decisions really hard. I certainly enjoyed our time together here and wish him the best as he moves forward.”
Colquitt was known as a fun-loving teammate, leader and all-around great player. Chiefs head coach Andy Reid will be remembering him as one of the greatest Chiefs of all-time.
“Dustin is one of the greatest Chiefs of all-time and I’m grateful I had the opportunity to coach him these past seven years,” Reid said regarding Colquitt. “The longevity of his career here in Kansas City shows you just how consistently he has performed at a high level. Beyond his impact on the field, he was a great teammate and leader. I will always be a huge Dustin Colquitt fan.”
The Chiefs Kingdom is right there with Hunt, Veach and Reid, wishing Colquitt the very best in his next football endeavor.