The last time the New York Jets drafted a punter out of Texas A&M, they found a diamond in the rough.
Braden Mann became the latest Aggies punter to hear his name called by the Jets, but long before him was Steve O’Neal. He was taken with the 21st pick of the 13th round in the 1969 Common Draft back when the Jets were in the AFL. Right away, O’Neal made an instant impact with one of the most historic punts in football history.
On Sept. 21, 1969, the Jets were playing the Denver Broncos. The Jets were pinned back near their own goal line and forced to punt, so on came O’Neal. He booted a 98-yard punt, the longest ever in professional football then and still today.
Last time we drafted an @AggieFootball punter was Steve O'Neal in 1969. He set the NFL record with a 98-yard punt in his rookie season.
Your turn, @MannBraden 😂 pic.twitter.com/w4pxoWiIFy
— New York Jets (@nyjets) May 2, 2020
O’Neal only played four seasons with the Jets from 1969 through 1972. His final season in football was in 1973 with the Saints. In four seasons with the Jets, O’Neal only averaged about 41 yards per punt attempt.
Now the Jets have drafted their second punter ever out of Texas A&M in Mann. The Jets took him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
While Mann is not expected to do what O’Neal did, he does come to the Jets with an impressive reputation. Mann won the Ray Guy Award in 2018 for being the best punter in college football, so the Jets are hoping his leg can translate to the pros.