3 things to know about new Chiefs punter Tyler Newsome

Get to know the newest specialist for the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Kansas City Chiefs recently agreed to terms with punter Tyler Newsome on a one-year deal. Newsome might be considered a longshot to make the team because of Dustin Colquitt, the longest-tenured player on the Chiefs’ roster. Still, Newsome is an interesting player and worthy of getting to know. Here are three things the Chiefs Kingdom should know about their newest player:

Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images

A car accident in 2012 left Newsome severely injured

Newsome is not only lucky to be a professional athlete, but he’s lucky to be alive after a brutal car accident in 2012. Here is the description from his 2019 NFL Draft player biography:

“Roger Tyler Newsome is lucky to be alive. He spent 17 days in the hospital after a car accident in May 2012, where he suffered several injuries including a fractured tailbone and ruptured spleen. He spent many months rehabbing those injuries, however, and eventually became an all-state kicker in Georgia. Notre Dame offered him a punting scholarship before he took over that position as a senior”

Apparently, Newsome also suffered a broken pelvis, fractures to multiple ribs and a concussion during the accident. The outlook was grim, but Newsome worked his way back. Sure enough, he’d find an opportunity with the Fighting Irish and become one of the top punters in the illustrious history of the school.

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The Chiefs have agreed to terms with former Notre Dame punter Tyler Newsome on a one-year deal, as first reported by Desmond Talbot of NFL Draft Diamonds and confirmed by Kansas City Star beat reporter Herbie Teope.

It’s no secret that Dustin Colquitt is approaching the end of his career. He’s the longest-tenured player on the Chiefs’ roster and turns 38 years old in May. There’s no indication that he’s set to retire, but the Chiefs need to continue to prepare for his eventual departure. Last season, they brought in undrafted free agent punter Jack Fox to compete with Colquitt. Ultimately, Colquitt beat Fox out and retained his job for the Chiefs’ championship season.

Newsome is known best for his impressive show of strength at his pro day, posting 30 bench press repetitions of 225. To put things into perspective, that’s more repetitions than Chris Jones, Frank Clark, Mike Pennel, Derrick Nnadi, Alex Okafor, Khalen Saunders, and Tanoh Kpassagnon posted at their respective combine or pro days. Only practice squad defensive lineman, Devaroe Lawrence had more bench press repetitions than Newsome at 31.

The 6-2 and 210-pound punter has a career average of 44 yards per punt. He accumulated a total of over 9,000 punting yards in his four-year career with Notre Dame. A total of 75 of his 225 career punts with Notre Dame landed within the 20-yard line.

Newsome spent some time in the 2019 offseason with the Los Angeles Chargers but was released during 53-man roster cuts.