The Tennessee Titans didn’t have much to be happy about during the 2022 campaign, but rookie punter Ryan Stonehouse was one of the exceptions.
After the Titans made the risky move to go with Stonehouse over established and well-loved veteran Brett Kern, there was a lot of pressure on the rookie’s shoulders to perform.
And perform he did.
Stonehouse broke the NFL record for most gross yards per punt in a single season with 51.4, breaking the 82-year-old mark set by Sammy Baugh in 1940. The Colorado State product crushed it by 1.7 yards, also.
For his efforts, Stonehouse will have his jersey and cleats in the Hall of Fame.
“It’s surreal, honestly,” Stonehouse said, per Jim Wyatt of Titans Online. “It’s the last thing I was expecting. But it’s such a cool honor. Going undrafted, and kind of having the odds against you, to be able to do something that hasn’t been done for 80-something years, it is such a big honor to me.
“And to break it from a guy like Sammy Baugh, it’s special.”
#Titans Punter Ryan Stonehouse's Jersey and Cleats Headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame After Record-Breaking Rookie Season
— Tennessee Titans (@Titans) January 10, 2023
Baugh’s record wasn’t the only one Stonehouse broke. He also became the all-time leader in net yards per punt in a single season by a rookie with exactly 44.0.
Speaking of net yards, that’s something Stonehouse would like to improve upon going into his second season. If Stonehouse can master the art of angling punts and pinning his opponents deep, he’ll be unstoppable.
“It think this season had some highs, and I think managing those highs and trying to remain consistent was my main goal the whole time,” Stonehouse said. “I felt like I did that a lot with my gross. Heading into next year I want to improve on some of the things I need to keep up in those highs, like the inside the 20 or the net average. Similarly, with how the gross went this year, I’d love to build that consistency.”
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