Brett Kern

Brett Alan Kern (born February 17, 1986) is an American football punter for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football at Toledo.

Brett Kern

Kern in 2018
No. 6 – Tennessee Titans
Position:	Punter
Personal information
Born:	February 17, 1986 Grand Island, New York
Height:	6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:	214 lb (97 kg)
Career information
High school:	Grand Island (NY)
College:	Toledo
Undrafted:	2008
Career history
Denver Broncos (2008–2009) Tennessee Titans (2009–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
3× Pro Bowl (2017–2019) First-team All-Pro (2019) Second-team All-Pro (2017) PFWA All-Rookie Team (2008) MAC Special Teams Player of the Year (2007)
Career NFL statistics as of 2020
Punts: 949 Punting yards: 43,623 Punting average: 46.0 Longest punt: 79 Inside 20: 377 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

After being waived by the Broncos after less than two full seasons, he was then acquired by the Titans and has since been a three-time Pro Bowl selection and a two-time All-Pro.

High school career

Kern is a 2004 graduate of Grand Island Senior High School, where he played on the football team.[1] He was named All-New York State as a senior and was a member of the schools Section VI championship. Following graduation from high school, Kern represented New York State in the New York-New Jersey Governor's Bowl played at the United States Military Academy. He also played basketball and was a long jumper and high hurdler on the track team.

College career

Kern played college football at the University of Toledo for head coach Tom Amstutz.[2]

2004 season

As a freshman in 2004, Kern was immediately inserted into the role of punter for the Rockets. In his collegiate debut, he had eight punts for 344 net yards (43.0 average) against Minnesota.[3] In the next game against Kansas, he had a season-high nine punts for a season-high 357 net yards (39.7 average).[4] On October 16, against Ohio, he had two punts for 101 net yards for a season-high 50.5 average.[5] In the next game against Central Michigan, he recorded his first collegiate pass, a successful 46-yard throw.[6] On the season, he had 44 punts for 1,788 net yards for a 40.6 average.[7]

2005 season

Kern continued to contribute in his second season as the Rockets' punter. On September 1, in the season opener against Western Illinois, he had three punts for 99 net yards for a 33.0 average.[8] On September 27, against Fresno State, he had five punts for a season-high 206 net yards for a 41.2 average.[9] On October 15, against Ball State, he had a successful passing attempt for 34 yards.[10] On October 22 against Buffalo, he had two punts for 91 net yards for a season-high 45.5 average.[11] Overall, in the 2005 season, he had 33 punts for 1,305 yards for a 39.5 average.[12]

2006 season

Kern's punting career continued into his junior season in 2006. On August 31, against Iowa State, he had a single punt for 46 yards in the season opener.[13] On September 15, against Kansas, he had a season-high 12 punts for a season-high 484 net yards for a 40.3 average.[14] On October 7, against Central Michigan, he completed a 25-yard pass.[15] Overall, in the 2006 season, he had 60 punts for 2,502 net yards for a 41.7 average.[16]

2007 season

Kern's final season with the Rockets was in 2007. On September 1, against Purdue, he had eight punts for 394 net yards for a 49.3 average.[17] On September 15, against Kansas, he had a season-high 10 punts for a season-high 420 net yards for a 42.00 average.[18] On September 29, 2007, against Western Michigan, he had six punts for 323 net yards for a season-high 53.8 average.[19] On October 27, against Northern Illinois, he had a 50-yard rush in the game.[20] The MAC Report Online named Kern the Mid-American Conference’s ‘’Special Teams Player of the Year’’ in 2007.[21] Kern was also a finalist for the Ray Guy Award in 2007.[22] That year, he averaged 46.5 yards per punt, second in the nation.[23] Overall, in his final season, he had 52 total punts for 2,399 yards for a 46.1 average.[24]

College statistics

Year	School	Class		Punts	Yards	Average
2004	Toledo	Freshman	P	44	1,788	40.6
2005	Toledo	Sophomore	P	33	1,305	39.5
2006	Toledo	Junior	P	60	2,502	41.7
2007	Toledo	Senior	P	52	2,399	46.1
Career				189	7,994	42.3

Professional career

2008 season

In 2008, Kern won the starting punter job for the Broncos, winning the job over competitor Sam Paulescu.[25]

During his rookie season with the Broncos, Kern attempted 46 punts for an average of 46.7. He made his NFL debut the season opener against the Oakland Raiders, he had two punts for 80 net yards for a 40.0 average.[26] His longest punt of the year was 64 yards against the San Diego Chargers in Week 2.[27] On October 5, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had 5 punts for a season-high 248 net yards for a 49.6 average.[28] He gave away one touchdown that year against the Oakland Raiders in Week 12 when Johnnie Lee Higgins took the punt back 89 yards for the score.[29][30]

2009 season

Kern in 2009

Kern remained as the Broncos' punter in his second professional season. In the season opener against the Cincinnati Bengals, he had a season-high eight punts for a season-high 340 net yards for a 42.5 average.[31] On September 20, against the Cleveland Browns, he had two punts for 109 net yards for a season-high 54.5 average.[32] He finished the 2009 season with 64 punts for 2,910 net yards for a 45.47 average.[33]

Despite having the third highest yards per punt average in NFL history,[34] Kern was waived by the Broncos.[35]

2009 season

Kern was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee Titans, replacing Reggie Hodges. At the time Kern was released from the Broncos and claimed by the Titans, the Broncos were 6–0 while the Titans were 0–6. A subsequent Titans winning streak and Broncos losing streak led to a situation where teams with Kern on the roster had compiled a record of 11–0 to begin the season, despite the two teams being a collective 12–10 overall in that period.

On November 1, he made his Titans debut against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He had four punts for 193 net yards for a 48.25 average.[36]

Overall, in the 2009 season, he totaled 64 punts for 2,910 yards for a 45.47 average.[37]

2010 season

Kern remained as the Titans' punter in the 2010 season. On September 12, in the season opener against the Oakland Raiders, he had four punts for 200 net yards for a season-high 50.0 average.[38] On December 26, in Week 16 against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had a season-high eight punts for a season-high 352 net yards for a 44.0 average.[39] Overall, in the 2010 season, he had 77 punts for 3,302 net yards for a 42.88 average.[40]

2011 season

On February 24, Kern signed a four-year, $5.2 million contract extension with the Titans with $2.1 million guaranteed.[41]

In the season opener on September 11, Kern had seven punts for 291 net yards for a 41.57 average against the Jacksonville Jaguars.[42] In Week 3 against the Denver Broncos, he had a 21-yard rush.[43] On October 30, in Week 8 against the Indianapolis Colts, he had a season-high eight punts for a season-high 330 net yards for a 41.25 average.[44] On December 4, against the Buffalo Bills, he had five punts for 239 net yards for a season-high 47.8 average.[45] Overall, in the 2011 season, he recorded 86 punts for 3,747 net yards for a 43.57 average.[46]

2012 season

In the season opener on September 9, against the New England Patriots, Kern had four punts for 209 net yards for a 52.25 average.[47] On December 9, against the Indianapolis Colts, he had three punts for 165 net yards for a season-high 55.0 average.[48] In Week 15 against the New York Jets, he had a season-high 10 punts for a season-high 391 net yards for a 39.1 average.[49] Overall, in the 2012 season, he had 81 punts for 3,855 yards for a 47.59 average.[50]

2013 season

On September 8, against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kern had five punts for 208 net yards for a 41.6 average in the season opener.[51] In Week 2 against the Houston Texans, he had a season-high eight punts for 382 net yards for a 47.75 average.[52] On December 8, against the Denver Broncos, he had four punts for 201 net yards for a season-high 50.25 average.[53] Overall, in the 2013 season, he had 78 punts for 3,386 net yards for a 43.41 average.[54]

2014 season

In the season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs, Kern had six punts for 304 net yards for a 50.67 average.[55] On November 9, against the Baltimore Ravens, he had a season-high eight punts for a season-high 414 net yards for a 51.75 average.[56] On December 28, against the Indianapolis Colts, he had seven punts for 383 net yards for a season-high 54.71 average. In addition, he had a career-long 79-yard punt in the game.[57] In the 2014 season, he had 88 punts for 4,118 net yards for a 46.80 average.[58]

2015 season

On March 8, 2015, Kern signed a five-year $15 million contract extension with the Titans.[59]

On September 13, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had four punts for 189 net yards for a 47.25 average in the season opener.[60] On December 20, against the New England Patriots, he had five punts for 272 net yards for a season-high 54.4 average.[61] In Week 16, on December 27, against the Houston Texans, he had a season-high nine punts for a season-high 427 net yards for a 47.44 average.[62] Overall, in the 2015 season, he recorded 88 punts for 4,175 net yards for a 47.44 average.[63]

2016 season

In the season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings, Kern had five punts for 231 net yards for a 46.2 average.[64] In Week 3, against the Oakland Raiders, he had six punts for 311 net yards for a season-high 51.83 average.[65] On December 24, in Week 16 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he had seven punts for a season-high 313 net yards for a 44.71 average.[66] In the 2016 season, he finished with 77 punts for 3,402 net yards for a 44.18 average.[67]

2017 season

During the season-opener against the Oakland Raiders, Kern had four punts for 188 net yards for a 47 average.[68] On September 24, in Week 3 against the Seattle Seahawks, he had six punts for 341 net yards for a season-high 56.83 average.[69] On October 8, against the Miami Dolphins, he had a career-high 10 punts for a franchise-record 549 net yards and a 54.9 average.[70]

On December 19, 2017, Kern was named to his first Pro Bowl.[71] Kern finished the 2017 season with 75 punts for 3,728 net yards for a franchise-record 49.71 average.[72] He was named second-team All-Pro.[73]

The Titans finished the 2017 season with a 9–7 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #5 seed.[74][75] In the Wild Card Round against the Kansas City Chiefs, Kern made his playoff debut. In the 22–21 win, he had three punts for 131 net yards for a 43.7 average.[76] In the Divisional Round against the New England Patriots, he had seven punts for 316 net yards for a 45.14 average.[77]

2018 season

Kern in 2018

On December 18, 2018, Kern was named to his second Pro Bowl.[78] Kern finished the season punting 74 times with 39 being inside the 20.[79]

2019 season

Kern at the 2020 Pro Bowl

On March 7, 2019, Kern signed a four-year, $12.55 million contract extension with the Titans.[80] On December 17, 2019, he was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl.[81] He led the league in punts placed inside the 20-yard line with 37 and was named First-Team All-Pro.[82]

2020 season

On November 7, 2020, Kern was placed on injured reserve after suffering a wrist injury in Week 8.[83] He was activated on November 28, 2020.[84]

NFL career statistics

Legend
	Led the league
Bold	Career high

Regular season statistics

Year	Team	GP	Punting
			Punts	Yards	Avg	Blk	Lng
2008	DEN	16	46	2,150	46.7	0	64
2009	DEN	6	27	1,245	46.1	0	64
	TEN	10	37	1,665	45.5	0	67
2010	TEN	16	77	3,302	42.9	0	68
2011	TEN	16	86	3,747	43.6	0	64
2012	TEN	16	81	3,855	47.6	2	71
2013	TEN	16	78	3,386	43.4	1	63
2014	TEN	16	88	4,118	46.8	1	79
2015	TEN	16	88	4,175	47.4	0	61
2016	TEN	16	77	3,402	44.2	0	71
2017	TEN	16	75	3,728	49.7	0	74
2018	TEN	16	74	3,483	47.1	1	62
2019	TEN	16	78	3,672	47.1	0	70
2020	TEN	13	37	1,645	45.8	0	66
Career		205	949	43,623	46.0	5	79

Postseason statistics

Year	Team	GP	Punts	Yards	Avg	Blk	Lng
2017	TEN	2	10	447	44.7	0	62
2019	TEN	3	15	729	48.6	0	63
Career		5	25	1,176	47.0	0	63

Titans/Oilers franchise records

• Most Punt Yards (career): 38,533
• Most Punt Yards (season): 4,175 (2015)
• Most Punt Yards (game): 549 (2017-10-08 @MIA)
• Most Yards / Punt (career): 45.9
• Most Yards / Punt (season): 49.7 (2017)
• Most Yards / Punt (game): 56.8 (2017-09-24 SEA)
• Most Yards / Punt (playoff career): 47.1

Personal life

Kern is the son of Cal Kern, owner of the amateur Niagara Power baseball team.[85] Kern is married to Tiffany Kern and the couple has three kids, Bryce Jeremiah, Anelle Naomi, and Quinn Eliana. Kern is an avid golfer that sports a +1 handicap. He picked the game up late in his high school years and caddied for three summers at Inverness Golf Club while in college. The course is located in Toledo, Ohio, and has hosted PGA and NCAA Championships. In 2011, Kern competed in The Vinny, a local golf fundraising tournament hosted by singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant, and finished fourth in the event.[86]

References

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2. "Brett Kern College Stats". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved January 6, 2018.
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External links

• Denver Broncos bio