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Jack Fox (American football)
Jack Fox (American football)
Jack Fox (American football)
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Jack Edward Fox (born September 1, 1996) is an American professional football punter for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Rice Owls. Fox joined the Lions as a rookie in 2019, since earning two Pro Bowl and All-Pro selections; a first-team selection in 2024 and a second-team selection in 2020. He is the active leader for the most yards per punt average in NFL history.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Fox was born in Dallas, Texas and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended Ladue Horton Watkins High School, where he played baseball and football. As a senior, he was named first-team All-State as a punter and to the second-team as a placekicker while also passing for 1,900 yards and 18 touchdowns at quarterback.[2]

College career

[edit]

Fox was both a kicker and punter for four seasons at Rice University. As a freshman he handled kickoffs and made 12 of 12 extra point attempts and one of two field goal attempts. He became the Owls punter going into his sophomore year and was named honorable mention All-Conference USA (C-USA) after punting 75 times for 3,051 yards (40.7 average) with two extra points and one field goal made. As a junior, Fox had 56 punts for 2,480 yards (44.3 average) with one extra point attempted and made and was named second-team All-C-USA. He also became the primary kicker for Rice as a senior and was named first-team All-conference and the Conference Special Teams Player of the Year, as well as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award, after punting 80 times 3,636 yards (45.5 average) with 23 extra points attempted and making 5 of 12 field goal attempts.[3]

Professional career

[edit]
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 2+1⁄2 in
(1.89 m) 		213 lb
(97 kg) 		31+3⁄4 in
(0.81 m) 		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		 4.73 s 1.68 s 2.76 s 29.5 in
(0.75 m)		 9 ft 6 in
(2.90 m)
All values from NFL Combine[4][5]

Kansas City Chiefs

[edit]

Fox was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2019.[6] He was waived during final roster cuts.[7] Fox was re-signed by the Chiefs to their practice squad on October 30, 2019, after the team's punter, Dustin Colquitt, suffered a quad strain but was released one week later on November 6.[8][9]

Detroit Lions

[edit]

Fox was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad on December 5, 2019, where he spent the rest of the season.[10] He was signed to a futures contract at the end of the season.[11] Fox was named the Lions opening day punter at the end of training camp, beating out Arryn Siposs.[12] Fox made his NFL debut on September 13, 2020, in the season opener against the Chicago Bears, punting 4 times for 197 yards (49.3 average) with two punts inside the 20-yard line.[13] Fox was named the National Football Conference (NFC) Special Teams Player of the Month for September.[14]

Fox finished his first season with 59 punts for an average of 49.1 yards and a net average of 44.8, both Lions records, and was named to the 2021 Pro Bowl and second-team All-Pro.[15][16] He was given an exclusive-rights free agent tender by the Lions on March 4, 2021.[17] He signed the one-year contract on April 23.[18]

On October 22, 2022, Fox signed a three-year, $11.325 million contract extension with the Lions, making him the highest-paid punter in the league.[19] In the 2023 NFL season, Fox made it to the NFC Championship with the Lions where he punted twice for 108 yards (54.0 average). The Lions would ultimately lose to the San Francisco 49ers 31–34 after allowing a 17-point comeback.[20]

In Week 3 of the 2024 season, Fox punted five times, with four inside the 20-yard line in a 20-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[21] Fox finished the season with 45 punts for 2,295 yards.[22] He led the league in both yards per punt (51.0) and net yards per punt (45.8), earning Pro Bowl honors for his performance.[23]

Personal life

[edit]

In the 2021 off-season, Fox organized a young specialist camp where he invited youth kickers and punters from the Detroit area. An avid Yu-Gi-Oh! player, Fox showed his Instagram followers his collection of nearly 600 cards in a live stream in June of 2025. In a 2024 interview with the Detroit Metro Times, Fox referenced his childhood interest in Harry Potter, describing himself as a "Hufflepuff, perfectly at home here in Detroit".[24]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Jack Fox (American football)

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Jack Fox (born September 1, 1996) is an punter for the of the (). Standing at 6 feet 2 inches and weighing 218 pounds, Fox has established himself as one of the league's premier punters through his exceptional net punting averages and directional kicking precision. Undrafted out of college, he signed with the in 2019 before joining the Lions in 2020, where he has since earned two selections and multiple honors. Fox began his collegiate career at , where he played in 49 games over four seasons as both a kicker and punter. During his senior year in , he led the nation in punting yards with 3,636 and ranked 10th nationally in average at 45.5 yards per punt, earning Special Teams Player of the Year, the Award, and the Award. Over his college tenure, Fox punted 212 times for 9,207 yards, averaging 43.4 yards per punt, with 74 inside the opponent's 20-yard line. In his professional career, Fox signed with the as an undrafted free agent in 2019, spending time on their practice squad before being waived. He signed with the Lions ahead of the 2020 season and quickly rose to prominence, recording a league-leading 44.8 net punting average that year, the third-highest single-season mark in history at the time. Fox has since been named to the All-Pro First Team in 2024 and Second Team in 2020, while also earning nods in both seasons; in 2024, he set an record for the highest single-season net punting average at 46.2 yards and established Lions franchise records for gross average (51.0 yards) and net average in a season. Through the 2025 season, Fox has maintained a career gross punting average of 48.8 yards and a net of 43.2 yards over 310 punts.

Early life and education

Childhood and family background

Jack Fox was born on September 1, 1996, in , . He grew up in the area, where his family settled in Olivette, , a suburb where he spent his formative years. Fox was raised by his parents, Pat and Beth Fox, who instilled values of discipline and perseverance from an early age. Pat Fox, a former high school and college football player who punted at , served as a key influence by casually introducing Jack to sports through backyard games of catch with a football or baseball. Beth Fox, employed in pet care managing client schedules and information, complemented this by fostering Jack's dedication through activities like tennis and ensuring access to quality educational and athletic opportunities, such as enrollment at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. The family's encouragement extended to Jack's budding football ambitions, with Pat coaching him during middle school when Jack, as a sixth grader, joined the seventh-grade team. This parental involvement, blending athletic guidance with emotional support, laid the groundwork for his passion for the sport amid a nurturing home life in .

High school career

Jack Fox attended in , , where he developed his athletic skills across multiple positions on the football team. During his high school career, Fox showcased versatility by playing as , punter, and , contributing to the team's offensive and special teams efforts. In his senior year of , he served as the starting , completing 155 of 330 passes for 1,886 yards and 18 , while also adding mobility with a key touchdown run in a playoff comeback victory against Webster Groves that helped propel the forward. As a specialist, Fox excelled in punting and placekicking, making 17 field goals and 49 extra points that season, including critical kicks in high-stakes games during the team's deep playoff run to a 12-2 record. His performance earned him first-team All-State honors as a punter and second-team All-State as a , along with first-team All-Metro recognition for his kicking prowess.

College career

Rice University performance

Jack Fox enrolled at in 2015 and played for the from 2015 to 2018, appearing in 49 games primarily as a kicker and punter. Initially recruited as a kicker, Fox handled kickoffs and extra points as a in 2015, converting all 12 extra point attempts while going 1-for-2 on field goals, but he did not punt that season. His transition to punting began in 2016, marking the start of his evolution from a multi-position special teams player—drawing from his high school versatility in kicking and punting—to a dedicated punter by his junior and senior years. Over his punting career at , Fox recorded 212 punts for 9,207 yards, averaging 43.4 yards per punt, which ranks him fourth in program history for career punting yards. His performance improved progressively: in , he punted 75 times for 3,051 yards (40.7 average), leading in total punts; in 2017, he averaged 44.2 yards on 57 punts for 2,520 yards; and in 2018, he set a school record with 3,636 yards on 80 punts (45.5 average), with the total punts ranking fourth nationally, including 31 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line and 13 inside the 10-yard line. This senior-season output helped achieve a school-record net punting average of 40.11 yards, ranking 18th nationally. Fox's role solidified as the primary punter in 2018, where he also managed kickoffs and extra points (23-for-23), while attempting field goals (5-for-12), demonstrating his continued hybrid utility but with punting as the focal point. Game-specific highlights underscored his growth, such as a career-long 76-yard punt and a 63-yard career benchmark against Prairie View A&M, alongside a standout performance at where he averaged 47.3 yards on seven punts, five inside the 20-yard line and one inside the 10. These efforts contributed to Rice's special teams ranking among the top in for punting efficiency during his tenure.

Awards and recognition

In 2017, Fox earned second-team All-Conference USA honors. During his senior season at in 2018, Jack Fox was named the Special Teams Player of the Year, becoming the first punter in league history to receive the honor from the conference's head coaches. He also received the Award as team MVP and the Award. This accolade highlighted his dominance as a , as he led in punts inside the 20-yard line (31) and long punts of 50 yards or more (26), contributing to Rice's school-record net punting average. Fox also earned first-team All-Conference USA honors that year, recognizing his consistent excellence in directional punting and field position strategy. Earlier in the season, he was selected as a semifinalist for the , which honors the nation's top collegiate punter, after being named to the preseason watch list for the second consecutive year. These recognitions underscored Fox's pivotal role in Rice's special teams unit, where his precision and power elevated the Owls' defensive field position throughout the campaign.

Professional career

Kansas City Chiefs

After going undrafted in the , Jack Fox signed with the as an undrafted free agent on April 27, 2019. His standout punting performance at , where he ranked among the nation's leaders in net punting average, played a role in the Chiefs' decision to bring him aboard as a potential successor to veteran punter . Fox participated in the Chiefs' training camp and all four preseason games in 2019, providing competition for the punting duties and gaining valuable NFL experience in a backup role. He was waived by the team on August 31, 2019, during final roster cuts ahead of the regular season. Following an injury to Colquitt, the Chiefs re-signed Fox to their on October 29, 2019, where he contributed in a developmental capacity without seeing regular-season action. Fox's time with the Chiefs ended when he was released from the on November 6, 2019.

Detroit Lions

After spending time on the ' during the 2019 preseason, Fox transitioned to the , initially joining their on December 5, 2019. He was elevated to the active roster ahead of the 2020 season and made his NFL debut on September 13, 2020, in the Lions' opener against the , where he handled punting duties in a 27-23 loss. Fox quickly established himself as the team's primary punter, contributing to the special teams unit during a rebuilding phase for the franchise. In October 2022, Fox signed a three-year contract extension with the Lions worth $11.325 million, securing his position through the 2026 season and making him one of the highest-paid punters in the at the time. This deal reflected his consistent performance and value to the team, as he anchored the punting role amid roster changes and coaching transitions under head coach . Fox's tenure with the Lions saw significant team success in the 2023 season, culminating in an appearance in the against the on January 28, 2024, where he punted twice for 108 yards with a 54.0-yard average in a 34-31 loss. Building on that momentum, Fox delivered a standout 2024 season, averaging 51.0 gross yards per punt—the highest in franchise history—and earning first-team honors along with selection to the 2025 . His performance helped the Lions' special teams support a potent offense that limited his punting opportunities to just 45 attempts, the fewest in the . Entering 2025 under his existing contract, Fox continued as the Lions' punter, appearing in the first ten weeks of the season through November 10, 2025. In week 10 against the , Fox did not punt as the Lions' offense controlled possession in a victory. Through ten games, he recorded 32 punts totaling 1,512 yards. His contributions remained integral to the team's competitive push in the , maintaining field position advantages in key games despite an evolving roster.

Career statistics and records

Jack Fox has established himself as one of the NFL's premier punters through consistent elite performance, amassing impressive career totals as of week 10 of the season. Over 94 games, he has recorded 310 punts for 15,073 yards, averaging 48.6 yards per punt, with 121 punts landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
SeasonTeamGamesPuntsYardsAverageInside 20
2020DET16592,89749.123
2021DET17653,19849.225
2022DET17522,52548.620
2023DET17572,64646.422
2024DET17452,29551.015
DET10321,51247.316
Career-9431015,07348.6121
Fox holds the NFL record for the highest career gross punting average (minimum 250 punts) at 48.6 yards, tied with A.J. Cole III. His precision is highlighted by the 121 punts inside the 20-yard line, representing approximately 39% of his total punts, which has significantly contributed to field position advantages for his teams. In the 2024 season, Fox earned first-team honors from the after leading the league with a 51.0 gross punting average and setting a franchise record. He was previously selected to the second-team in 2020, when he also set Lions records for single-season gross (49.1) and net (44.8) averages. Fox has been selected to two Pro Bowls, in 2021 (for his 2020 performance) and 2025 (for 2024). Through the first ten games of the 2025 season with the , Fox has punted 32 times for 1,512 yards, averaging 47.3 yards per punt, with 16 inside the 20-yard line, maintaining his status as a top-tier .

Personal life

Philanthropic activities

Jack Fox has actively engaged in philanthropic efforts centered on youth development in football and support for health-related causes, leveraging his platform as an punter. In June 2021, he organized his first youth instruction camp at a local high school in the area, inviting approximately 15 high school participants along with some middle school and college-level athletes to learn punting and kicking fundamentals. The event, held on June 13, aimed to provide aspiring specialists with hands-on training and inspiration, drawing from Fox's own childhood aspirations to connect with professional players. Fox has continued these initiatives with subsequent camps, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to mentoring young athletes. In June 2023, he hosted a three-hour kicking and punting clinic at Hart High School in , in collaboration with former kicker , targeting students in grades 7-12 to teach mechanics and build confidence in special teams roles. This free event, arranged as a favor to the local football program after Fox utilized their facilities, included autograph sessions to further engage participants. His stable position with the has facilitated such community outreach by allowing him to maintain these programs in . Beyond youth sports, Fox has supported charitable causes tied to health and veterans through initiatives. In 2024, he participated in the league's "My Cleats My Cause" program by selecting the Foundation for Parkinson's, wearing custom cleats auctioned to raise funds and awareness for the organization, which has generated over $3 million for patient support and research since 1996; this choice was personally motivated by his grandfather's with the disease. Additionally, as part of the Lions' Salute to Service efforts, Fox has contributed to the Adaptive Warrior Project, including attending events in October 2024 to support home remodeling for disabled veterans and their families.

Interests and hobbies

Fox has expressed a strong passion for the trading card game Yu-Gi-Oh!, amassing a personal collection exceeding 600 cards over the years. In June 2025, he engaged with fans by hosting a livestream on , where he displayed portions of his collection and discussed his favorite decks and strategies.

References

  1. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3916370/jack-fox
  2. https://www.nfl.com/players/jack-fox/
  3. https://www.detroitlions.com/team/players-roster/jack-fox/
  4. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FoxxJa01.htm
  5. https://www.essentiallysports.com/nfl-active-news-who-are-jack-foxs-parents-all-about-nfl-stars-mom-beth-and-dad-pat-fox/
  6. https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/nfl/lions/2021/01/01/punter-jack-fox-a-great-success-story-he-closes-lions-franchise-record/4086019001/
  7. https://riceowls.com/sports/football/roster/jack-fox/744
  8. https://stats.stlhighschoolsports.com/sports/football/stats/teamstatoverall.php?t=127&s=636
  9. https://attheroost.com/2019/04/22/jack-fox-rice-football-nfl-draft/
  10. https://www.stltoday.com/sports/high-school/all-metro/article_42c096d6-7e93-11ea-b524-13ae05fa4c38.html
  11. https://www.mshsaa.org/MySchool/ActivityHistory.aspx?s=100&alg=19
  12. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/jack-fox-1.html
  13. https://riceowls.com/news/2018/12/5/football-jack-fox-named-c-usa-special-teams-player-of-the-year
  14. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/rice/article/Versatile-Jack-Fox-represents-mindset-of-Rice-s-13211061.php
  15. https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/rice/punting.html
  16. https://riceowls.com/sports/football/roster/jack-fox/953
  17. https://conferenceusa.com/news/2018/12/5/football-fb-2018-players-of-the-year.aspx
  18. https://conferenceusa.com/news/2018/11/15/football-fb-rices-fox-named-ray-guy-semifinalist.aspx
  19. https://www.augustachronicle.com/story/sports/college/football/2018/10/31/rices-jack-fox-is-ray-guy-award-punter-of-week/9404134007/
  20. https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/29435/jack-fox
  21. https://attheroost.com/2019/04/27/jack-fox-agrees-to-free-agent-deal-with-chiefs/
  22. https://www.si.com/nfl/chiefs/gm-report/chiefs-sign-p-jack-fox-to-practice-squad-release-wr-cody-thompson
  23. https://www.arrowheadpride.com/2019/10/29/20938972/chiefs-re-sign-punter-jack-fox-to-practice-squad-release-cody-thompson
  24. https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/kc/season/2019
  25. https://www.nfl.com/news/lions-sign-punter-jack-fox-to-three-year-extension
  26. https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401547380
  27. https://www.si.com/nfl/lions/news/lions-punted-fewest-amount-of-times-nfl-2024
  28. https://www.nfl.com/players/jack-fox/stats/
  29. https://www.detroitlions.com/news/recap-lions-at-commanders-goff-gibbs-williams
  30. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/leaders/punt_yds_per_punt_career.htm
  31. https://www.ourmidland.com/sports/article/detroit-lions-2024-all-pro-players-20027777.php
  32. https://www.prideofdetroit.com/2021/1/8/22220891/2020-nfl-all-pro-team-detroit-lions-jack-fox-frank-ragnow-make-second-team
  33. https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2025/punting.htm
  34. https://heavy.com/sports/nfl/detroit-lions/jack-fox-specialist-camp-give-back/
  35. https://localsportsjournal.com/2023/06/nfl-pro-bowl-punter-jack-fox-hosts-kicking-camp-in-hart/
  36. https://michiganmamanews.com/2024/12/10/detroit-lions-player-jack-fox-to-honor-kirk-gibson-with-my-cleats-my-cause-initiative/
  37. https://www.detroitlions.com/photos/adaptive-warrior-project-photos
  38. https://www.instagram.com/jackfox2/
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