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Matt Turk
Matt Turk
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Turk punting in 2010

Key Information

Matthew Edward Turk (born June 16, 1968) is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL).[1] He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1993. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Turk was also a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans. He is the 2nd tallest punter in NFL history (tied with 2 others).[2]

Early years

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Turk graduated from Greenfield High School in his birthplace of Greenfield, Wisconsin in 1986.[3]

Matt played college football for the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1993. With the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks, Turk averaged 36.3 yards per punt. The Warhawks won the Wisconsin State University Conference Championship in 1990 season.[4] Turk also played the tight end position at UWW.[5]

Professional career

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Turk played semi-pro football for the Racine Raiders before entering the NFL. He signed with the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams in 1993 and 1994 respectively, but did not make the final roster on either team.

Washington Redskins

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On April 5, 1995, the Washington Redskins signed Turk, and for the first time in his career, he made an NFL roster. In 1996 he was named a First Team All-Pro, the last time a Washington player of any position has received that honor until guard Brandon Scherff was honored in 2021.[6] He stayed on the team until they traded Turk to the Miami Dolphins on March 9, 2000. He was traded because of a strained relationship with owner Dan Snyder over a finger injury he had that caused him to miss a game. He also was upset because there was a report that he got injured in a basketball game (although that was later proven false after it was discovered that he was misdiagnosed.) Turk said he "wasn't surprised" and the Redskins "did him a favor" by trading him.[7]

Miami Dolphins

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Turk played for the Dolphins for 2 seasons (2000–2001).

New York Jets

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On April 23, 2002, Turk signed with the New York Jets. On March 7, he was released.

Return to Dolphins

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After a poor performance by Mark Royals, Turk was re-signed by the Dolphins on September 29, 2003. After having a visit with the Green Bay Packers (the first team he signed with his career),[8] he ultimately re-signed with the Dolphins on March 23, 2004.[9] After being placed on Injured Reserve,[10] he was released on October 12, 2005.

Return to Rams

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On April 4, 2006, Turk and the St. Louis Rams agreed to a 1-year deal[11] 12 years after he signed with the team.

Houston Texans

[edit]

The Houston Texans signed Matt Turk late in the 2007 offseason to compete with incumbent punter Chad Stanley. He won the job after Chad Stanley was cut on August 31, 2007[12] After ranking 2nd in punts inside the 20, he was re-signed for a 2-year, 3.5 million dollar contract on March 19, 2008, the first day he was eligible to sign a free agent contract.[13] On March 9, 2010, his agent David Canter announced he signed a 1-year contract to return to the Texans. He was not re-signed in 2011.

Jacksonville Jaguars

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On July 28, 2011, Turk signed a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was released October 11 [14] after a terrible game against the Bengals. The fans booed him and he was waving his hands as if he wanted to be booed more.[15]

Return to Texans

[edit]

After Brett Hartmann was placed on IR, the Texans re-signed Matt Turk. He said it was a "dream come true" to return to the team.

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

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Year Team GP Punting
Punts Yds Avg Lng Blk
1995 WAS 16 74 3,140 42.4 60 0
1996 WAS 16 75 3,386 45.1 63 0
1997 WAS 16 84 3,788 45.1 62 1
1998 WAS 16 93 4,103 44.1 69 1
1999 WAS 14 62 2,564 41.4 57 0
2000 MIA 16 92 3,870 42.1 70 0
2001 MIA 16 81 3,321 41.0 77 0
2002 NYJ 16 63 2,584 41.0 65 0
2003 MIA 13 68 2,631 38.7 57 0
2004 MIA 16 98 4,088 41.7 67 0
2005 MIA 0 Did not play due to injury
2006 STL 16 72 3,132 43.5 74 1
2007 HOU 16 55 2,296 41.7 59 0
2008 HOU 16 53 2,240 42.3 59 0
2009 HOU 16 67 2,866 42.8 62 0
2010 HOU 16 63 2,650 42.1 60 0
2011 JAX 5 27 1,072 39.7 65 0
HOU 4 16 683 42.7 55 0
Career 244 1,143 48,414 42.4 77 3

Postseason

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Year Team GP Punting
Punts Yds Avg Lng Blk
1999 WAS 2 12 499 41.6 52 0
2000 MIA 2 9 343 38.1 51 0
2001 MIA 1 5 237 47.4 52 0
2002 NYJ 2 4 137 34.3 39 0
2011 HOU 2 10 451 45.1 56 0
Career 9 40 1,667 41.7 56 0

Personal life

[edit]

Turk currently lives in Houston, Texas. He has a wife, Stephanie, and his three daughters.[16]

The youngest of six brothers,[17] Matt Turk had a brother who also played in the NFL, Dan Turk, who was a center for 15 seasons; Dan died on December 24, 2000. In his last season, Dan was the long snapper for one of Matt's punts, to become the first brothers to do so.[18]

His nephew, Ben Turk, was the starting punter for the University of Notre Dame for the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons.[19] Ben Turk worked out for the Texans' rookie mini camp in the 2013 off season, but didn't sign.[20] Another of Matt's nephews, Michael Turk was a punter for Arizona State, and transferred to Oklahoma in 2021.[21] In April 2023, after going undrafted Michael Turk was signed by one of his uncles former teams, the Miami Dolphins before getting cut.

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Matthew Edward Turk (born June 16, 1968) is an American former professional football punter who played 16 seasons in the () from 1995 to 2011. Standing at 6 feet 5 inches (1.96 m) and weighing 251 pounds (114 kg), Turk began his career as an undrafted free agent signed by the in 1993 after playing at the , where he earned all-conference honors in 1988 and 1990. Turk appeared in 244 regular-season games across multiple teams, including the Washington Redskins (1995–1999), (2000–2001, 2003–2004), (2002), (2006), Houston Texans (2007–2011), and (2011). His career highlights include three selections in 1996, 1997, and 1998, as well as First-Team honors in 1996 and Second-Team recognition in 1997 and 1998. Over his tenure, Turk punted 1,143 times for 48,414 yards, averaging 42.4 yards per punt, and he appeared in five playoff games. Known for his consistency and leg strength, Turk's longevity in the league—often a position dominated by younger players—made him one of the most durable punters of his era.

Early life

High school career

Matt Turk was born on June 16, 1968, in , as the youngest of six brothers raised in the suburb. The family emphasized football from an early age, with the brothers spending hours in the front yard practicing skills such as kicking and long snapping, often guided by their older siblings. Turk's father, Tony, worked as a supervisor of city delivery for Pabst Brewing Co. Turk graduated from Greenfield High School in 1986. There, he played football for the school's Hustlin' Hawks team, serving as the punter. His involvement in punting dated back to pee-wee leagues and continued throughout high school, where he handled kickoffs and punts. As a senior, the team operated with a small roster of just 17 players. Following high school, Turk transitioned to at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.

College career

Matt Turk was a member of the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater football team from 1987 to 1990. He played as a punter, , and linebacker, recording a career punting average of 36.3 yards over 110 punts. During his collegiate tenure, Turk earned All-Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) honors in 1988 and 1990, contributing to the Warhawks' WIAC championship victories in 1988 and 1990. Turk graduated with a in elementary in 1993. Prior to entering the NFL, he gained semi-pro with the Racine Raiders, where he played .

Professional career

Undrafted free agent and early attempts (1993–1994)

After going undrafted in the following a standout college career at the , where he punted for an average of 36.3 yards, Matt Turk signed as a with the after a mid-July tryout he secured through persistent calls and letters to every team's personnel department. He appeared in one preseason game, recording a single 50-yard punt, but was released four days later as the Packers retained veteran punter Bryan Wagner. The following year, Turk attended training camp with the in hopes of earning a roster spot but was released prior to the regular season. As an undrafted punter emerging from a Division III program, Turk encountered substantial challenges in breaking into the , where competition for specialist roles was fierce and opportunities for non-drafted players were limited without the visibility of major college conferences. His proactive efforts to contact teams highlighted the perseverance required for overlooked prospects to even secure tryouts. These early setbacks persisted until 1995, when he signed with the Washington Redskins and finally made an roster.

Washington Redskins (1995–1999)

Turk signed with the Washington as an undrafted on April 5, 1995, securing a spot on the roster and establishing himself as the team's starting punter for the next five seasons. In his debut year, Turk handled 74 punts for 3,140 yards, averaging 42.4 yards per punt, contributing to a defense that ranked among the league's better units in field position control. Turk's performance peaked in 1996, when he punted 75 times for 3,386 yards at a 45.1-yard average, earning First-team honors and his first selection. He maintained elite production in 1997 with 84 punts for 3,788 yards (45.1 average) and another nod, followed by 93 punts for 4,103 yards (44.1 average) in 1998, securing his third consecutive appearance. These seasons highlighted his consistency and ability to flip the field, often pinning opponents deep in their territory. In 1999, Turk managed 62 punts for 2,564 yards (41.4 average) despite injury setbacks, including a broken finger and back spasms that sidelined him for multiple games. reached the that year, where Turk contributed 12 punts for 499 yards across two games. Following the 1999 season, tensions arose over Turk's injuries and contract terms, leading to trade him to the on March 9, 2000. The dispute centered on the team's skepticism regarding the origin of his finger injury, which Turk denied stemmed from off-field activities like , prompting his public request for release earlier that offseason.
YearTeamPuntsYardsAverage (yds)Accolades
1995WAS743,14042.4-
1996WAS753,38645.1First-team ,
1997WAS843,78845.1
1998WAS934,10344.1
1999WAS622,56441.4-
Note: Statistics sourced from Pro-Football-Reference.com.

First stint with the Miami Dolphins (2000–2001)

Following the 1999 season, Matt Turk was traded from the Washington Redskins to the on March 9, 2000, in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in the . This move brought the veteran punter, who had earned three selections during his time with , to a Dolphins team seeking stability in its special teams unit. In his first season with , Turk appeared in all 16 games, handling punting duties with 92 punts for 3,870 yards, averaging 42.1 yards per punt. His consistent performance contributed to the Dolphins' strong field position game, helping the team achieve an 11-5 record and secure a wild-card berth in the , where they faced the in the AFC wild-card round. Turk punted nine times for 343 yards in that postseason matchup, averaging 38.1 yards per attempt. Turk returned for the 2001 season, punting 81 times for 3,321 yards across 16 games, with an average of 41.0 yards per punt. Despite the Dolphins finishing 11-5 again but missing the , Turk's reliability in pinning opponents deep remained a key asset to the team's defensive-oriented strategy. In the 2002 offseason, the Dolphins chose not to re-sign Turk as a , opting instead to pursue veteran punter Mark Royals.

New York Jets (2002)

Following his two seasons with the , Matt Turk signed with the as a on April 23, 2002, to a multi-year contract. During the , Turk served as the Jets' punter, appearing in all 16 games. He recorded 63 punts for 2,584 yards, averaging 41.0 yards per punt, with a net average of 34.9 yards after returns and touchbacks. His performance was solid but unremarkable, lacking standout moments or major injuries that impacted his play. The Jets released Turk on March 7, 2003, as they restructured their special teams unit.

Second stint with the Miami Dolphins (2003–2004)

Following his release from the after the 2002 season, Matt Turk re-signed with the on September 29, 2003, to a one-year , replacing punter Mark Royals who had struggled early in the season. This marked Turk's return to the team where he had previously played from 2000 to 2001, providing stability to the special teams unit amid Miami's competitive 2003 campaign. In 2003, Turk appeared in 13 regular-season games for the Dolphins, recording 68 punts for 2,631 yards with a gross average of 38.7 yards per punt and a net average of 34.5 yards. His performance included 23 punts inside the 20-yard line (33.8% rate) and a longest punt of 57 yards, contributing to field position advantages during Miami's push to a 10-6 record and an AFC wild-card playoff berth. In the wild-card playoff loss to the Tennessee Titans, Turk punted five times for 237 yards, averaging 47.4 yards per punt, helping to manage possession in a 20-14 defeat. Turk remained with the Dolphins in , playing all 16 games and delivering 98 punts for 4,088 yards, achieving a career-high gross average of 41.7 yards per punt and a net average of 37.2 yards. He placed 29 punts inside the 20-yard line (29.6% rate), with 10 touchbacks and a longest punt of 67 yards, supporting Miami's defense despite the team's 4-12 finish. Turk's tenure ended abruptly when he suffered a strain during the 2005 preseason, leading to his placement on injured reserve and causing him to miss the entire season. The Dolphins released him on October 12, 2005, while he was still on injured reserve.

St. Louis Rams (2006)

Following his recovery from a injury that sidelined him for the entire , Matt Turk signed a one-year contract with the on April 4, . In , Turk served as the Rams' primary punter, appearing in all 16 regular-season games and recording 72 punts for 3,132 yards, an average of 43.5 yards per punt. His performance provided reliable field position for the defense, with 26 punts landing inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The concluded the season with an 8-8 record, finishing second in the but missing the , which meant Turk had no postseason opportunities. Turk's contract expired after the season, and the did not re-sign him amid broader roster changes aimed at rebuilding the special teams unit; instead, they pursued and signed punter to a five-year, $5.585 million deal on April 12, 2007.

First stint with the Houston Texans (2007–2010)

The Houston Texans signed veteran punter Matt Turk on July 23, 2007, as an unrestricted to compete with incumbent Chad Stanley during . Turk, who had recently spent a season with the , brought extensive experience to the position and ultimately won the starting role after Stanley was released on August 31, 2007, following a competitive preseason. Turk handled all punting duties for the remainder of the 2007 season, appearing in 16 games with 55 punts averaging 41.7 yards. Turk's reliable performance led to a re-signing with the Texans in March 2008. In the 2008 season, he remained the consistent starter, playing all 16 games and recording 53 punts with a 42.3-yard average. The following year, 2009, Turk set a personal high in volume during another full 16-game slate, punting 67 times for a 42.8-yard average while contributing to the team's special teams efforts. Entering the final year of his contract, Turk re-signed with on a one-year deal in March 2010. He continued as the primary punter through all 16 games that season, delivering 63 punts at a 42.1-yard average. Despite his steady contributions over four seasons—without earning any selections during this period—the Texans opted not to re-sign him in the 2011 offseason, allowing him to enter free agency.

Jacksonville Jaguars and second stint with the Houston Texans (2011)

On July 28, 2011, Matt Turk signed a one-year contract with the , marking his first stint with the team. At age 43, Turk competed for the punting job during and secured the role as the team's primary punter heading into the season. Turk appeared in the Jaguars' first five games of the season, handling punting duties in each contest amid a struggling offense that often put the special teams unit in high-volume situations. His performance was inconsistent, with gross punting averages dropping from 43.6 yards per punt in Week 1 to 37.7 yards in Week 5, reflecting challenges with hang time and directional kicking that allowed opponents favorable field position. Over those five games, Turk recorded 27 punts for 1,072 yards, averaging 39.7 yards gross and 32.8 yards net, with only 25.9% inside the 20-yard line. On October 11, , the Jaguars released Turk after his underwhelming start, replacing him with veteran punter Nick Harris to stabilize the position. After a nearly two-month hiatus, Turk rejoined the Houston Texans on December 7, 2011, signing to fill in following punter Brett Hartmann's placement on injured reserve with a torn left knee ligament sustained in Week 13. In his second stint with the team, Turk played the final four regular-season games (Weeks 14–17), contributing to Houston's push for the with more reliable punting. He logged 16 punts for 683 yards, achieving a 42.7-yard gross average and 37.4-yard net average, including 25.0% inside the 20-yard line. Turk also appeared in two postseason games for the Texans, punting 10 times for 451 yards (45.1 average). Combining his efforts across both teams, Turk's 2011 regular-season totals stood at 43 punts for 1,755 yards, with a 40.8-yard gross average and 34.5-yard net average in nine games. Following the Texans' playoff loss to the on January 15, 2012, the 43-year-old Turk announced his retirement from the , concluding an 18-year career as one of the league's most durable punters.
TeamGamesPuntsGross YardsGross AvgNet YardsNet AvgInside 20
5271,07239.788532.87 (25.9%)
Houston Texans41668342.759937.44 (25.0%)
Total9431,75540.81,48434.511 (25.6%)

Career statistics and accolades

Regular season statistics

Matt Turk appeared in 244 regular-season games during his career from 1995 to 2011, punting 1,143 times for a total of 48,414 yards with an average of 42.4 yards per punt. He recorded a career-long punt of 77 yards and blocked three punts, while placing 373 punts inside the opponent's 20-yard line. The following table details his regular-season punting statistics by year, including games played, punts, total yards, average, longest punt, blocks, and punts inside the 20-yard line.
YearTeamGPntYdsAvgLngBlckI20
1995WAS16743,14042.460029
1996WAS16753,38645.163024
1997WAS16843,78845.162132
1998WAS16934,10344.169133
1999WAS14622,56441.457016
2000MIA16923,87042.170025
2001MIA16813,32141.077028
2002NYJ16632,58441.065013
2003MIA13682,63138.757023
2004MIA16984,08841.767029
2006STL16723,13243.574126
2007HOU16552,29641.759024
2008HOU16532,24042.359017
2009HOU16672,86642.862024
2010HOU16632,65042.160019
20112TM9431,75540.865011
Career-2441,14348,41442.4773373
Turk's punting average showed a peak in the late 1990s, reaching 45.1 yards per punt in both 1996 and 1997, which aligned with his selections in those years as well as 1998. His averages remained consistently above 41 yards per punt for most seasons after 2003, reflecting sustained performance into his later career years.

Postseason statistics

Matt Turk appeared in the postseason five times during his career, with the Washington Redskins in 1999, the in 2000 and 2001, the in 2002, and the Houston Texans in 2011, accumulating 40 punts for 1,667 yards across nine playoff games. His postseason punting average was 41.7 yards per punt, reflecting solid but unremarkable performance in limited opportunities compared to his regular-season consistency. Turk's playoff contributions included no touchbacks and limited pinning inside the 20-yard line, as those metrics were not comprehensively tracked in earlier seasons, with no recorded touchdowns allowed on returns. Key games highlighted his variability: in the 1999 Wild Card win over the , he punted four times for 162 yards (40.5 average); during the subsequent NFC Divisional loss to the , he set a career-high eight punts for 337 yards (42.1 average). In 2000 with Miami, he averaged 46.0 yards across three punts in the Wild Card win against the , but dropped to 34.2 in the AFC Divisional loss to the with six punts for 205 yards. Later appearances showed similar range. Turk's five punts in the 2001 Wild Card loss to the yielded 237 yards (47.4 average), his postseason high. With the Jets in 2002, he managed only four punts over two games, totaling 137 yards (34.3 average), including a low 29.5 average in the Wild Card shutout win over . His final postseason in 2011 featured ten punts for 451 yards (45.1 average) across Houston's Wild Card win and Divisional loss, with a standout 50.2 average on five punts in the Wild Card victory against the .
YearTeamGamePuntsYardsAvg.
1999WASWild Card vs. DET (W)416240.5
1999WASDivisional @ TAM (L)833742.1
2000MIAWild Card vs. IND (W)313846.0
2000MIADivisional @ (L)620534.2
2001MIAWild Card vs. BAL (L)523747.4
2002NYJWild Card vs. IND (W)25929.5
2002NYJDivisional @ (L)27839.0
2011HOUWild Card vs. CIN (W)525150.2
2011HOUDivisional @ BAL (L)520040.0
Total-9 games401,66741.7

Awards and honors

During his tenure with the Washington Redskins, Matt Turk earned significant recognition as one of the NFL's premier punters. He was selected to the First-team by the in 1996, following a standout season with a career-high 45.1-yard punting average. He was also named Second-Team in 1997 and 1998. Turk also appeared in three consecutive Pro Bowls from 1996 to 1998, all representing the , highlighting his consistent excellence in field position strategy and hang time. These selections were determined through a combination of player, coach, and fan voting, emphasizing his ability to flip the field effectively during those peak years, where he maintained averages above 44 yards per punt. The All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors solidified Turk's reputation as a top-tier specialist in the late 1990s, though he did not receive other major individual accolades such as MVP or team-specific awards beyond these.

Personal life and legacy

Family

Matt Turk is married to Stephanie Turk. The couple has three daughters. Turk is the youngest of six brothers, and his family played a significant role in shaping his athletic development, with his older brother Dan leading the way by being the first to attend college on a football scholarship and providing guidance throughout Matt's career. Dan Turk was an NFL center and long snapper who played from 1985 to 1999 for the Pittsburgh Steelers (1985–1986), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1987–1988), Los Angeles/Oakland Raiders (1989–1996), and Washington Redskins (1997–1999). In 1996, during their time with the Redskins, Dan snapped for Matt in one game, marking the first instance of a brother-to-brother long snapper-punter combination in NFL history. Dan died in 2000 at age 38 after an eight-month battle with testicular cancer. Turk's nephews have carried on the family's NFL kicking legacy. Ben Turk, son of one of Matt's brothers, was the starting punter for the from 2010 to 2013 and briefly signed with the in 2018. Another nephew, , played as a punter at and the ; he signed with the as an undrafted free agent in 2023 but was waived in August 2023.

Post-NFL activities

After retiring from the following the 2011 season, Matt Turk concluded a 16-season professional career that spanned six teams and established him as one of the league's longest-tenured punters. In 2018, Turk was inducted into the Hall of Fame. He settled in , a suburb of , where he has resided since ending his playing days. Turk holds a from the , though no public records indicate he or roles after . There are no reports of significant involvement in community or charitable work tied to football, nor has he engaged in major public ventures or media appearances in the years since. Turk's legacy endures as a durable specialist who averaged 42.4 yards per punt over his career, earned First Team honors in 1996, and made three appearances (1996, 1997, 1998), all while overcoming undrafted free agent status to become the oldest active player in the at age 43 during his final season. His post-career life in the area aligns with the family residence established during his multiple stints with the Texans.

References

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