Catching an NFL Punt isn’t as Easy as it Looks

Not much is said or written about punt returners. That’s unfortunate, because catching punts isn’t nearly as easy as it looks.

The problem with punt returns is tracking the ball. Some punts go 35 yards. Others go 65 yards. A punt can go left or right. Then, add in the sun and shadows in day games. Or add the sky and bright lights in night games. Sometimes, it’s raining or snowing. Then, there’s the wind which can play havoc with predicting where the ball will land. I didn’t realize just how difficult catching a punt is until I tried it myself.

A few years ago, I was on the field at a special invite-only event held by the New York Jets. We threw passes, kicked field goals, and played catch. Really cool stuff. One of the “experiences” was also trying to field a punt return. That didn’t go so well.

Here’s a short video of what happened: