Bradley Pinion
Bradley Alexander Pinion is an American professional football punter and kickoff specialist for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. He played college football for the Clemson Tigers and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round of the 2015 NFL draft. Pinion has also played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Early life
Pinion attended Northwest Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina. He committed to Clemson University to play college football.College career
Pinion played college football at Clemson from 2012 to 2014 under head coach Dabo Swinney.As a freshman in 2012, Pinion only appeared in five games with teammate Spencer Benton doing a majority of the work that season. On September 8, Pinion made his collegiate debut in the 52β27 win over Ball State. In the game, he had three punts for 117 yards. Overall, in the 2012 season, Pinion recorded nine punts for 355 yards.
As a sophomore in 2013, Pinion became the main punter for the Tigers. That season, he handled the punting duties for all but three attempts, which went to Ammon Lakip and Andy Teasdall. In the season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs, Pinion had a season-high seven punts for a season-high 287 yards. In the next game, against South Carolina State, he had four punts for 195 yards for a season-high 48.8 average. Overall, in the 2013 season, Pinion had 56 punts for 2,205 yards for a 39.4 average.
As a junior in 2014, Pinion continued his role as the main punter for the Tigers. That season, he handled all but one punt, which went to Andy Teasdall. Pinion attempted and converted three extra points on the season. During the season opener against the Georgia Bulldogs, Pinion had a season-high 10 punts for a season-high 451 yards. In two consecutive games in October, against Louisville and Boston College, he recorded games with 10 punts in each contest with 419 and 418 net punting yards respectively. On November 6, against Wake Forest, Pinion punted thrice for 147 net yards for a season-high 49.0 average. In his final collegiate game, against the Oklahoma Sooners in the Russell Athletic Bowl, Pinion recorded five punts for 217 yards. Throughout his junior season, teammates referred to Pinion as "the steering column" for his remarkable control over the direction of his punts. Pinion elected to forgo his senior season and decided to enter the NFL draft.
Professional career
San Francisco 49ers
2015 season
Pinion was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fifth round, 165th overall, of the 2015 NFL draft. He was the only punter to be selected in the draft that year.During the season-opening 20β3 over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football, Pinion punted thrice for 140 yards in his NFL debut. During a Week 7 20β3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday Night Football, Pinion had a season-high nine punts for 390 yards. He tied his season-high nine punts in the next game against the St. Louis Rams, punting for 412 yards during the 27β6 road loss. The following week the Atlanta Falcons, Pinion recorded five punts for 241 net yards for a season-high 48.20 average in the narrow 17β16 victory. During a Week 13 26β20 overtime road victory over the Chicago Bears, he had nine punts for a season-high 433 yards.
Pinion finished his rookie season with 91 punts for 3,969 yards for a 43.62 average.
2016 season
Pinion began his second NFL season with very similar statistics in the first three games. During the season-opening 28β0 shutout victory over the Los Angeles Rams, he recorded seven punts for 319 yards. In the next game against the Carolina Panthers, Pinion had seven punts for 318 yards during the 46β27 road loss. The following week against the Seattle Seahawks, he punted seven times for 319 yards in the 37β18 road loss.During a Week 5 33β21 loss the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football, Pinion had seven punts for 349 yards for a season-high 49.86 average. During a narrow Week 16 22β21 road victory over the Rams, Pinion recorded a season-high nine punts for a season-high 372 net yards.
Pinion finished his second professional season with 100 punts for 4,402 yards and a 44.02 average in 2016. His 100 punts led the league in attempts.
2017 season
Pinion remained as the 49ers' punter going into his third professional season. During a Week 4 18β15 overtime road loss to the Cardinals, he punted seven times for 351 yards for a season-high 50.14 average. During a Week 8 33β10 road loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Pinion had eight punts for a season-high 364 yards. During a Week 12 24β13 loss to the Seahawks, he recorded a season-high nine punts for 342 yards.Pinion finished the 2017 season with a then career-low 75 punts for 3,255 yards for a 43.4 average.
2018 season
During the season-opening 24β16 road loss to the Vikings, Pinion recorded four punts for 174 yards. During a Week 8 18β15 road loss to the Cardinals, he had a season-high seven punts for a season-high 285 yards. In the next game against the Oakland Raiders on Thursday Night Football, Pinion punted thrice for 164 yards for a season-high 54.7 average, including a season-long 64-yard punt, during the 34β3 blowout victory. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the Raiders.Pinion finished the 2018 season with a then career-low 68 punts for 2,973 yards for a 43.7 average.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2019 season
On March 13, 2019, Pinion signed a four-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.Pinion made his Buccaneers debut during the season-opening 31β17 loss to his former team, the San Francisco 49ers, punting twice for 42 yards. In the next game against the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football, Pinion recorded a season-high six punts for a season-high 295 yards and a season-high 49.17 average during the 20β14 road victory. Three weeks later against the New Orleans Saints, he had six punts for 263 yards in the 31β24 road loss. In the next game against the Panthers in London, Pinion recorded similar statistics, tying his season-high of six punts for 267 yards during the 37β26 loss.
Pinion finished the 2019 season with a then career-low 57 punts for 2,464 yards for a 43.23 average.
2020 season
During the season-opening 34β23 road loss to the Saints, Pinion recorded a season-high five punts for 236 yards. Two weeks later against the Denver Broncos, he tied his season-high of five punts for 219 yards in the 28β10 road victory. In the next game against the Los Angeles Chargers, Pinion punted thrice for 171 yards for a season-high 57.0 average during the 38β31 comeback victory.During a Week 6 38β10 victory over the Green Bay Packers, Pinion tied his season-high of five punts for 192 yards. During a Week 11 27β24 loss to the Rams on Monday Night Football, Pinion tied his season-high of five punts again for a season-high 245 yards. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on December 15, and was activated three days later. In his first game back, Pinion tied his season-high of five punts for 209 yards during a 31β27 comeback victory over the Falcons.
Pinion finished the 2020 season with a then career-low 55 punts for 2,486 yards for a 45.2 average. The Buccaneers finished second in the NFC South with a 10β6 record and qualified for the playoffs. Pinion made his postseason debut during the Wild Card Round against the [Washington American football|football team|Washington Football Team], recording three punts for 127 yards in the 31β23 road victory. In the Divisional Round against the Saints, he had four punts for 183 yards during the 30β20 road victory. During the NFC Championship Game against the Packers, Pinion punted twice for 80 yards in the 31β26 road victory. In Super Bowl LV against the Kansas City Chiefs, he recorded four punts for 150 yards during the 31β9 victory.
2021 season
During the narrow season-opening 31β29 victory over the Dallas Cowboys, Pinion recorded four punts for 197 yards and a season high 49.25 average, with three of them landing inside the 10-yard line. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance. During a Week 15 9β0 shutout loss to the Saints, Pinion had a season-high eight punts for 336 yards.Pinion finished the 2021 season with 56 punts for 2,378 yards for a 42.46 average. The Buccaneers finished atop the NFC South with a 13β4 record and qualified for the playoffs. During the Wild Card Round against the Philadelphia Eagles, Pinion had seven punts for 341 yards in the 31β15 victory. In the Divisional Round against the Rams, he recorded four punts for 212 yards during the 30β27 loss.
On June 22, 2022, Pinion was released by the Buccaneers.
Atlanta Falcons
2022 season
On June 30, 2022, Pinion signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons.During a Week 3 27β23 road victory over the Seahawks, Pinion recorded a career-long 73-yard punt. Two weeks later against his former team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pinion had a season-high six punts for a season-high 290 yards in the 21β15 road loss. He put up similar statistics during a Week 7 35β17 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, punting six times for 282 yards.
Pinion finished the 2022 season with 62 punts for 2,845 yards for a 42.46 average.
2023 season
On March 13, 2023, Pinion signed a three-year, $8.65 million contract extension with the Falcons.During the season-opening 24β10 victory over the Panthers, Pinion punted seven times for 337 yards. Two weeks later against the Detroit Lions, he recorded six punts for 295 yards in the 20β6 road loss. In the next game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Pinion had five punts for 271 yards and a season-high 54.2 average during the 23β7 road loss.
During a Week 8 27β23 road loss to the Tennessee Titans, Pinion punted six times for 305 yards. During a Week 13 13β8 road victory over the New York Jets, he recorded a season-high nine punts for a season-high 433 yards. In the regular season finale against the Saints, Pinion had five punts for 254 yards and a season-long 66-yard punt during the 48β17 road loss.
Pinion finished the 2023 season with 75 punts for 3,523 yards for a 46.97 average. He was named first team All-Pro by Pro Football Focus.
2024 season
During the season-opening 18β10 loss to the Steelers, Pinion had four punts for 210 yards. Two weeks later against the Chiefs on NBC Sunday Night Football, he punted thrice for 162 yards and a season-long 65-yard punt in the 22β17 loss. During a Week 15 15β9 road victory over the Las Vegas Raiders, Pinion recorded a season-high six punts for a season-high 265 yards.Pinion finished the 2024 season with a career-low 47 punts for 2,209 yards for a career-high 47.00 average.
Personal life
Pinion is married to Kaeleigh Pinion. He is a Christian.Pinion is also a supporter of Compassion International.