Highlighted Year: Rick Donnelly, 1985

Punter, Atlanta Falcons

Age: 23

1^st season in pro football

College: Wyoming

Height: 6’0”   Weight: 184

Prelude:

Donnelly was a placekicker and punter in college who averaged 47.5 yards on 63 punts as a senior in 1984 while also connecting on all 30 of his extra point attempts and three of six field goals. Undrafted by the NFL, Donnelly signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent in ’85 but, unable to unseat Rich Camarillo, was picked up by the Falcons. His rookie season ended prematurely due to a knee injury.

1985 Season Summary

Appeared in 11 of 16 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate league rank in Top 20]

Punting

Punts – 59

Most punts, game – 7 at Philadelphia 11/10

Yards – 2574

Average – 43.6 [3, 1^st in NFC]

Best average, game – 52.1 (on 7 punts) at Philadelphia 11/10

Punts blocked – 0

Longest punt – 68 yards

Rushing

Attempts – 2

Yards – -5

Average gain – -2.5

TDs – 0

Falcons went 4-12 to finish fourth in the NFC West.

Aftermath:

Donnelly spent three more seasons with the Falcons and led the NFL with a 44.0 average in the strike-interrupted 1987 season. His hang time improved in ’88, but a back injury cost him the entire 1989 season. While he returned with the Seattle Seahawks in 1990 and averaged 40.6 yards on 67punts, he was placed on injured reserve three games into the ’91 season and further back surgery ended his career. Overall, Donnelly averaged 42.1 yards on 376 punts, with 296 of those punts for a 42.6-yard average coming with the Falcons. He was twice a second-team All-NFC choice by UPI.

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Highlighted Years features players who were first-team All-League* selections or league* or conference** leaders in the following statistical categories:

Rushing: Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Passing: Yards, Completion Pct., Yards per Attempt, TDs, Rating

Receiving: Catches, Yards, TDs (min. 10)

Scoring: TDs, Points, Field Goals (min. 5)

All-Purpose: Total Yards

Defense: Interceptions, Sacks

Kickoff Returns: Average

Punt Returns: Average

Punting: Average

*Leagues include NFL (1920 to date), AFL (1926), AFL (1936-37), AAFC (1946-49), AFL (1960-69), WFL (1974-75), USFL (1983-85)

**NFC/AFC since 1970