<p>It’s a moment I’ve been waiting years for. While Corliss Waitman has plenty of work to do, he could end the season holding a Pittsburgh Steelers record. In this modern era and golden age of specialists, the Steelers have a long-standing record. The record-holder for highest gross punting average for a season occurred in 1961 when Bobby Joe Green – the Steelers’ </p><div class="in-article-ad"><div align="center" class="adsconex-banner" data-ad-placement="banner1" data-google-query-id="CNq_wMG6k5ADFRNXDwId-rUkqg" id="ub-banner1" style="display:block !important"></div></div><em>other </em>“Joe Green” – set the record, averaging 47.0 yards per boot. It’s a mark that still stands atop the podium today.
<p><img alt="" class="lazy-img" height="240" src="https://f50d772ec1e2a4347264-964b3324d77f313a724faa237152e95f.ssl.cf2.rackcdn.com/stories/202008250070/1140x_a10-7_cTC/2020821pdSteelers05_1749802605.jpg" width="360"/></p>
<p>Here’s the current leaderboard for an entire season (minimum 20 punts).</p><div class="in-article-ad"><div class="adsconex-banner-parallax" data-ad-placement="banner20" id="div_ub_inpage20"><div class="ubparallax_wrapper" id="ubparallax_wrapper" style=""><div class="ubparallax_ad-wrapper"><div align="center" class="ubparallax_ad" data-google-query-id="COO_wMG6k5ADFRNXDwId-rUkqg" id="ub-parallax" style="display: none;"></div></div></div></div></div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Player (Year)</th>
<th>Gross Average</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Bobby Joe Green (1961)</td>
<td>47.0</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pat Brady (1953)</td>
<td>46.9</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Corliss Waitman (2024)</td>
<td>46.4</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Daniel Sepulveda (2011)</td>
<td>46.1*</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Jordan Berry (2020)</td>
<td>45.8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><em>*Sepulveda played in just eight games due to injury</em></p><div class="in-article-ad"><div align="center" class="adsconex-banner" data-ad-placement="banner2" data-google-query-id="CNu_wMG6k5ADFRNXDwId-rUkqg" id="ub-banner2" style="display: none;"></div></div><p></p>
<p>Through four games, Waitman sports a 48.4-yard average. Nearly 1.5 yards better than that 1961 mark. Now, the question will be if that number holds. Averages tend to decrease the longer a season rolls on. Weather is a factor, especially in Pittsburgh. Cold, wind, and snow don’t mix well with booming punts. Fatigue is also a consideration. Though it’s worth mentioning, Waitman’s numbers in the winter months are similar to September and October’s production.</p><div class="in-article-ad">
</div>
<p>To put what Waitman could do in perspective, most teams set and reset punting records every season. Numbers at those positions naturally get better. Below are the longest active streaks for gross punting average.</p><div class="in-article-ad"><div align="center" class="adsconex-banner" data-ad-placement="banner3" data-google-query-id="CNy_wMG6k5ADFRNXDwId-rUkqg" id="ub-banner3" style="display: none;"></div></div>
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<th>Team</th>
<th>Player Year</th>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Washington Redskins</td>
<td>Sammy Baugh (1940)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Pittsburgh Steelers</td>
<td>Bobby Joe Green (1961)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>St. Louis Rams</td>
<td>Donnie Jones (2008)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Las Vegas Raiders</td>
<td>Shane Lechler (2009)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>Denver Broncos</td>
<td>Britton Colquitt (2011)<div class="in-article-ad"><div class="adsconex-banner-parallax" data-ad-placement="banner21" id="div_ub_inpage21"><div class="ubparallax_wrapper" id="ubparallax_wrapper" style=""><div class="ubparallax_ad-wrapper"><div align="center" class="ubparallax_ad" data-google-query-id="COS_wMG6k5ADFRNXDwId-rUkqg" id="ub-parallax1" style="display: none;"></div></div></div></div></div></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>San Francisco 49ers</td>
<td>Andy Lee (2011)</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>Only Pittsburgh and Washington’s top marks are from the last century. Every other team has set theirs since Mike Tomlin became the Steelers’ head coach. Sammy Baugh still holds the Redskins/Commanders record, a Hall of Famer who held the NFL record until Ryan Stonehouse in 2022. To prove this point, Baugh’s mark has been surpassed five times since then. There’s no shame in Washington’s mark still standing.</p><div class="in-article-ad"><div align="center" class="adsconex-banner" data-ad-placement="banner4" data-google-query-id="CN2_wMG6k5ADFRNXDwId-rUkqg" id="ub-banner4" style="display: none;"></div></div>
<p>Pittsburgh’s? Different story. Consider this. From 1962-2024, there have been 144 instances of a punter (minimum 30 attempts) finishing above 47 yards per punt. Not once has it happened to the Steelers. Waitman might be the team’s best chance to break it. He came close a year ago. Now, 2025 might be his time to etch his name into the record books. Hopefully, it won’t stand for the more than 60 years Bobby Joe Green’s record has.</p><div class="in-article-ad"><div align="center" class="adsconex-banner" data-ad-placement="banner5" data-google-query-id="CN6_wMG6k5ADFRNXDwId-rUkqg" id="ub-banner5" style="display: none;"></div></div><div style="margin-top: 40px; padding-top: 40px; border-top: 1px solid #edeff2cf;"><h2 style="margin-top: 0;">Ex-Red Sox pitcher has chance to send team to NLCS with Game 3 start</h2><div class="recommended-thumbnail" style="margin: 15px 0;"><img alt="" class="lazy-img" data-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/aS60dwrkT_Lqa_I907R3mA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD04MDE7Y2Y9d2VicA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/masslive_articles_390/b431fffe8d7c6c48d2d474765141c812" height="240" width="360"/></div><div class="recommended-wrapper"><p id="LGENH7O7DNEQNGFX4FZWCKWUEA">The Milwaukee Brewers are one win away from advancing to the National League Championship Series.</p>
<p><img alt="" class="lazy-img" data-src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/aS60dwrkT_Lqa_I907R3mA–/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTEyMDA7aD04MDE7Y2Y9d2VicA–/https://media.zenfs.com/en/masslive_articles_390/b431fffe8d7c6c48d2d474765141c812" height="240" width="360"/></p>
<p id="6TFHL3X3LBDPRO3RXI5ZOIJTWY">And they’ll call upon a former Boston Red Sox pitcher to make the Game 3 start against the Chicago Cubs.</p><div class="in-article-ad"><div class="js_adsconex_block" data-ad-placement-id="71383" data-site-type="metaconex" data-type="ad_block" id="related-content-block-metaconex"><div class="adsconex-header" style="display: flex; justify-content: space-between; align-items: center; padding-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(233, 230, 230);">
<h3 style="font-size: 17px;margin-bottom: 0;">May you like</h3>
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<p id="RNHY2QVKSVDP7CV2TCQJWKJQHM">Quinn Priester was named Wednesday’s starter after Milwaukee’s Game 2 win over the Cubs that put the Brewers up 2-0 in the NL Division Series.</p>
<p id="OUMYL53ZSZFGDBIQSB6JUVJGC4">After taking the first two games at home, Milwaukee will try sweep Chicago at Wrigley Field.</p><div class="in-article-ad"><div align="center" class="adsconex-banner" data-ad-placement="banner6" data-google-query-id="CN-_wMG6k5ADFRNXDwId-rUkqg" id="ub-banner6" style="display: none;"></div></div>
<p id="BNGQCORQTJC3LLKHKTYCYKARAQ">Priester, in his first season with Milwaukee, went 13-3 this season for the Brewers with a 3.32 ERA, 1.239 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 157⅓ innings pitched.</p>
<p id="HUAG4VZYNJBYPKPCTVYUICASYU">The Red Sox surprisingly traded Priester in April — about eight months after they acquired the right-hander from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Hindsight is always 20/20, but the Red Sox certainly would have benefited from having Priester — especially with the several injuries and struggles Boston faced with its pitchers throughout the season.</p><div class="in-article-ad"><div align="center" class="adsconex-banner" data-ad-placement="banner7" data-google-query-id="COC_wMG6k5ADFRNXDwId-rUkqg" id="ub-banner7" style="display: none;"></div></div>
<p id="HTMPMJ4NXFCORER5WDN3ATQAQU">Now Priester will get a chance to continue the Brewers’ dream season with a tripe to the NLCS within reach.</p></div></div>