Pat McAfee spent eight seasons in the NFL, and people still search for his numbers every week. I went through his official stats, game logs, and league records to put together a clear view of his career.
I’ve covered NFL careers for years, and McAfee’s stat lines are some of the most fun to dig into. If you want real Pat McAfee stats in one place, this guide has them.
I cover his punting numbers, his best seasons, and the trick plays that made him famous. You’ll also find his team history with the Indianapolis Colts and why he decided to retire.
I checked every number against league sources, so you can trust what you read here. No guessing, no filler, just the numbers you came here to find.
By the end, you’ll know exactly how his career stacked up.
Pat McAfee Stats at a Glance
He played eight seasons as a punter for the Indianapolis Colts, from 2009 to 2016.
During that stretch, he built one of the best punting records of his generation, along with a reputation for trick plays, tackles, and a personality bigger than his position.
Below is a quick snapshot of his career totals, including his punting average, total yards, tackles, and awards. If you want more detail on any of these numbers, you’ll find full breakdowns later in this article.
Here are some quick Facts:
- Position: Punter / Kickoff Specialist
- Team: Indianapolis Colts (2009–2016)
- Games Played: 127
- Career Punting Average: 46.4 yards per punt
- Career Punting Yards: 26,653
- Longest Punt: 74 yards
- Career Tackles: 21 solo tackles, third most by a punter in NFL history
- Pro Bowls: 2 selections
- All-Pro: First-Team All-Pro in 2014
- Retired: February 2, 2017, after eight seasons
Pat McAfee Player Profile
These are the core bio numbers behind every Pat McAfee stats search. College, draft slot, and measurables, all in one place.
| Category | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Patrick Justin McAfee |
| Born | May 2, 1987, in Plum, Pennsylvania |
| Position | Punter and kickoff specialist |
| Height | 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) |
| Weight | 233 pounds (105 kg) |
| College | West Virginia University |
| NFL Draft | 2009 NFL Draft, 7th round, 222nd overall pick |
| NFL Team | Indianapolis Colts (only team) |
| Years Active | 2009–2016 (8 seasons) |
| Jersey Number | No. 1 |
| Nickname | The Boomstick |
| Life After NFL | Sports analyst and host of The Pat McAfee Show on ESPN |
Pat McAfee NFL Career Summary
Pat McAfee joined the NFL in 2009 as a seventh-round pick out of West Virginia, taken 222nd overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
He handled punting and kickoff duties from day one, along with holding for field goals, a role he had never played before.
Over eight seasons, he grew into one of the league’s most reliable punters, earning two Pro Bowl nods and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2014.
Coaches also used him as an emergency quarterback and on fake-punt trick plays. His leg strength and knack for tackling set him apart from most punters.
Multiple knee surgeries and a strained relationship with the Colts’ front office led him to retire in February 2017, right after his best statistical stretch.
Pat McAfee Stats by Season
Every number below comes from his official punting record with the Indianapolis Colts, from his rookie year in 2009 through his final season in 2016.
You’ll notice a clear pattern once you scan the table: his numbers climbed steadily, then peaked in his last two seasons.
His punt average reached a career-high 49.3 yards in 2016, his final year in the league. Use this table to compare any two seasons side by side, or to see exactly when his best statistical stretch happened.
| Season | Team | Games | Punts | Yards | Avg (Y/P) | Long | Inside 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | IND | 16 | 64 | 2,837 | 44.3 | 60 | 21 |
| 2010 | IND | 15 | 65 | 2,731 | 42.0 | 66 | 21 |
| 2011 | IND | 16 | 88 | 4,102 | 46.6 | 64 | 21 |
| 2012 | IND | 16 | 73 | 3,500 | 47.9 | 64 | 26 |
| 2013 | IND | 16 | 76 | 3,499 | 46.0 | 65 | 27 |
| 2014 | IND | 16 | 69 | 3,221 | 46.7 | 61 | 30 |
| 2015 | IND | 16 | 85 | 4,052 | 47.7 | 63 | 28 |
| 2016 | IND | 16 | 55 | 2,711 | 49.3 | 74 | 19 |
| Career (8 yrs) | IND | 127 | 575 | 26,653 | 46.4 | 74 | 193 |
A few things jump out here. His punt count dropped in 2016 even as his average hit a career high, which tells you he was kicking fewer punts but making each one count.
Pat McAfee’s Best Statistical Seasons
A few years stand out once you line up his season totals side by side. Here’s why these seasons matter more than the rest.
2014: His Best All-Around Season
The 2014 season is the one most experts cite first when looking at Pat McAfee’s stats. He earned his first Pro Bowl trip and made First-Team All-Pro, the top honor at his position.
His net punting average hit 42.8 yards, a Colts franchise record. He also pinned 30 punts inside the 20-yard line, another team record.
Net average matters more than gross yards because it accounts for return yardage. A high net number means the other team gained very little ground after the catch.
2016: His Highest Punting Average
I noticed something interesting when I compared his rookie season to his last one. In 2009, he averaged 44.3 yards per punt.
By 2016, that number climbed to 49.3 yards, a career high and a Colts franchise record. That same year, he also launched a 74-yard punt, the longest of his career. He made his second Pro Bowl that season, too.
Fewer punts overall, since the offense controlled the ball more, but every kick he did make counted for more yards than ever before.
2012: The Breakout Year
His numbers took a real jump in 2012. His net punting average rose to 40.3 yards, a big step up from the 37-39 range in his first three seasons.
He also pinned 26 punts inside the 20-yard line, five more than his previous best. This was the year he stopped just kicking for distance and started aiming for field position.
That shift set up the even better numbers he’d post in 2014. If you only check gross yards, you’d miss this improvement completely.
2015: The Busiest Season by Punt Count
2015 was one of his busiest years on the field. He punted 85 times for 4,052 yards, the second-most of his career behind his 2011 season.
A high punt count usually says more about the offense than the punter himself. When a team can’t move the ball or finish drives, the punter gets called on more often.
McAfee kept his average steady at 47.7 yards per punt despite the extra workload. That kind of consistency under a heavy load is worth noting when you scan the season-by-season table.
How to Judge a Punter’s Best Season
A common mistake is picking the season with the highest gross average and calling it his best year. That misses half the context. A strong punting season needs three things:
- A high net punting average
- A low touchback rate
- A high inside-20 percentage
My friend, who plays fantasy football, once picked 2016 as McAfee’s best year just because of the average. I pointed out that 2014 wins on net average and field position. Both years earn a spot, but for different reasons.
Pat McAfee’s Punting Numbers
His raw punting totals are the backbone of every Pat McAfee stats page you’ll find online. Here’s what each number actually measures and why it matters.
- Career Punts (575): He kicked 575 punts across eight seasons with the Colts, which ranks fourth in franchise history for total punts.
- Career Punting Yards (26,653): His punts covered 26,653 yards over his career, also placing him among the Colts’ top four all-time in this category.
- Gross Punting Average (46.4 Yards): This is raw distance per kick before any returns. It stands as the Colts franchise record for gross punting average and ranks among the best marks in NFL history.
- Net Punting Average (39.8 Yards): Net average subtracts return yardage to show real field-position impact. His career mark is the Colts franchise record for net punting average.
- Longest Punt (74 Yards): His career-long punt traveled 74 yards, a mark he set during his final season in 2016.
- Punts Inside the 20 (193): These are punts that pinned the other team deep in their own territory. The total ranks third in Colts franchise history.
- Inside-20 Percentage (33.6%): About one in three of his punts landed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, a strong field-position rate for any punter.
- Touchbacks (49): A touchback happens when a punt sails into the end zone, handing the offense the ball at the 20. His career touchback rate stayed low at 8.5%.
- Blocked Punts (4): Only 4 of his 575 career punts were blocked, showing consistent protection from his special teams unit.
Pat McAfee’s Passing, Rushing & Kickoff Stats
Although Pat McAfee was mainly a punter, he occasionally handled the ball on fake punts and trick plays. His career passing numbers are listed below.
| Passing Stat | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 127 |
| Pass Attempts | 2 |
| Completions | 1 |
| Completion Rate | 50 percent |
| Passing Yards | 35 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 17.5 |
| Longest Pass | 35 yards |
| Passing Touchdowns | 0 |
| Interceptions | 0 |
| Passing First Downs | 1 |
Rushing Stat
McAfee also recorded a small number of rushing attempts, mainly on special teams plays or fake punts.
| Rushing Stat | Career Total |
|---|---|
| Rushing Attempts | 2 |
| Rushing Yards | 18 |
| Yards Per Attempt | 9.0 |
| Longest Run | 18 yards |
| Rushing Touchdowns | 0 |
| Rushing First Downs | 1 |
| Fumbles | 0 |
Kickoff Stat
Kickoffs were a much bigger part of McAfee’s role. His strong leg helped Indianapolis limit returns and regularly start opponents deep in their own territory.
| Kickoff Stat | Total |
|---|---|
| Career Kickoff Touchbacks | 350 |
| 2015 Kickoff Attempts | 74 |
| 2015 Touchbacks | 67 |
| 2015 Touchback Rate | 90.5 percent |
| Colts Career Touchback Record at Retirement | 350 |
McAfee finished with one completed pass for 35 yards, 18 rushing yards, and a Colts-record 350 career kickoff touchbacks. These extra numbers show that his value went beyond regular punting duties.
Pat McAfee’s Indianapolis Colts Team History
Pat McAfee spent his entire eight-season NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts from 2009 to 2016. Indianapolis selected him in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft after his college career at West Virginia.
He quickly became the team’s main punter and also handled kickoffs, held duties, and occasionally ran fake-punt plays.
McAfee played in Super Bowl XLIV during his rookie season and later earned Pro Bowl selections in 2014 and 2016. He also received First-Team All-Pro honors in 2014.
The Colts placed the franchise tag on him in 2013 before signing him to a five-year contract in 2014. McAfee retired in February 2017 without playing for another NFL team.
Pat McAfee’s Awards and Career Achievements
McAfee’s First-Team All-Pro honor and two Pro Bowl selections placed him among the leading punters of his era. His 2016 achievement should be listed as the NFL punting average leader, not the punting yards leader.
| Award or Achievement | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| First-Team AP All-Pro | 2014 | Recognized as the NFL’s top punter after averaging 46.7 yards per punt and placing 30 punts inside the 20-yard line. |
| Two-Time Pro Bowl Selection | 2014 and 2016 | Selected to the Pro Bowl following two of the best seasons of his career. |
| PFWA All-Rookie Team | 2009 | Chosen as the punter on the Professional Football Writers of America’s rookie team. |
| NFL Punting Average Leader | 2016 | Led the NFL with a career-high average of 49.3 yards per punt. |
| Pro Football Hall of Fame Nominee | 2023 | Named among the modern-era nominees after becoming eligible for consideration. |
When and Why Pat McAfee Retired
Pat McAfee retired from the NFL in February 2017 at age 29 after eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
His decision came as a surprise because he still had two years remaining on his contract and had earned a Pro Bowl selection following the 2016 season.
Recurring knee problems played an important role in his decision. McAfee underwent his third knee operation in four years shortly after retiring, showing the physical toll that punting and kickoff duties had placed on his body.
He also wanted to pursue a career in comedy, sports media, and digital content. After leaving football, McAfee joined Barstool Sports and began focusing on broadcasting and entertainment.
At the End
Pat McAfee’s NFL career shows how much impact a specialist can have beyond the box score.
His punts, strong kickoff numbers, accurate placement, and willingness to make tackles helped the Indianapolis Colts control field position for eight seasons.
The awards, Pro Bowl selections, and career averages support what fans remember: he brought production and personality to special teams.
Looking at his stats also gives you a clearer view of how punters influence games, even when they rarely touch the ball.
For many readers, McAfee’s career stands out because he combined consistency with memorable moments and finished while still performing at a high level.
Which Pat McAfee season, play, or statistic impressed you most? Share your experience and thoughts in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Pat McAfee Serve as the Colts’ Field Goal Holder?
Yes, Pat McAfee regularly held the ball for the Indianapolis Colts’ field goal and extra-point attempts.
What does a Punt Inside the 20 Yard Line Mean?
It means the punt is downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, forcing the offense to begin with poor field position.
Did Pat McAfee Ever Score an NFL Touchdown?
No, Pat McAfee did not score a touchdown during his eight-season NFL career.
