Sam Koch

Samuel David Koch (/kʊk/, like cook; born August 13, 1982) is an American football punter for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Ravens in the sixth round of the 2006 NFL Draft. He played college football at Nebraska. He is known for developing many punting variations.^[1]

Early years

Koch attended Seward High School in Seward, Nebraska and played punter, tight end, offensive lineman, and defensive lineman. Also because of an injury to another player, he started a few games as fullback. Along with football Sam played basketball, baseball, and soccer.

College career

Koch walked on to the Nebraska football team, where he played punter, and later would receive a scholarship before the start of the 2004 season. He did not see game action as a redshirt freshman in 2002, but served as the backup punter. As a sophomore in 2003, he backed up Kyle Larson at punter, but did not attempt a punt. Koch was Nebraska’s punter from 2004-05 after holding kickoff duties for 7 games in 2003. He was named to the 2005 2nd-team Academic All-Big 12 squad and the 2005 Big 12 Commissioner’s Spring and Fall Academic Honor Roll. He racked up a career-punting average of 44.1 yards (with 56 kicks inside the 20 and a long of 84 yards). As a senior, Koch put together the best campaign ever at his position in school history, as he broke the single-season punting average mark with a 46.5-yard average in 2005. The 2005 average bested the previous record of 45.1 yards per punt by former Bengals P Kyle Larson in 2003. Koch’s average ranked 2nd nationally and helped Nebraska to a No. 2 national ranking in net punting (39.9 avg.) As a senior, was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award. In his collegiate finale in the 2005 Alamo Bowl (12/28), Koch posted a 51.5-yard average on 8 punts against Michigan, including 5 punts over 50 yards each. He connected on at least 1 punt of 50 yards or more in 8 of 11 contests and surpassed the 48-yard barrier in every single game. He was the Huskers’ kickoff specialist for the 2nd half of the season and 18 of his 32 kickoffs resulted in touchbacks. In his final 6 games, opponents had just 10 returns totaling 165 yards. In December 2005 he earned a degree in business administration.

Professional career

Koch at training camp in 2009.

Koch was selected by the Baltimore Ravens in the 6th round (203rd overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft. In his rookie season he played in all 16 regular season games, punting 86 times for 3,695 yards and placing 30 of those inside the 20 which was the 4th most in the NFL. He made his NFL debut at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 10.

In 2008, Koch led the NFL in punts inside the 10 yard line.

A restricted free agent in the 2009 offseason, Koch signed his one-year, $1.545 million tender offer on March 27.^[2]

After an outstanding 2010 season, Koch was named to the 2010 All-Fundamentals Team by USA Football and the NFL Players Association.^[3]

In a week 10 game against the Oakland Raiders on November 11, 2012, Koch scored his first touchdown on a fake field goal. Koch was the holder for the Ravens.

During the 2012 season, Koch got his first championship title as the Ravens won against the 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII. Koch made key contributions on the final two plays of the Super Bowl, first scrambling in his own end zone to burn time off the clock before taking an elective safety, and then booting a 60-yard free kick which left the 49ers well outside field goal range.

On July 9, 2015 Koch was resigned by the Ravens to a 5-year $16.25 million contract, making him one of the highest paid punters in the NFL.^[4]

Ravens franchise records

• Most career punt yards (31,870)^[5]
• Longest career punt: 74^[6]
• Highest career yards per punt average (45)^[7]

Pro statistics