Johnny Hekker

PRO: The Titans signed Johnny Hekker as an unrestricted free agent early in the 2025 offseason. The 6-foot-5-inch, 225-pounder possesses an impressive résumé and is especially known for his net punt skills and his ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory. The Oregon State product entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Rams in 2012 and spent 10 seasons with the franchise, including a Super Bowl title run in 2021. Prior to arriving in Tennessee, he spent three campaigns with the Carolina Panthers from 2022-24.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• Hekker earned All-Pro honors in six-consecutive seasons (2013-18) and has been named to four Pro Bowls (2013, 2015-17).
• Hekker is a member of NFL 2010's All-Decade Team.
• Hekker played in all 161 games for the Rams franchise from 2012-21, tallying 727 punts for a net average of 42.87 with a long of 78 yards and 300 punts inside the 20-yard line.
• In 2016, Hekker set the NFL single-season records for net punt average (46.0) and punts inside 20 (51).

TITANS TIDBITS:
• Hekker has served as the state ambassador for Special Olympics in Illinois and Missouri. He is also on the board for Team Activities for Special Kids (TASK), a year-round instructional sports program that provides athletic and social opportunities to kids with special needs.
• Hekker serves as a Waterboys Ambassador, which supports providing clean, accessible drinking water to rural communities in East Africa.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Bothell, Wash., native was originally signed by the St. Louis Rams as a rookie free agent on May 8, 2012.
• Released by the Rams on March 15, 2022.
• Signed by the Carolina Panthers as a free agent on March 21, 2022.
• Signed by the Titans as an unrestricted free agent on March 13, 2025.

SEASON RECAPS:

2024 (17/0 - Carolina): Played in all 17 games and punted 73 times for 3,338 yards (45.7 avg.) with 24 kicks placed inside the 20-yard line in his final season with the Panthers.
• At Chicago (10/6), punted four times for 206 yards (51.5 avg.) with a long of 65 yards.
• Against Washington (10/20), posted five punts for 252 yards (50.4 avg.)with two kicks placed inside the 20-yard line.
• Against N.Y. Giants (11/10), registered a season-high-tying seven punts for 337 yards (48.1 avg.) with three kicks inside the 20-yard line.

2023 (17/0 - Carolina): Appeared in all 17 games and produced 82 punts for 3,838 yards (46.8 avg.) with a long of 69 yards, while adding 25 punts downed inside the 20.
• At Atlanta (9/10), notched five punts for 266 yards (53.2 avg.) with a long of 69 yards.
• At Tampa Bay (12/3), launched a season-best eight punts for 367 yards (45.9 avg.) with a long of 57 yards.
• At Jacksonville (12/31), punted six times for 297 yards (49.5 avg.) with a long of 52 yards.

2022 (17/0 - Carolina): Saw action in all 17 games in his first seaon with the Panthers. Punted 81 times for 3,925 yards for a career-high 48.5 gross avg. Finished the season with a league-leading 39 punts downed inside the 20, setting a new franchise single-season record. Set a team record and ranked third in the NFL with a 44.12 net punting avg.
• Against Cleveland (9/11), made his Panthers debut and punted five times for 250 yards (50.0 avg.) with a long of 61 yards.
• At L.A. Rams (10/16), boomed seven punts for 362 yards (51.7 avg.) with three kicks inside the 20-yard line against his former team.
• Against Tampa Bay (10/23), booted seven punts for 360 yards (51.4 avg.) with four punts inside the 20.
• Against Denver (11/27), nailed five punts for 255 yards (51.0 avg.) with four kicks inside the 20-yard line.

2021 (17/0, 4/0 - L.A. Rams): Appeared in all 17 games and all four postseason contests in his final season with the Rams. Punted 51 times for 2,252 yards (44.2 avg.) with 23 punts inside the 20-yard line and a 42.6 net avg. Produced 16 postseason punts for 712 yards (44.5 avg.) with nine kicks placed inside the 20-yard line en route to a Super Bowl championship.
• At Seattle (10/7), notched five punts for 232 yards (46.4 avg.) with four inside the 20-yard line.
• Against Jacksonville (12/5), nailed three punts for 150 yards (50.0 avg.) with a long of 58 yards.
• At Minnesota (12/26), boomed two punts for 108 yards (54.0 avg.) with a long of 55 yards.
• Against Cincinnati in Super Bowl LVI (2/13), punted six times for 261 yards (43.5 avg.) with three punts inside the 20-yard line, helping the Rams capture the title.

2020 (16/0, 2/0 - L.A. Rams): Played in all 16 games for the ninth consecutive campaign. Punted 68 times for 3,099 yards (45.6 avg.) with 28 punts inside the 20-yard line.
• At Philadelphia (9/20), played his 130th career game with the Rams and booted two punts for 96 yards (48.0-yard average). Landed one punt inside the 20, marking the 241st time he pinned the opponent inside the 20-yard line in his career.
• Against N.Y. Giants (10/4), booted a 61-yard punt while totaling five punts for a total of 280 yards on the day, averaging 56.0 per punt.
• At San Francisco (10/18), kicked six punts totaling 291 yards. Averaged 48.5 yards per punt and four landed inside the 20-yard line with a season-long of 63 yards.
• At Green Bay (1/16), punted four times for 202 yards, including a 64-yard long in the divisional round. Averaged 50.5 yards per punt and landed one inside the 20-yard line.

2019 (16/0 - L.A. Rams): Saw action in all 16 games for the eighth consecutive season and punted 66 times for 3,128 yards and a 47.4-yard average. Had 22 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, tied for the fifth-most in his career. Finished the season with over 3,000 punting yards, doing so for the seventh time in his career. Completed two passes on fake punt attempts, his third-consecutive season with multiple passing completions.
• At Seattle (10/3), had three punts for 153 yards and a 51.0-yard net average. Surpassed the 26,000-career total yardage plateau.
• At Atlanta (10/20), posted three punts for 95 yards with one inside the 20. Converted the first fake punt of the season, completing a pass to Nick Scott for a 23-yard completion.
• At Dallas (12/15), punted five times for 279 yards and a 51.8-yard net average. Had four punts downed inside the 20-yard line with a long of 69 yards. Completed one pass for 5 yards to Mike Thomas on a fake punt, the 13th completion of his career.

2018 (16/0, 3/0 - L.A. Rams): Selected second team All-Pro after punting 43 times for 1,992 yards with a 46.3-yard average. Tallied just two touchbacks and placed 21 punts inside the 20-yard line. Finished fourth in the NFL in punts pinned inside 20 percentage (48.84) despite a career-low 43 punt attempts.
• Against Arizona (9/16), punted twice for 102 yards for a 51.0 average and 41.0 net average. Placed one punt inside the 20-yard line with a long punt of 60 yards. Converted a 20-yard field goal and one extra point attempt in place of injured Greg Zuerlein.
• Against Minnesota (9/27), played in his 100th career game and punted two times for 71 yards with a 35.5 net average.
• Against Green Bay (10/28), punted a season-high seven times for 316 yards with a 45.1 average and a 43.3 net average. Pinned three punts inside the 20-yard line, including a game-long 52-yarder at the Packers' one-yard line to set up a Rams safety on the following play. Connected with Sam Shields on a 12-yard completion in punt formation to convert on fourth-and-three in the second quarter. Has at least one pass completion in six of his first seven professional seasons including the last five consecutive seasons.
• Against Kansas City (11/19), punted four times for 222 yards for a 55.5 average and 50.0 net average. Recorded his longest punt of the season with a 68-yarder late in the fourth quarter. Pinned three punts inside the 20-yard line.
• At Chicago (12/9), punted three times for 146 yards with a 48.7 average and 41.3 net average. Pinned one punt inside the 20-yard line and his longest punt was 62 yards. Became the first punter in franchise history to record at least 25,000 yards punting. Completed a seven-yard pass to Gerald Everett in punt formation to successfully convert on fourth-and-seven in the second quarter. Added one special teams tackle.
• At New Orleans (1/20), punted four times for 183 yards in the NFC Championship. Connected with Sam Shields on a 12-yard pass in punt formation to convert a fourth-and-five for his first career postseason pass attempt and completion.
• Against New England in Super Bowl LIII (2/3), punted nine times for 417 yards for a 46.3 average and a 46.1 net average. Pinned five punts inside the 20-yard line. His longest punt was 65 yards which set a new Super Bowl record.

2017 (16/0, 1/0 - L.A. Rams): Selected first team All-Pro and named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time. Punted 65 times for 3,113 yards a 47.9-yard average. Tallied just four touchbacks and placed 30 punts inside the 20-yard line.
• Against Washington (9/17), punted four times for 182 yards for a 45.5-yard average and 42.3-yard net average. Placed one punt inside the 20-yard line. Completed a pass to Josh Reynolds for 28 yards on fourth down.
• At Jacksonville (10/15), punted seven times for 322 yards for a 46.0-yard average and 43.1-yard net average. Placed four punts inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 67 yards.
• Against Houston (11/12), punted four times for 205 yards for a 51.3-yard average and 42-yard net average. Completed a pass to Pharoh Cooper for six yards on fourth down.
• Against Philadelphia (12/10), punted five times for 282 yard for a 56.4 average and 50.2 net average. Placed three punts inside the 20 yard line and had a long of 64 yards.
• Against Atlanta (1/6), punted five times for 218 yards for a 43.6-yard average and 42.8-yard net average in the wild card round. Had a long of 66 yards, a new postseason franchise record.

2016 (16/0 - L.A. Rams): Selected first team All-Pro. Named to his third career Pro Bowl. Set new career-highs in punt yardage (4,680), punts inside the 20-yard line (51), net yardage (4,508), and net punt average (46.0), all leading the NFL. Set the single-season NFL record for net punt average (46.0). Booted a career-long 78-yard punt, which tied for the longest punt of the season. Only allowed one touchback the entire year. Voted team captain by peers.
• Against Seattle (9/18), totaled 237 yards on six punts, all downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line, for a 39.5-yard average and net average.
• Against Carolina (11/6), recorded a then career-long punt of 75 yards. Punted five times for 243 yards for an average of 48.6-yards per kick.
• At N.Y. Jets (11/13), punted seven times for 362 yards, averaged 51.7 yards a kick. Recorded the fourth longest punt in franchise history with a career-long 78-yard punt.
• At New England (12/4), booted eight punts (five inside the 20-yard line), averaging 53.8 yards a kick. Recorded a net average of 52.9 yards while booted a long of 76 yards.
• At Seattle (12/15), punted four times for 216 yards, with a 54-yard average and a 50-yard net average with a long 66 yards.
• Against San Francisco (12/26), punted eight times for 368 yards, averaging 46 yards a kick. Set the NFL single-season record for most punts downed inside the 20-yard line (50).
• Against Arizona (1/1), booted seven punts for 337 yards, giving him a new career-high in single season punts (98). Averaged 48.1 yards a kick and a net average of 44.4 yards.

2015 (16/0 - St. Louis Rams): Selected first team All-Pro. Named to his second career Pro Bowl. Appeared in all 16 games and punted 96 times for 4,601 yards a 47.9-yard average. Tallied six touchbacks and placed a then career-high 41 punts inside the 20-yard line. Led the NFL rankings in net punting average (43.7) and punts downs inside the opponents' 20-yard line.
• At Washington (9/20), punted eight times for 381 yards, a 47.6-yard average and 46.1-yard net. Tallied a long of 53 yards and placed four punts inside the 20-yard line.
• At Green Bay (10/11), completed a 20-yard pass to Cody Davis on a fake punt conversion. Marked his second-longest pass completion of his career. Punted four times for 181 yards. Placed one punt inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 51 yards.
• Against San Francisco (11/1), tallied a long punt of 60 yards. Finished with eight punts for 436 yards, a 54.5-yard average and 49.8-yard net, and placed four punts inside the 20-yard line.
• Against Arizona (12/6), punted eight times for 436 yards, a 54.5-yard average and 48.3-yard net average. Placed five punts inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 68 yards. Also handled kickoff duties in addition to punting and tallied two kickoffs.

2014 (16/0 - St. Louis Rams): Selected second team All-Pro. Punted 80 times for 3,721 yards. Finished the season with a 46.5-yard gross average which ranked eighth in the league and registered the fourth best single-season total in Rams history.
• Against Seattle (10/19), connected with Benny Cunningham on an 18-yard pass in punt formation to convert a fourth-and-three on the St. Louis 18-yard line with 2:55 left to play. Marked his fifth career pass, first of the season. Punted three times for 153 yards, a 44.7-yard average.
• At Kansas City (10/26), punted six times for 324 yards, a 54.0-yard average with a long of 60 yards.
• At San Diego (11/23), connected with Stedman Bailey on an 19-yard pass in punt formation to convert a fourth-and-four. Punted four times for 178 yards with a 44.5-yard net average with a long of 57 yards.
• At Washington (12/7), connected with Cory Harkey for a two-point conversion. Punted four times for 174 yards, a 43.5-yard average with a long of 61 yards.

2013 (16/0 - St. Louis Rams): Saw action in all 16 games and earned Pro Bowl and first team All-Pro honors after recording the highest single-season net average (44.2) in NFL history. Punted 78 times for 3,609 yards. Finished with a 46.3-yard gross average for 10th in the league and was the fourth best single-season total in Rams history. Opponents averaged just 2.6 yards per return, the best total in the NFL in 2013. Also added two special teams tackles.
• Against San Francisco (9/26), notched a career-high 11 punts for 490 yards. Averaged 44.5 yards per punt and registered a long of 60 yards. Placed six punts inside the 20-yard line and one touchback.
• Against Tennessee (11/3), punted five times for 242 yards for a 48.4-yard average and 46.8-yard net average. Placed one punt inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 57 yards.
• At Arizona (12/8), punted five times for 257 yards, a 51.4 yard average and 42.8-yard net average.
• At Seattle (12/29), punted seven times for 337 yards, a 48.1 average and 48.4 yard net average.

2012 (16/0 - St. Louis Rams): Played in all 16 games as a rookie and finished his first NFL campaign with a 45.8-yard gross average and a net average of 39.9 yards per attempt. Punted 82 times for 3,756 yards with 22 punts inside the 20-yard line.
• At Detroit (9/9), made his NFL debut and punted five times for 241 yards, a 48.2-yard average and 37.6-yard net.
• Against Washington (9/16), punted three times for 163 yards, a 54.3-yard average and 48.7-yard net, placed one inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 66 yards.
• Against Seattle (9/30), threw a two-yard touchdown pass to Danny Amendola on a fake field goal play. No Rams punter has thrown a touchdown pass since the merger. Punted four times for 156 yards, a 39-yard average and 38.8-yard net.
• Against Arizona (10/4), punted seven times for 398 yards, including a season-long of 68 yards. Averaged 56.9 yards per punt, setting a franchise single-game record. Placed three punts inside the 20-yard line.
• At San Francisco (11/11), threw a 21-yard completion to Rodney McLeod on fourth-and-four from the St. Louis 10-yard line with 49 seconds left in the half on a fake punt. On a second fake punt, completed a 19-yard pass to Lance Kendricks.
• Against the N.Y. Jets (11/18), punted five times for 251 yards, a 50.2-yard average, 44.4-yard net. Placed one inside the 20-yard line and had a long of 57 yards.

COLLEGE:
• Was a four-year starter at Oregon State, finishing his career as one of Beavers' most prolific punters. Holds the third-best career punt yardage average at OSU at 41.3 yards per punt and set the single-game school record with a 52.5-yard average (6-315) at Utah in 2011.
• Posted 52 career punts of 50+ yards, including 17 in 2011 when he had six different games with at least one punt of 60+ yards.
• As a senior (2011), was named to the Ray Guy Award Watch List – given annually to the nation's best punter. Punted 50 times for 2,202 yards (44.0 avg.) earning Pac-12 Conference honorable mention.
• As a junior (2010), booted 61 punts for 2,545 yards (41.7 avg.).
• As a sophomore (2009), was a semi-finalist for the Ray Guy Award after punting 51 times for 2,043 yards (40.1 avg.).
• As a freshman (2008), punted 59 times for 2,342 yards (39.7 avg.). Received Sun Bowl Special Teams MVP after averaging 45 yards on 10 punts.
• Was a two-time Pac-10 All-Academic selection.
• Graduated from Oregon State in June 2011 with a degree in general science.

PERSONAL:
• Married to Makayla, they have one son, Jett and a daughter, Maya.
• Attended Bothell (Wash.) High School and was the starting quarterback and punter of the Cougars football team during his senior year, leading them to a State Championship game.
• Also briefly played basketball his senior year.
• Participated in the initial Beavers Without Borders trip during spring break of 2011, traveling to Guatemala to build a house for a needy family.
• Follow Hekker on X at @JHekker and on Instagram at @jhekk.
• Born John Robert Hekker on Feb. 8, 1990 in Redmond, Wash.