Brett Kern
Encyclopedia
Brett Kern is an American football
punter for the Tennessee Titans
of the National Football League
. He was signed by the Denver Broncos
as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
at Toledo
.
at the University of Toledo
. The MAC Report Online named Kern the Mid-American Conference’s ‘’Special Teams Player of the Year’’ in 2007. Kern was also a semi-finalist for the Ray Guy Award
in 2007. That year, he averaged 46.5 yards per punt, second in the nation.
.
During his rookie season with the Broncos Kern attempted 46 punts for an average of 46.7, his longest punt of the year was 64 yards against the San Diego Chargers
in week 2. He gave away one touchdown this year against the Oakland Raiders
in week 12 when Johnnie Lee Higgins
took the punt back 89 yards for the score.
Despite having the 3rd highest yards per punt average in NFL history, Kern was waived by the Broncos.
replacing Reggie Hodges
. At the time Kern was released from the Broncos and claimed by the Titans, the Broncos were 6-0 while the Titans were 0-6. A subsequent Titans winning streak and Broncos losing streak led to a situation where teams with Kern on the roster had compiled a record of 11-0 to begin the season, despite the two teams being a collective 12-10 overall in that period.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter for the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
as an undrafted free agent in 2008. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Toledo
Toledo Rockets football
The Toledo Rockets football team is a college football program in Division I FBS, representing the University of Toledo. The Rockets compete in the Mid-American Conference. Toledo began playing football in 1917, although it did not field teams in 1931, and 1943-1945. Since the inception of the AP...
.
College career
Kern played college footballCollege football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at the University of Toledo
Toledo Rockets
The Toledo Rockets are the athletic teams that represent the University of Toledo. The Rockets are a Division I Football Bowl Subdivision team in the National Collegiate Athletic Association and play in the Mid-American Conference . The school's colors are midnight blue and gold.Toledo's...
. The MAC Report Online named Kern the Mid-American Conference’s ‘’Special Teams Player of the Year’’ in 2007. Kern was also a semi-finalist for the Ray Guy Award
Ray Guy Award
The Ray Guy Award is presented annually to college football's top punter by the Greater Augusta Sports Council. The award is named after punter Ray Guy, a former All-American at Southern Mississippi and an all-pro player for the Oakland Raiders.-Criteria:...
in 2007. That year, he averaged 46.5 yards per punt, second in the nation.
Denver Broncos
Kern won the starting punter for the 2008 Broncos, winning the job over competitor Sam PaulescuSam Paulescu
Samuel Paulescu is an American football punter who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as a street free agent in 2006...
.
During his rookie season with the Broncos Kern attempted 46 punts for an average of 46.7, his longest punt of the year was 64 yards against the San Diego Chargers
San Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in week 2. He gave away one touchdown this year against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in week 12 when Johnnie Lee Higgins
Johnnie Lee Higgins
Johnnie Lee Higgins is an American football wide receiver who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the third round out of the University of Texas at El Paso in the 2007 NFL Draft.Higgins has also been a member of the Philadelphia Eagles...
took the punt back 89 yards for the score.
Despite having the 3rd highest yards per punt average in NFL history, Kern was waived by the Broncos.
Tennessee Titans
Kern was claimed off waivers by the Tennessee TitansTennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
replacing Reggie Hodges
Reggie Hodges
Reginald Aaron "Reggie" Hodges is an American football punter for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft...
. At the time Kern was released from the Broncos and claimed by the Titans, the Broncos were 6-0 while the Titans were 0-6. A subsequent Titans winning streak and Broncos losing streak led to a situation where teams with Kern on the roster had compiled a record of 11-0 to begin the season, despite the two teams being a collective 12-10 overall in that period.