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Jerrel Douglas Wilson (October 4, 1941 – April 9, 2005), nicknamed "Thunderfoot", was an American professional football punter who played for 16 seasons, 15 of them with the Kansas City Chiefs, in the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). Wilson played college football for the Southern Miss Golden Eagles. He was selected to three Pro Bowls. Wilson was elected to the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1988. He was selected in the 17th round of the 1963 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams and in the 11th round of the 1963 AFL draft by the Chiefs. He is the only punter to be a leader in punting yards for a season in multiple leagues.

Professional career

His punts were high, booming shots that arched far down the field, potent weapons in the war for field position. Wilson seemed to have the explosiveness of dynamite in his foot, hence the more-than-appropriate nickname of "Thunderfoot". The Southern Mississippi alum was the Chiefs' punter for a team record 15 seasons and is considered one of the best ever to play in the game.

Selected in the 11th round of Kansas City's much heralded 1963 AFL Draft that brought in Hall of Fame members Buck Buchanan and Bobby Bell and fellow Chiefs Hall of Famer Ed Budde. Wilson is tied with fellow punter Dustin Colquitt for longest tenured players in franchise history. He retired with multiple team records including a franchise-record 1,014 punts during his career, highest average yardage in a career with 43.6, in a season with 46.1, in a game with 56.5. Wilson owns the NFL record for most seasons leading the league in punting average with four, leading in 1965, 1968, 1972 and 1973.

Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram said that Wilson "made other people aware of how important the kicking game was at a time when special teams were not given special consideration. I'm prejudiced, but he's the best punter I ever saw. He'll go down in history as the best kicker in the NFL."

Wilson had four career punts of over 70 yards, which included a league leading 72-yard boot in his rookie year. He was named to three Pro Bowls in three consecutive years from 1970 to 1972. Wilson was also a reserve running back for the Chiefs and early in his career, accumulating 53 yards on 22 carries spread out over seven seasons. To close his career, Wilson played the 1978 season for the New England Patriots. He was the first player in football history with 1,000 punts, and he still ranks 19th all-time in punts.

Wilson said, regarding his punting style, "The way I attack the football, every time I hit it, I try to bust it, unless I'm around the 50. Then I hit it high. Basically, my power comes from everything. I try to snap everything I have in my body, my hips, knees, everything."

In December 2019, Wilson was named as a finalist in the special teams category of the NFL 100th Anniversary Team celebrating the best players of the first 100 years of the league.

Death

Wilson died of cancer on April 9, 2005, in Bronson, Texas.

References

1. Warpaths: The Illustrated History of the Kansas City Chiefs. Taylor Trade Publishing. October 28, 1999. p. 158. ISBN 9780878331567.
2. "Jerrel Wilson - 1988". Chiefs.com. Archived from the original on September 15, 2016. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
3. "1963 Los Angeles Rams". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2007. Retrieved July 18, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
4. "NFL Career Punts Leaders Through 1978". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
5. Inabinett, Mark (December 3, 2019). "Murphy's Jerrel Wilson finalist for NFL centennial team". AL.com. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
6. "Jerrell Wilson". JacksonFreePress.com.

• 1941 births
• 2005 deaths
• American football running backs
• American football punters
• Kansas City Chiefs players
• New England Patriots players
• Pearl River Wildcats football players
• Southern Miss Golden Eagles football players
• American Conference Pro Bowl players
• American Football League All-Star players
• American Football League All-Time Team
• Players of American football from Mobile, Alabama
• Players of American football from New Orleans
• Deaths from cancer in Louisiana
• American Football League players