Bryan Jeffrey Wagner(born March 28, 1962) is an American former professionalfootballpunterwho played in theNational Football League(NFL) for theChicago Bears,theCleveland Browns,theNew England Patriots,theGreen Bay PackersandSan Diego Chargers.He playedcollege footballatCal Lutheranbefore transferring toCal State Northridge.
| No. 15, 8, 9 | |||||||||||||
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| Position: | Punter | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born: | March 28, 1962 Escondido, California,U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 200 lb (91 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Hilltop (Chula Vista, California) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Cal Lutheran Cal State Northridge | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 1985 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| As a coach: | |||||||||||||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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Early life
editWagner attendedHilltop High School,where he played football, soccer and baseball.[1]He began his collegiate career atCalifornia Lutheran University.[2]He later transferred toCalifornia State University, Northridge,where he was the starter atquarterbackandpunter.[3]
Professional career
editAfter the1985 NFL draft,Wagner was signed as anundrafted free agentby theDallas Cowboys.He was also selected by theBaltimore Starsin the 15th round (216th overall) of the1985 USFL Draft.[4]He was waived by the Cowboys on August 27.[5]
In May 1986, he signed with theNew York Giants.He was released on August 11.[6]On August 20, 1986, he signed with theSt. Louis Cardinals.[7]He was released before the start of the season, on August 26.[8]
In 1987, he was signed as afree agentby theDenver Broncos.On August 25, he was traded to theChicago Bearsin exchange for guardStefan Humphries.[9]He replaced the Bears' punterMaury Buford,untilTommy Barnhardttook the role from Wagner later in the season. On October 30, 1988, he had a 70-yard punt against theNew England Patriots.He played in the historicFog Bowlagainst thePhiladelphia Eagles.
In 1990, he set aCleveland Brownsrecord with four punts blocked in a single season, including 2 in one game against theKansas City Chiefs.He averaged 38.9 yards per punt with a net average of 30.9 yards.[10]
In 1991, he played in 3 games with theNew England Patriots,until being released after a punt from his end zone hit teammateEugene Lockhart's back and was recovered for a touchdown by thePittsburgh Steelers'Ernie Mills.[11]
In 1992, he signed with theGreen Bay Packersand was released on August 24.[12]On November 9, he was re-signed by the Packers.[13]
On May 6, 1994, he re-signed with the Packers but was released before the start of the season, on August 21.[14][15]In 1994, he signed with theSan Diego Chargers.He set a Super Bowl record by averaging 48.8 yards per punt.[16]He chose not to re-sign with the Chargers for the 1995 season andAustralian rules footballplayerDarren Bennetttook over the punting job.
In 1995, he signed with theNew York Jetsand was released on August 21, after not being able to passBrian Hansenon the depth chart.[17]In November, he signed with theNew England Patriots,taking over after Pat O'Neill was released. He was not re-signed after the season.
In 1996, he signed with theDetroit Lionsand was released on July 3 to make room for punterRich Camarillo.[18]
NFL career statistics
edit| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
edit| Year | Team | Punting | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Punts | Yds | Net Yds | Lng | Avg | Net Avg | Blk | Ins20 | TB | ||
| 1987 | CHI | 10 | 36 | 1,461 | 1,186 | 71 | 40.6 | 32.1 | 1 | 9 | 4 |
| 1988 | CHI | 16 | 79 | 3,282 | 2,635 | 70 | 41.5 | 33.4 | 0 | 18 | 10 |
| 1989 | CLE | 16 | 97 | 3,817 | 3,279 | 60 | 39.4 | 33.8 | 0 | 32 | 6 |
| 1990 | CLE | 16 | 74 | 2,879 | 2,414 | 65 | 38.9 | 30.9 | 4 | 13 | 2 |
| 1991 | NWE | 3 | 14 | 548 | 408 | 54 | 39.1 | 29.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 | GNB | 7 | 30 | 1,222 | 1,049 | 52 | 40.7 | 35.0 | 0 | 10 | 5 |
| 1993 | GNB | 16 | 74 | 3,174 | 2,684 | 60 | 42.9 | 36.3 | 0 | 19 | 7 |
| 1994 | SDG | 14 | 65 | 2,705 | 2,297 | 59 | 41.6 | 35.3 | 0 | 20 | 3 |
| 1995 | NWE | 8 | 37 | 1,557 | 1,309 | 57 | 42.1 | 35.4 | 0 | 13 | 4 |
| Career | 106 | 506 | 20,645 | 17,261 | 71 | 40.8 | 33.8 | 5 | 134 | 41 | |
Playoffs
edit| Year | Team | Punting | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Punts | Yds | Net Yds | Lng | Avg | Net Avg | Blk | Ins20 | TB | ||
| 1988 | CHI | 2 | 9 | 306 | 279 | 48 | 34.0 | 31.0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 1989 | CLE | 2 | 11 | 451 | 391 | 52 | 41.0 | 35.5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 1993 | GNB | 2 | 7 | 278 | 242 | 51 | 39.7 | 34.6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1994 | SDG | 3 | 11 | 474 | 438 | 55 | 43.1 | 39.8 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Career | 9 | 38 | 1,509 | 1,350 | 55 | 39.7 | 35.5 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
Personal life
editWagner married Cleveland TV news anchor and personalityRobin Swobodain 1991; they divorced in 2015.[19]Wagner taught physical education and coached sports (football and basketball) at Willetts Middle School inBrunswick, Ohio.[20]
On April 27, 2005, Wagner was hired as the football head coach atChippewa High Schooland announced his resignation on November 20, 2006.[21][22]In 2017, he was hired as the football head coach atSweetwater High SchoolinNational City, California.Wagner compiled an 8–33 record in four seasons with the Red Devils. In 2020, he was hired as the head football coach at his alma mater,Hilltop High SchoolinChula Vista, California.[1]
References
edit- ^abBrents, Phillip (November 25, 2020)."Wagner returns to alma mater at Hilltop High School".The Star-News.RetrievedMarch 18,2024.
- ^"SUPER BOWL XXIX: Persistence Lands Him on His Feet - Los Angeles Times".Los Angeles Times.January 25, 1995.
- ^Springer, Steve (January 12, 1986)."Bryan Wagner Is Alive and Hopes to Be Kicking in the NFL".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMarch 14,2019.
- ^Tosches, Rich (November 18, 1992)."Wagner's 4th Try at a 4th-Down Job: Pro football: Former CS Northridge punter resurrects NFL career in Green Bay after stops in Chicago, Cleveland and New England".Los Angeles Times.RetrievedMarch 14,2019.
- ^"Transactions".The Washington Post.RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Transactions".The Washington Post.RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Transactions".The Washington Post.RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Stoudt gets tryout today with Cards".RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Transactions".The New York Times.August 26, 1987.RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Browns sign five Plan B players".RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"WAGNER KNOWS SITUATION, PATRIOTS".RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Transactions".The Washington Post.RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Transactions".The New York Times.November 10, 1992.RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Transactions".RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Transactions".The Washington Post.RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"2 Matadors Weigh Pros and Cons of Northridge".Los Angeles Times.April 22, 2000.RetrievedMarch 14,2019.
- ^"NFL Transactions".RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Transactions".RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Robin Swoboda Enjoys Singlehood after Divorce With Husband Bryan Wagner; Married Relationship".FrostSnow.com. May 5, 2017.RetrievedMarch 23,2018.
- ^"Former Cleveland Brown teaches at Willetts Middle School".RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Chippewa hires Wagner as coach".RetrievedAugust 14,2019.
- ^"Wagner steps down at Chippewa".RetrievedAugust 14,2019.