Glenn Pakulak
Encyclopedia
Glenn Adam Pakulak, Jr. (born April 9, 1980 in Pontiac, Michigan
) is an American football
punter who is currently a free agent
. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football
at Kentucky
.
Pakulak has also been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers
, Atlanta Falcons
, Tennessee Titans
, Chicago Bears
, Oakland Raiders
, New Orleans Saints
and New York Jets
.
where he was a two-year starter
as a placekicker
, punter, linebacker
and wide receiver
playing for the Lapeer East Eagles.
He made first team all league and all area punter as a junior and senior, averaging 39.5 yards per punt as a junior and 40.1 as a senior. Also all league and all area receiver and second team all league linebacker as a senior.
Pakulak played basketball
as well, making first team all-League and second team all-area as a junior. He took home first team all-league and all-area and honorable mention all-state in his senior year. On top of this he also played baseball
with which he earned second team all-area and all-league. He was granted the school’s scholar athlete award.
where he played basketball
and baseball.
He transferred to Kentucky
where he had to redo his freshman year, was redshirted
and punted for the UK junior varsity team.
In his sophomore year he was allowed to punt the final 3 games of the season and averaged 37.8 per punt.
As a junior he posted an average of 44.5 per punt with opponents having zero return yards
in three games. He was selected third team All America by Football News, an honorable mention All America CollegeFootballNews.com
, first team all Southeastern Conference
by the Associated Press
, and Football News (2001) and second team all Southeastern Conference by SEC coaches.
In his senior year he led the conference and ranked third in the nation with an average of 45.6 per punt. He was selected All American first team by The NFL Draft Report and CBSSports.com
, second team by College Football News and third team by the Associated press. Selected first team all Southeastern Conference by Associated Press and second team by the leagues coaches. Was finalist for the Ray Guy Award
, given to the nation’s top punter. Was awarded the Mosi Tatupu Award
, given to the nation’s Special Teams Player of the Year. Majored in Kinesiology
.
as an undrafted free agent in May 2003 but was released on July 27.
on August 4 but released two weeks later.
on February 5, 2004, but was cut during training camp on August 15.
He did not play the entire year but did attend a kicking camp in the winter of 2005.
on January 19, 2006. The Raiders allocated Glenn Pakulak to the Amsterdam Admirals
of the NFL Europe
.
Appeared in all 10 regular season games and helped the Amsterdam Admirals to a 7-3 record, finishing the season in first place and gaining them a World Bowl
berth. Also appeared in World Bowl XIV
in which he punted a 69 yarder. He had not been exactly shy of getting in the thick of the action before but became an instant fan favorite for preventing a touchdown by making a solo tackle when one of his punts looked to be returned all the way in front of his home crowd. Gained Special Teams Player of NFL Europe
Week 9 honors, in which he punted for a total of 317 yards for 7 attempts, with his furthest punt 59 yards, one touchback and 3 inside the 20, averaging 45.3 per punt. Led NFL Europe
with an average of 42.2.
Was released by the Oakland Raiders
on August 28.
on January 13. The Titans re-allocated Glenn Pakulak to the Amsterdam Admirals for a second year of NFL Europe.
on January 29, 2008. One of three punters on the Bears' roster, he was waived on June 1.
Edgerton Hartwell
He was waived on August 30 but re-signed to the team's practice squad a day later. However, on September 3 he was released from the practice squad.
on October 29, 2008 to replace the recently released Ben Graham. He was waived on August 27, 2009.
on August 28, 2009. He was waived on September 2 after the Jets signed tight end
Ben Hartsock
.
' practice squad on October 6, 2009. He was signed from the practice squad on October 10 after starting punter, Hunter Smith
suffered a groin
injury. He was waived on October 12 and re-signed to the practice squad on October 15. For the second straight week, Pakulak was signed from the practice squad on October 17.
a former NHL
player. His grandfather, Roger Susin, was awarded a Purple Heart
during World War II
, after losing an arm, and surviving an incident where all of his comrades perished. He was teammate and roommate of, Arena Football League star receiver and former NFL Europe Berlin Thunder
star, Aaron R. Boone, for whom he ended up doing the laundry for a semester over the sale of a coffeetable in college. Pakulak enjoys listening to 80s music. His all time favorite football player is Barry Sanders
.
In 2005 Pakulak did not play for any NFL or NFL Europa team, but instead spent the year working at a steel factory and training in New Orleans with his college friend Shane Boyd
(who also played in NFL Europa in 2006, but as quarterback for the Cologne Centurions
). Pakulak also returned to Lexington
to follow some classes there.
He is currently on the Bravo TV show Most Eligible Dallas.
Pontiac, Michigan
Pontiac is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan named after the Ottawa Chief Pontiac, located within the Detroit metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 59,515. It is the county seat of Oakland County...
) is an American football
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 who is currently a free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks
Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
as an undrafted free agent in 2003. 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 Kentucky
Kentucky Wildcats football
The Kentucky Wildcats football team is a college football program that competes in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision and the East Division of the Southeastern Conference.-History:Paul "Bear" Bryant Era...
.
Pakulak has also been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 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...
, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 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...
, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
and New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Early years
Pakulak attended Lapeer East High School in Lapeer, MichiganLapeer, Michigan
Lapeer is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and is the county seat of Lapeer County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 8,841. Most of the city was incorporated from land that was formerly in Lapeer Township, though portions were also annexed from Mayfield Township and Elba...
where he was a two-year starter
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
as a placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
, punter, linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
and wide receiver
Wide receiver
A wide receiver is an offensive position in American and Canadian football, and is the key player in most of the passing plays. Only players in the backfield or the ends on the line are eligible to catch a forward pass. The two players who begin play at the ends of the offensive line are eligible...
playing for the Lapeer East Eagles.
He made first team all league and all area punter as a junior and senior, averaging 39.5 yards per punt as a junior and 40.1 as a senior. Also all league and all area receiver and second team all league linebacker as a senior.
Pakulak played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
as well, making first team all-League and second team all-area as a junior. He took home first team all-league and all-area and honorable mention all-state in his senior year. On top of this he also played baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
with which he earned second team all-area and all-league. He was granted the school’s scholar athlete award.
College career
Pakulak spent his freshman year at Rochester CollegeRochester College
Rochester College is a four-year, liberal arts college located in Rochester Hills, Michigan. The college was founded by members of Churches of Christ in 1959. Total enrollment for the fall 2011 semester is 1,084 students....
where he played basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
and baseball.
He transferred to Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
where he had to redo his freshman year, was redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
and punted for the UK junior varsity team.
In his sophomore year he was allowed to punt the final 3 games of the season and averaged 37.8 per punt.
As a junior he posted an average of 44.5 per punt with opponents having zero return yards
Return yards
Return yards is an American football and Canadian football statistical measure that takes several forms. In American and Canadian football, progress is measured by advancing the football towards the opposing team's Goal line...
in three games. He was selected third team All America by Football News, an honorable mention All America CollegeFootballNews.com
College Football News
College Football News is a magazine and website published by College Football News, Inc., headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. News coverage includes scores, statistics, rankings, and reports on college football games. Analysis includes comparisons between teams, predictions of game outcomes and...
, first team all Southeastern Conference
Southeastern Conference
The Southeastern Conference is an American college athletic conference that operates in the southeastern part of the United States. It is headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama...
by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, and Football News (2001) and second team all Southeastern Conference by SEC coaches.
In his senior year he led the conference and ranked third in the nation with an average of 45.6 per punt. He was selected All American first team by The NFL Draft Report and CBSSports.com
CBSSports.com
CBSSports.com was founded in 1994 as SportsLine USA, and today is a CBS-owned website that provides sports scores, news, statistics, live and on-demand video, mobile apps, e-commerce, fantasy sports products, services, and information..Headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, CBSSports.com it is...
, second team by College Football News and third team by the Associated press. Selected first team all Southeastern Conference by Associated Press and second team by the leagues coaches. Was 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:...
, given to the nation’s top punter. Was awarded the Mosi Tatupu Award
Mosi Tatupu Award
The Mosi Tatupu Award was given annually to the College Football Special Teams Player of the Year by the Maui Quarterback Club and the Hula Bowl, from 1997 to 2006....
, given to the nation’s Special Teams Player of the Year. Majored in Kinesiology
Kinesiology
Kinesiology, also known as human kinetics is the scientific study of human movement. Kinesiology addresses physiological, mechanical, and psychological mechanisms. Applications of kinesiology to human health include: biomechanics and orthopedics, rehabilitation, such as physical and occupational...
.
Seattle Seahawks
Pakulak signed with the Seattle SeahawksSeattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
as an undrafted free agent in May 2003 but was released on July 27.
Pittsburgh Steelers
He was then claimed of waivers by the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
on August 4 but released two weeks later.
Atlanta Falcons
Pakulak joined the Atlanta FalconsAtlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons are a professional American football team based in Atlanta, Georgia. They are a member of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on February 5, 2004, but was cut during training camp on August 15.
He did not play the entire year but did attend a kicking camp in the winter of 2005.
Amsterdam Admirals (NFL Europe)
Pakulak signed with the Oakland RaidersOakland 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...
on January 19, 2006. The Raiders allocated Glenn Pakulak to the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
of the NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
.
Appeared in all 10 regular season games and helped the Amsterdam Admirals to a 7-3 record, finishing the season in first place and gaining them a World Bowl
World Bowl
The World Bowl was the American football Championship game of NFL Europe, similar to the Super Bowl of the National Football League.The World Bowl trophy itself was a globe made of glass measuring 35.5 cm in diameter and weighing 18.6 kg .-World League of American Football:When NFL Europe was...
berth. Also appeared in World Bowl XIV
World Bowl XIV
World Bowl XIV was NFL Europe's 2006 championship game. It was played at the LTU Arena in Düsseldorf, Germany on Saturday, May 27, 2006.The game was between the 7-3 Frankfurt Galaxy and the defending World Bowl Champion Amsterdam Admirals . 36,286 people were in attendance, as the Galaxy stripped...
in which he punted a 69 yarder. He had not been exactly shy of getting in the thick of the action before but became an instant fan favorite for preventing a touchdown by making a solo tackle when one of his punts looked to be returned all the way in front of his home crowd. Gained Special Teams Player of NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
Week 9 honors, in which he punted for a total of 317 yards for 7 attempts, with his furthest punt 59 yards, one touchback and 3 inside the 20, averaging 45.3 per punt. Led NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
with an average of 42.2.
Was released by 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...
on August 28.
Tennessee Titans
Signed with 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...
on January 13. The Titans re-allocated Glenn Pakulak to the Amsterdam Admirals for a second year of NFL Europe.
Chicago Bears
Pakulak signed with the Chicago BearsChicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
on January 29, 2008. One of three punters on the Bears' roster, he was waived on June 1.
Oakland Raiders
On August 13, 2008, the Raiders re-signed Pakulak after releasing linebackerLinebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Edgerton Hartwell
Edgerton Hartwell
Edgerton "Ed" Hartwell, II is a former NFL linebacker. Currently signed with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League. He was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in the fourth round of the 2001 NFL Draft...
He was waived on August 30 but re-signed to the team's practice squad a day later. However, on September 3 he was released from the practice squad.
New Orleans Saints
Pakulak was signed by the New Orleans SaintsNew Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
on October 29, 2008 to replace the recently released Ben Graham. He was waived on August 27, 2009.
New York Jets
Pakulak was claimed off waivers by the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on August 28, 2009. He was waived on September 2 after the Jets signed tight end
Tight end
The tight end is a position in American football on the offense. The tight end is often seen as a hybrid position with the characteristics and roles of both an offensive lineman and a wide receiver. Like offensive linemen, they are usually lined up on the offensive line and are large enough to be...
Ben Hartsock
Ben Hartsock
Benjamin Richard Hartsock is an American football tight end who currently plays for the Carolina Panthers. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
.
Washington Redskins
Pakulak was signed to the Washington RedskinsWashington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
' practice squad on October 6, 2009. He was signed from the practice squad on October 10 after starting punter, Hunter Smith
Hunter Smith
Hunter Dwight Smith is an American football punter, currently a free agent and most recently for the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
suffered a groin
Groin
In human anatomy, the groin areas are the two creases at the junction of the torso with the legs, on either side of the pubic area. This is also known as the medial compartment of the thigh. A pulled groin muscle usually refers to a painful injury sustained by straining the hip adductor muscles...
injury. He was waived on October 12 and re-signed to the practice squad on October 15. For the second straight week, Pakulak was signed from the practice squad on October 17.
Third stint with Raiders
On January 5, 2011, the Raiders re-signed Pakulak. On September 3, 2011 the Raiders waived Pakulak.Personal
Pakulak is the son of Gail and Glenn Pakulak Sr. He is related to Al IafrateAl Iafrate
Albert Anthony Iafrate is a retired American professional ice hockey defenseman who played in the National Hockey League between 1984 and 1998. He is perhaps most famous for his rocket slap shot that set the NHL Skills Competition record, which stood for 16 years, at . The record was broken in...
a former NHL
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
player. His grandfather, Roger Susin, was awarded a Purple Heart
Purple Heart
The Purple Heart is a United States military decoration awarded in the name of the President to those who have been wounded or killed while serving on or after April 5, 1917 with the U.S. military. The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor is located in New Windsor, New York...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, after losing an arm, and surviving an incident where all of his comrades perished. He was teammate and roommate of, Arena Football League star receiver and former NFL Europe Berlin Thunder
Berlin Thunder
The Berlin Thunder were a professional American football team in NFL Europe, which was a springtime American football league serving primarily as a developmental league for the National Football League. Most of the players were young American professional players assigned by NFL teams to receive...
star, Aaron R. Boone, for whom he ended up doing the laundry for a semester over the sale of a coffeetable in college. Pakulak enjoys listening to 80s music. His all time favorite football player is Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders
Barry Sanders is a former American football running back who spent all of his professional career with the Detroit Lions in the NFL. Sanders left the game just short of the all-time rushing record...
.
In 2005 Pakulak did not play for any NFL or NFL Europa team, but instead spent the year working at a steel factory and training in New Orleans with his college friend Shane Boyd
Shane Boyd
Shane Boyd is an American football quarterback who is currently a free agent. He was signed by the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2005...
(who also played in NFL Europa in 2006, but as quarterback for the Cologne Centurions
Cologne Centurions
The Cologne Centurions were an American football team that played in NFL Europe. The Centurions began competing in the league in the 2004 season, having replaced the defunct Barcelona Dragons. They played their home games at RheinEnergieStadion in Cologne....
). Pakulak also returned to Lexington
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
to follow some classes there.
He is currently on the Bravo TV show Most Eligible Dallas.