Jerrel Wilson
Encyclopedia
Jerrel "Thunderfoot" Wilson (1941–2005) was an American football
player. He was a punter who spent sixteen professional seasons, fifteen of them with the Kansas City Chiefs
, in the American Football League
and then the National Football League
. He was selected to three AFL All-Star Teams
and three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls. Wilson was elected to the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1988. He died of cancer on April 9, 2005.
His punts were high, booming shots that arched far down the field, potent weapons in the war for field position. Jerrel 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 played more seasons than any player in team history, and his 203 games played are the third most for any player in franchise history behind only guard
Will Shields
(224) and kicker
Nick Lowery
(212). He left behind an impressive number of records and honors earned through his kicking expertise: 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; and in World Championship games with 46.5. Wilson owns the NFL record for most seasons leading the league in punting average with four, leading in 1965, 1968, 1972 and 1973.
Said Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram
: "Jerrel Wilson made other people aware of how important the kicking game was at a time when special times 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."
He had four career punts of over 70 yards, each in the first two years of his career, which included a league leading 72 yard boot in his rookie year. He was named to three Pro Bowl
teams in three consecutive years from 1970-1972. 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
.
Wilson said of 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."
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...
player. He was a punter who spent sixteen professional seasons, fifteen of them with the Kansas City Chiefs
Kansas City Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
, in the American Football League
American Football League
The American Football League was a major American Professional Football league that operated from 1960 until 1969, when the established National Football League merged with it. The upstart AFL operated in direct competition with the more established NFL throughout its existence...
and then 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 selected to three AFL All-Star Teams
American Football League All-Star games
-All-League Teams:The Sporting News published American Football League All-League Teams for each season played by the American Football League, 1960 through 1969...
and three AFC-NFC Pro Bowls. Wilson was elected to the Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1988. He died of cancer on April 9, 2005.
His punts were high, booming shots that arched far down the field, potent weapons in the war for field position. Jerrel 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
Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame of professional football in the United States with an emphasis on the National Football League . It opened in Canton, Ohio, on September 7, 1963, with 17 charter inductees...
members Buck Buchanan
Buck Buchanan
Junious "Buck" Buchanan was an American collegiate and professional Football defensive tackle. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs in the American Football League and in the National Football League ....
and Bobby Bell
Bobby Bell
Bobby Lee Bell, Sr is a former professional American football linebacker/defensive end. He is a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the College Football Hall of Fame, and was a member of the Chiefs' team that won Super Bowl IV against the Minnesota Vikings.- High school career :He excelled in...
and fellow Chiefs Hall of Famer Ed Budde
Ed Budde
Edward Leon Budde , a product of Denby High School in Detroit, Michigan and later Michigan State University, was the number one draft pick of the American Football League's Kansas City Chiefs in 1963....
, Wilson played more seasons than any player in team history, and his 203 games played are the third most for any player in franchise history behind only guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
Will Shields
Will Shields
Will Herthie Shields is a former American football offensive guard. He attended the University of Nebraska and played his entire NFL career with the Kansas City Chiefs. In his 14 seasons in the NFL, Shields never missed a game...
(224) and kicker
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...
Nick Lowery
Nick Lowery
Dominic Gerald Lowery , nicknamed Nick the Kick, is a former American football placekicker for the New England Patriots , the Kansas City Chiefs , and New York Jets . Lowery was selected to the Pro Bowl three times and when he retired was ranked first in field goal percentage and also had the most...
(212). He left behind an impressive number of records and honors earned through his kicking expertise: 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; and in World Championship games with 46.5. Wilson owns the NFL record for most seasons leading the league in punting average with four, leading in 1965, 1968, 1972 and 1973.
Said Hall of Fame head coach Hank Stram
Hank Stram
Henry Louis "Hank" Stram was an American football coach. He is best known for his 15-year tenure with the American Football League's Dallas Texans/Kansas City Chiefs and the Chiefs of the NFL. Stram won three AFL Championships and Super Bowl IV with the Chiefs...
: "Jerrel Wilson made other people aware of how important the kicking game was at a time when special times 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."
He had four career punts of over 70 yards, each in the first two years of his career, which included a league leading 72 yard boot in his rookie year. He was named to three Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
teams in three consecutive years from 1970-1972. 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
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
.
Wilson said of 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."