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Bryan Wagner (American football)

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Bryan Jeffrey Wagner (born March 28, 1962) is an American former professional football punter who played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Chicago Bears, the Cleveland Browns, the New England Patriots, the Green Bay Packers and San Diego Chargers. He played college football at Cal Lutheran before transferring to Cal State Northridge.

Bryan Wagner
No. 15, 8, 9
Position:Punter
Personal information
Born: (1962-03-28) March 28, 1962 (age 62)
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
As a player:
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
As a coach:
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Punts:506
Punting yards:20,645
Punting average:40.8
Longest punt:71
Inside 20:134
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Early life

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Wagner attended Hilltop High School, where he played football, soccer and baseball.[1] He began his collegiate career at California Lutheran University.[2] He later transferred to California State University, Northridge, where he was the starter at quarterback and punter.[3]

Professional career

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After the 1985 NFL draft, Wagner was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys. He was also selected by the Baltimore Stars in the 15th round (216th overall) of the 1985 USFL Draft.[4] He was waived by the Cowboys on August 27.[5]

In May 1986, he signed with the New York Giants. He was released on August 11.[6] On August 20, 1986, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals.[7] He was released before the start of the season, on August 26.[8]

In 1987, he was signed as a free agent by the Denver Broncos. On August 25, he was traded to the Chicago Bears in exchange for guard Stefan Humphries.[9] He replaced the Bears' punter Maury Buford, until Tommy Barnhardt took the role from Wagner later in the season. On October 30, 1988, he had a 70-yard punt against the New England Patriots. He played in the historic Fog Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.

In 1990, he set a Cleveland Browns record with four punts blocked in a single season, including 2 in one game against the Kansas 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 the New England Patriots, until being released after a punt from his end zone hit teammate Eugene Lockhart's back and was recovered for a touchdown by the Pittsburgh Steelers' Ernie Mills.[11]

In 1992, he signed with the Green Bay Packers and 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 the San 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 and Australian rules football player Darren Bennett took over the punting job.

In 1995, he signed with the New York Jets and was released on August 21, after not being able to pass Brian Hansen on the depth chart.[17] In November, he signed with the New England Patriots, taking over after Pat O'Neill was released. He was not re-signed after the season.

In 1996, he signed with the Detroit Lions and was released on July 3 to make room for punter Rich Camarillo.[18]

NFL career statistics

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Legend
Led the league
Bold Career high

Regular season

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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

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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

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Wagner married Cleveland TV news anchor and personality Robin Swoboda in 1991; they divorced in 2015.[19] Wagner taught physical education and coached sports (football and basketball) at Willetts Middle School in Brunswick, Ohio.[20]

On April 27, 2005, Wagner was hired as the football head coach at Chippewa High School and announced his resignation on November 20, 2006.[21][22] In 2017, he was hired as the football head coach at Sweetwater High School in National 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 School in Chula Vista, California.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b Brents, Phillip (November 25, 2020). "Wagner returns to alma mater at Hilltop High School". The Star-News. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
  2. ^ "SUPER BOWL XXIX : Persistence Lands Him on His Feet - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. January 25, 1995.
  3. ^ Springer, Steve (January 12, 1986). "Bryan Wagner Is Alive and Hopes to Be Kicking in the NFL". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  4. ^ 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. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  5. ^ "Transactions". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  6. ^ "Transactions". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  7. ^ "Transactions". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  8. ^ "Stoudt gets tryout today with Cards". Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. August 26, 1987. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  10. ^ "Browns sign five Plan B players". Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  11. ^ "WAGNER KNOWS SITUATION, PATRIOTS". Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  12. ^ "Transactions". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  13. ^ "Transactions". The New York Times. November 10, 1992. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  14. ^ "Transactions". Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  15. ^ "Transactions". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  16. ^ "2 Matadors Weigh Pros and Cons of Northridge". Los Angeles Times. April 22, 2000. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  17. ^ "NFL Transactions". Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  18. ^ "Transactions". Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  19. ^ "Robin Swoboda Enjoys Singlehood after Divorce With Husband Bryan Wagner; Married Relationship". FrostSnow.com. May 5, 2017. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
  20. ^ "Former Cleveland Brown teaches at Willetts Middle School". Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  21. ^ "Chippewa hires Wagner as coach". Retrieved August 14, 2019.
  22. ^ "Wagner steps down at Chippewa". Retrieved August 14, 2019.
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