Matt Turk
 Turk in 2010. |
|
| No. 1 Houston Texans | |
| Punter | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: June 16, 1968 | |
| Place of birth: Greenfield, Wisconsin | |
| Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | Weight: 248 lb (112 kg) |
| Career information | |
| College: Wisconsin–Whitewater | |
| Undrafted in 1993 | |
| Debuted in 1995 for the Washington Redskins | |
| Career history | |
|
|
| Roster status: Active | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 16, 2011 | |
| Punts | 1,137 |
| Punt Yards | 48,146 |
| Punting Yard Average | 42.3 |
| Stats at NFL.com | |
Matthew Edward Turk (born June 16, 1968) is an American football punter for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1993. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Turk has also been a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, and Jacksonville Jaguars.
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[edit] Early years
Turk graduated Greenfield High School in his birthplace Greenfield, Wisconsin in 1986.[1]
Matt played college football for the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1993. With the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks, Turk averaged 36.3 yards per punt. The Warhawks won three straight Wisconsin State University Conference championships from the 1990 to 1992 seasons.[2]
[edit] Professional career
Before entering the NFL, Turk also punted for the Racine Raiders, a semi-professional football team in Racine, Wisconsin.
Turk punted for the Houston Texans in 2007 after punting for the St. Louis Rams the previous year. He has also punted for the Miami Dolphins, the Washington Redskins, and the New York Jets.
On March 18, 2008, the Texans re-signed Turk to a two-year, $2.35 million contract with a $500,000 signing bonus. He was re-signed to a one-year contract on March 5, 2010.
With the retirement of Jeff Feagles, Turk became the oldest active player in the league after the 2008 season.[1] However, in week 4 of the 2010 season, the New Orleans Saints resigned 46-year-old kicker John Carney and released Carney in October 2010, thereby relinquishing the status of oldest active player back in the league back to Turk. Turk is the only currently active NFL player born in the 1960s.
Turk signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on July 29, 2011. He was released on October 11.
Following an injury to the Texans' punter, Brett Hartmann, on December 4, which ended his season, the Texans signed Turk in his place on December 6.
[edit] Personal
The youngest of six brothers,[3] Matt Turk had a brother who also played in the NFL, Dan Turk, who was a center for 15 seasons; Dan died on December 24, 2000. In his last season, Dan was the long snapper for one of Matt's punts, to become the first brothers to do so.[4]
His nephew, Ben Turk, is the starting punter for the University of Notre Dame.
[edit] References
- ^ a b McGinn, Bob (December 6, 2008). "Turk offers cold logic to Kapinos". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/35644964.html. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
- ^ "Derek Stanley joins another former Warhawk in Saint Louis". Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks. May 1, 2007. http://www.warhawkfootball.com/viewnews.asp?pId=1097. Retrieved June 12, 2011.
- ^ "Matt Turk". Houston Texans. http://www.houstontexans.com/team/roster/Matt-Turk/da2f5da2-082b-430a-ab27-09bf5a9aad8e. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
- ^ Duncan, Chris (August 3, 2007). "Texans punter inspired by memory of his brother". USA Today. Associated Press. http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-08-03-1246044676_x.htm. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
[edit] External links
- 1968 births
- Living people
- American football punters
- Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks football players
- Undrafted National Football League players
- Green Bay Packers players
- Los Angeles Rams players
- Washington Redskins players
- Miami Dolphins players
- New York Jets players
- St. Louis Rams players
- Houston Texans players
- Jacksonville Jaguars players
- National Conference Pro Bowl players
- People from Greenfield, Wisconsin
- Players of American football from Wisconsin
