Best of the Packers: Top 10 kickers, punters since 1960
By Phil Watson
9. Craig Hentrich (1994-97)
The Green Bay Packers added former Notre Dame punter/kicker Craig Hentrich to their practice squad in 1993 and he went on to be the club’s regular punter for four seasons, including the Super Bowl campaigns of 1996 and 1997.
Hentrich, a record-setting punter at Notre Dame, was taken in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft by the New York Jets, but was released in training camp.
Earning the starting job in 1994, Hentrich punted for the Packers for four seasons, averaging 45 yards a boot in 1997.
He also filled in for kicker Chris Jacke for two games in 1995, making 3-of-5 field goal tried and all five of his extra-point attempts.
Over four seasons, Hentrick averaged 42.8 yards a kick as a Packer.
He signed with the Tennessee Oilers, later the Titans, in the spring of 1998 and earned All-Pro honors while leading the NFL in punting average. He made two Pro Bowl appearances in his 12 years in Tennessee, retiring after missing the 2009 season with an injury.
In 16 seasons, he averaged 42.9 yards on 1,150 punts.
He is fourth on the Packers all-time list among punters with at least 100 kicks and his 45.0 yard average in 1997 was the team’s single-season record for 14 years and now stands second in franchise history.
Next: Longtime NFL Kicker Started In Green Bay