Rick Donnelly

Richard Patrick Donnelly (born May 17, 1962) is a former punter in the National Football League (NFL). He played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Seattle Seahawks. He was an All-Pro in 1987 and 1988, and led the NFL in punts in 1988 with 98. He played college football at Wyoming.

Early life Donnelly taught himself to kick footballs on the street in front of his house: "I'd get three footballs, go out into the road, kick them back and forth and run after them all day long." He was inspired by his older brother, Joe, who played fullback at Post. He played kicker on the football team, though he was also the team's starting quarterback as a senior. "I was really just trying to get away from it all, get away from the East," he said. "I had grown up there, lived there all my life. I wanted something different." As a senior in 1984, he finished third in the nation with an average of 47.5 yards per punt. He also went three for six on field goals and 30 for 30 on extra points, and was invited to play in the East–West Shrine Bowl. He played in two preseason games, averaging 44.5 yards per punt, but he was waived in favor of veteran Rich Camarillo. Donnelly was signed by the Atlanta Falcons on August 23, and the team soon released their veteran punter, Ralph Giacomarro.

In 1987, Donnelly recorded a league-leading gross average of 44.0 yards per punt, finishing just ahead of Pro Bowl punter Jim Arnold.

Donnelly missed the entire 1989 season after undergoing back surgery.

NFL career statistics Legend Led the league Bold Career high

Year Team Punting Punts 1985 ATL 11 59 2,574 2,214 68 43.6 37.5 0 18 5 1986 ATL 16 78 3,421 2,764 71 43.9 35.0 1 19 9 1987 ATL 12 61 2,686 2,025 62 44.0 32.1 2 9 8 1988 ATL 16 98 3,920 3,503 61 40.0 35.7 0 26 6 1990 SEA 16 67 2,722 2,308 54 40.6 34.4 0 18 8 1991 SEA 3 13 505 439 57 38.8 33.8 0 1 1 Career 74 376 15,828 13,253 71 42.1 35.0 3 91 37

Personal life During his time in the NFL he married his former wife Jackie. Together they had three kids, Kale, Jessie, and Bobbie they later divorced due to complications during their marriage, he later remarried to his now wife Debra together they had 2 kids Jackson, and Steven. They now they live together in Cheyenne, Wyoming.