NFL Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy dies at age 72

Ray Guy (YouTube)

According to Ryan Gaydos of FOX News, National Football League Hall of Fame punter Ray Guy of Swainsboro, Georgia passed away on Thursday at the age of 72. Guy was a seven-time Pro Bowler who played with the Oakland Raiders from 1973 to 1981, and then the Los Angeles Raiders from 1982 to 1986.

Guy made NFL history before he ever played a single game, When he was drafted with the 23rd pick in the 1973 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, he became the first punter to be selected in the first round of a NFL Draft. Guy played his college football at Southern Mississippi.

Guy was selected to the Pro Bowl every year from 1973 to 1978, and again in 1980. In 1980, he delivered the longest punt of his career for 77 yards. It would be the longest punt of the 1980 NFL regular season.

Also known for his consistency, Guy led the NFL in yards per punt thrice. He had 42.2 yards per punt in 1974, a career-high 43.8 yards per punt in 1975, and 43.3 yards per punt in 1977. In all Guy had 1049 punts for 44493 yards, with a career average of 42.4 yards.

Guy was also a three-time Super Bowl champion. In Super Bowl XI on January 9, 1977, he had four punts for 162 yards as the Raiders defeated the Minnesota Vikings 32-14. The Raiders won the game despite the fact one of Guy’s punts was blocked. In Super Bowl XV on January 25, 1981, he had three punts for 126 yards as the Raiders defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 27-10. Then in Super Bowl XVIII, the Raiders clobbered the Washington Redskins 38-9 on January 22, 1984. Guy had seven punts for 299 yards.

In 2000, an award was bestowed in Ray Guy’s name. The best punter at the National Collegiate Athletic Association level on an annual basis wins the Ray Guy Award. Guy was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2014. Guy is the second Hall of Fame punter to have died in the last month. Charley Trippi of the Chicago Cardinals, who was known for playing multiple positions, died at the age of 100 on October 19. 

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