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Jon Ryan

Jon Ryan

Pro Highlights:

Signed by Green Bay as a reserve/future free agent on Feb. 1, 2006, won the punting job through mini-camps and training camp over incumbent B.J. Sander and played in all 16 games in his first NFL season

Showed a strong leg and is being counted on to use his cold-weather experience to Green Bay's advantage, having spent two years with the Canadian Football League's Winnipeg Blue Bombers and setting a CFL record for punting average before signing with the Packers

His 44.5-yard gross average was ranked ninth in the NFL and was the third-best single-season mark in team history

Boomed four punts 60 yards or longer, three coming in consecutive games

With more consistency, particularly with his hang time, is projected as a solid NFL punter with a bright and long future in the league

Also displayed tremendous mental toughness in a very trying season, finding out during training camp that his father Bob was diagnosed with terminal cancer

His dad, an avid Packers fan, was tremendously proud his son had earned the team's punting job and came to see him play at Lambeau Field twice, once in the preseason and again on a surprise visit Oct. 29, vs. Arizona

Shortly after a visit home to Canada to see his father, found out he passed away and still took the field to punt in that week's game vs. N.Y. Jets (Dec. 3), saying it never crossed his mind that he wouldn't play

Was voted by his teammates as the Packers' 2006 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, given for displaying commitments to the principles of courage and sportsmanship, while serving as inspirations in their locker rooms

Also acted as the team's holder, developing good chemistry with K Dave Rayner and performing flawlessly, experiencing no problems on 36 field goal tries and 32 PATs despite not ever doing that regularly in his football career prior

Player Profile

2006 Season: In his first NFL season, played in all 16 games, punting 84 times for a 44.5-yard gross average - the third-best single-season mark in team annals, and ninth in the '06 league rankings - with 17 punts inside the 20

Also completed a pass, his first since college

Showed his potential with a 69-yard punt in the preseason finale vs. Tennessee (Sept. 1), the NFC's longest preseason punt, and followed that up by averaging 45.0 yards on six punts in his NFL regular-season debut vs. Chicago (Sept. 10)

Also threw his first NFL pass in that game, a 16-yard play on a successful fake punt late in the first half (RB Noah Herron made a fingertip catch)

The pass was his first in an organized game since another fake punt as a senior in 2003 at the University of Regina (Canada)

Hit a 66-yard punt at Detroit (Sept. 24), then matched the distance two weeks later, vs. St. Louis (Oct. 8)

Those were the longest by a Packers punter since Josh Bidwell's 68-yarder at Jacksonville on Dec. 3, 2001

Also had a 60-yarder at Philly (Oct. 2) in between, giving him a 60-yard-plus boot in three straight games

Compiled twin 49.6-yard gross averages in back-to-back games, Sept. 24-Oct. 2; the mark was the team's highest (min. four punts) since Bidwell averaged 53.3 at New Orleans, Sept. 15, 2002

In Week 10, established a season high by averaging 50.0 yards on seven punts, including five over 50, at Minnesota (Nov. 12)

Averaged 39.5 yards on two punts just two days after his father's death vs. N.Y. Jets (Dec. 3), saying his father would have wanted him to play that day no matter how difficult the circumstances

In the rematch with the Vikings (Dec. 21), boomed a 61-yarder

College Highlights:

  • In 2003, led Canadian college punters with a 45.9-yard average
  • Was an Interuniversity Sport first-team All-Canadian selection and a Canada West first-team all-star
  • In addition to punter, also saw time at flanker and ran track for the Rams
  • Caught a 109-yard TD pass as a sophomore and led the Rams in receiving that year with 645 yards

Personal Info:

Given name Jonathan Robert Ryan

Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Single

Father, Bob, was an avid Packers fan dating back to the 1960s who took tremendous pride in his son's earning an NFL job in Green Bay and came to see him punt twice before passing away from cancer late in the 2006 season

Younger brother, Steve, also plays football at the University of Regina as a defensive back

Majored in psychology

An all-around athlete, played lacrosse, hockey, football, basketball and ran track as a prep

Was a hockey goalie since his days as a young child before deciding to concentrate solely on football as a high school senior

Played running back, kicker and punter at Sheldon-Williams (Regina, Saskatchewan) High School

Also was a three-time all-star in lacrosse

Hosted 'Pro for a Day' this past June, a football camp to benefit inner-city and disadvantaged youth in his hometown

In October 2006, volunteered his time at Green Bay's N.E.W. Community Shelter, helping assemble a shed, give out bicycles and serve dinner to the shelter's residents

Attended the Pals-Packers Halloween party and also took part in the team's annual charity golf tournament

Residence: De Pere, Wisconsin

For more info on Jon and the Packers please visit: http://www.packers.com/team/players/ryan_jon/