Chris Gardocki is a former American football punter who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He was born on February 7, 1970, in Stone Mountain, Georgia, and attended the University of Clemson, where he played college football for the Clemson Tigers.
Gardocki was selected by the Chicago Bears in the third round of the 1991 NFL Draft and played for the team for four seasons. He then played for the Indianapolis Colts for three seasons before joining the Cleveland Browns in 1999. Gardocki played for the Browns for five seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2002. He then played for the Pittsburgh Steelers for four seasons before retiring after the 2006 season.
Throughout his career, Gardocki was known for his consistency and accuracy as a punter. He was also known for his ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory and for his strong leg, which allowed him to kick the ball long distances. Gardocki finished his career with 1,318 punts for 56,666 yards, an average of 43.0 yards per punt. He also had 209 punts inside the 20-yard line and 34 touchbacks.
In addition to his success as a punter, Gardocki was also a reliable holder for field goals and extra points. He played in 238 consecutive games, which was the longest streak for a punter in NFL history at the time of his retirement.
After retiring from the NFL, Gardocki became a high school football coach and worked as a color analyst for college football games on ESPN. He was also involved in charitable work, including the Chris Gardocki Foundation, which supports children with cancer and their families.
Overall, Chris Gardocki had a successful career as a punter in the NFL, earning recognition as one of the best at his position. He was known for his consistency, accuracy, and ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory, and he played in 238 consecutive games, which was a testament to his durability and reliability.
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