Jeff Gossett is a former American football punter who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He was born on November 25, 1958, in Burbank, California, and attended Burbank High School before playing college football at Fullerton College and Eastern Illinois University.
Gossett began his professional career in 1981 when he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he was released before the start of the regular season and joined the San Francisco 49ers as a replacement player during the 1982 NFL strike. He played in three games for the 49ers before being released again.
In 1983, Gossett signed with the Cleveland Browns and became their starting punter. He played for the Browns for four seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl in 1984. In 1987, he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts, where he played for six seasons and set a franchise record for the longest punt in team history (81 yards).
Gossett also played for the Los Angeles Raiders (1993-1994), the Seattle Seahawks (1995), and the New England Patriots (1996) before retiring from the NFL. He finished his career with 1,282 punts for 53,357 yards and a 41.6-yard average.
Aside from his punting duties, Gossett also served as a backup quarterback and holder during his career. He completed 5 of 10 passes for 60 yards and one touchdown and had a 100% completion rate as a holder.
After retiring from football, Gossett worked as a real estate agent and also coached high school football. He was inducted into the Eastern Illinois University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Burbank High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2009.
Overall, Jeff Gossett had a successful career as a punter in the NFL, playing for multiple teams and earning recognition as one of the league's best at his position.
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