Matt Turk
{{Short description|American football player (born 1968)}}
{{for|the singer/songwriter|Matt Turk (musician)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Matt Turk
| image = Matt Turk.JPG
| caption = Turk in 2010
| number = 1
| position = Punter
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1968|6|16}}
| birth_place = Greenfield, Wisconsin, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 5
| weight_lb = 251
| high_school = Greenfield
| college = UW–Whitewater (1988–1990)
| undraftedyear = 1993
| pastteams = * Racine Raiders (1993)
- Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1993}})*
- Los Angeles Rams ({{NFL Year|1994}})*
- Washington Redskins ({{NFL Year|1995|1999}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2000|2001}})
- New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2002}})
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2003|2005}})
- St. Louis Rams ({{NFL Year|2006}})
- Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2007|2010}})
- Jacksonville Jaguars ({{NFL Year|2011}})
- Houston Texans (2011)
| highlights = * First-team All-Pro (1996)
| statlabel1 = Punts
| statvalue1 = 1,143
| statlabel2 = Punt yards
| statvalue2 = 48,414
| statlabel3 = Average
| statvalue3 = 42.8
| pfr = TurkMa20
}}
File:Matt Turk punt Texans vs Cowboys.jpg
Matthew Edward Turk (born June 16, 1968) is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL).{{cite web| url = http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-01-05/sports/fl-notre-dame-local-players-0106-20130105_1_matt-turk-long-snapper-ben-turk| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130702135849/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2013-01-05/sports/fl-notre-dame-local-players-0106-20130105_1_matt-turk-long-snapper-ben-turk| archive-date = 2013-07-02| title = Notre Dame's Cowart, Turk enjoy perfect homecoming - Sun Sentinel}} He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1993. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. A three-time Pro Bowl selection, Turk has also been a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, St. Louis Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Houston Texans. He is the 2nd tallest punter in NFL history (tied with 2 others).{{Cite web |date=2018-08-07 |title=Tallest NFL Players At Each Position Throughout History |url=https://thatonesportsshow.com/tallest-nfl-players-at-each-position-throughout-history/ |access-date=2023-08-18 |website=That One Sports Show |language=en}}
Early years
Turk graduated from Greenfield High School in his birthplace of Greenfield, Wisconsin in 1986.{{cite news|last=McGinn|first=Bob|title=Turk offers cold logic to Kapinos|url=http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/35644964.html|access-date=June 10, 2011|newspaper=Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel|date=December 6, 2008}}
Matt played college football for the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1993. With the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks, Turk averaged 36.3 yards per punt. The Warhawks won the Wisconsin State University Conference Championship in 1990 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wiacsports.com/documents/2010/6/18/FootballTeamChamp.pdf?id=76|title = Football Team Champs (PDF) - Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference}} Turk also played the tight end position at UWW.{{cite web|title=Derek Stanley joins another former Warhawk in Saint Louis|url=http://www.warhawkfootball.com/viewnews.asp?pId=1097|publisher=Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks|access-date=June 12, 2011|date=May 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501142657/http://www.warhawkfootball.com/viewnews.asp?pId=1097|archive-date=May 1, 2008|url-status=dead}}
Professional career
Turk played for the Racine Raiders before entering the NFL. He signed with the Green Bay Packers and Los Angeles Rams in 1993 and 1994 respectively, but did not make the final roster on either team.
=Washington Redskins=
On April 5, 1995, the Washington Redskins signed Turk, and for the first time in his career, he made an NFL roster. In 1996 he was named a First Team All-Pro, the last time a Washington player of any position has received that honor until guard Brandon Scherff was honored in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://wtop.com/washington-football/2021/01/washington-football-team-offensive-guard-scherff-makes-ap-all-pro-first-team/|title = Washington Football Team offensive guard Scherff makes AP All-Pro First Team|date = 8 January 2021}} He stayed on the team until they traded Turk to the Miami Dolphins on March 9, 2000. He was traded because of a strained relationship with owner Dan Snyder over a finger injury he had that caused him to miss a game. He also was upset because there was a report that he got injured in a basketball game (although that was later proven false after it was discovered that he was misdiagnosed.) Turk said he "wasn't surprised" and the Redskins "did him a favor" by trading him.{{cite web| url = http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2000-03-09/sports/0003081300_1_stanley-pritchett-dolphins-anthony-dorsett| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140109064443/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2000-03-09/sports/0003081300_1_stanley-pritchett-dolphins-anthony-dorsett| archive-date = 2014-01-09| title = Trade Lands Turk From Washington - Sun Sentinel}}
=Miami Dolphins=
Turk played for the Dolphins for 2 seasons (2000–2001).
=New York Jets=
On April 23, 2002, Turk signed with the New York Jets. On March 7, he was released.
=Return to Dolphins=
After a poor performance by Mark Royals, Turk was re-signed by the Dolphins on September 29, 2003. After having a visit with the Green Bay Packers (the first team he signed with his career),{{Cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114215580.html|title=BIDWELL, PACKERS SEVER TIES THE PUNTER TURNS DOWN AN OFFER TO SIGN WITH THE TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS.(SPORTS) - The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, WI) | HighBeam Research|date=10 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610220430/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114215580.html |accessdate=25 May 2023|archive-date=2014-06-10 }} he ultimately re-signed with the Dolphins on March 23, 2004.[https://web.archive.org/web/20140610220439/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-92628018.html HighBeam] After being placed on Injured Reserve,[https://web.archive.org/web/20140610220435/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-113032126.html HighBeam] he was released on October 12, 2005.
=Return to Rams=
On April 4, 2006, Turk and the St. Louis Rams agreed to a 1-year deal[https://web.archive.org/web/20140610220437/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-11204847.html HighBeam] 12 years after he signed with the team.
=Houston Texans=
The Houston Texans signed Matt Turk late in the 2007 offseason to compete with incumbent punter Chad Stanley. He won the job after Chad Stanley was cut on August 31, 2007{{Cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-release-veteran-punter-Chad-Stanley-1833590.php|title = Texans release veteran punter Chad Stanley|date = 31 August 2007}} After ranking 2nd in punts inside the 20, he was re-signed for a 2-year, 3.5 million dollar contract on March 19, 2008, the first day he was eligible to sign a free agent contract.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Texans-to-re-sign-punter-Turk-1774263.php|title=Texans to re-sign punter Turk|date=19 March 2008}} On March 9, 2010, his agent David Canter announced he signed a 1-year contract to return to the Texans. He was not re-signed in 2011
=Jacksonville Jaguars=
On July 28, 2011, Turk signed a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was released October 11 {{cite tweet|user=taniaganguli|number=123840317882499072|title=Twitter post}} {{dead link|date=May 2023}} after a terrible game against the Bengals. The fans booed him and he was waving his hands as if he wanted to be booed more.{{Cite web |url=http://members.jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2011-10-09/story/jaguars-notebook-matt-turk-silent-after-costly-late-punt |title=Jacksonville |access-date=2014-01-09 |archive-date=2014-01-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110093543/http://members.jacksonville.com/sports/football/jaguars/2011-10-09/story/jaguars-notebook-matt-turk-silent-after-costly-late-punt |url-status=dead }}
=Return to Texans=
After Brett Hartmann was placed on IR, the Texans re-signed Matt Turk. He said it was a "dream come true" to return to the team.
NFL career statistics
| class="wikitable" |
| colspan="2"| Legend |
|---|
| style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"|
| Led the league |
| Bold
| Career high |
=Regular season=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Punting | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punts | Yds | Avg | Lng | Blk | |
| 1995 | WAS
| 16 || 74 || 3,140 || 42.4 || 60 || 0 | ||||
| 1996 | WAS
| 16 || 75 || 3,386 || 45.1 || 63 || 0 | ||||
| 1997 | WAS
| 16 || 84 || 3,788 || 45.1 || 62 || 1 | ||||
| 1998 | WAS
| 16 || 93 || 4,103 || 44.1 || 69 || 1 | ||||
| 1999 | WAS
| 14 || 62 || 2,564 || 41.4 || 57 || 0 | ||||
| 2000 | MIA
| 16 || 92 || 3,870 || 42.1 || style="background:#cfecec; width:3em;"| 70 || 0 | ||||
| 2001 | MIA
| 16 || 81 || 3,321 || 41.0 || 77 || 0 | ||||
| 2002 | NYJ
| 16 || 63 || 2,584 || 41.0 || 65 || 0 | ||||
| 2003 | MIA
| 13 || 68 || 2,631 || 38.7 || 57 || 0 | ||||
| 2004 | MIA
| 16 || 98 || 4,088 || 41.7 || 67 || 0 | ||||
| 2005 | MIA
| 0 || colspan="5"| did not play due to injury | ||||
| 2006 | STL
| 16 || 72 || 3,132 || 43.5 || 74 || 1 | ||||
| 2007 | HOU
| 16 || 55 || 2,296 || 41.7 || 59 || 0 | ||||
| 2008 | HOU
| 16 || 53 || 2,240 || 42.3 || 59 || 0 | ||||
| 2009 | HOU
| 16 || 67 || 2,866 || 42.8 || 62 || 0 | ||||
| 2010 | HOU
| 16 || 63 || 2,650 || 42.1 || 60 || 0 | ||||
| rowspan="2"|2011 | JAX
| 5 || 27 || 1,072 || 39.7 || 65 || 0 | ||||
| HOU
| 4 || 16 || 683 || 42.7 || 55 || 0 | |||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurkMa20.htm Career]
! 244 | 1,143 | 48,414 | 42.4 | 77 | 3 |
=Postseason=
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" | |||||
| rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Team ! rowspan="2"| GP ! colspan="5"| Punting | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punts | Yds | Avg | Lng | Blk | |
| 1999 | WAS
| 2 || 12 || 499 || 41.6 || 52 || 0 | ||||
| 2000 | MIA
| 2 || 9 || 343 || 38.1 || 51 || 0 | ||||
| 2001 | MIA
| 1 || 5 || 237 || 47.4 || 52 || 0 | ||||
| 2002 | NYJ
| 2 || 4 || 137 || 34.3 || 39 || 0 | ||||
| 2011 | HOU
| 2 || 10 || 451 || 45.1 || 56|| 0 | ||||
| colspan="2"| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/T/TurkMa20.htm Career]
! 9 | 40 | 1,667 | 41.7 | 56 | 0 |
Personal life
Turk currently lives in Houston, Texas. He has a wife, Stephanie, and his 3 daughters.{{Cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/sports/texans/article/Justice-Every-day-like-Father-s-Day-for-Texans-1701610.php|title = Justice: Every day like Father's Day for Texans' Turk|date = 20 June 2010}}
The youngest of six brothers,{{cite web|title=Matt Turk|url=http://www.houstontexans.com/team/roster/Matt-Turk/da2f5da2-082b-430a-ab27-09bf5a9aad8e|publisher=Houston Texans|access-date=June 10, 2011}} Matt Turk had a brother who also played in the NFL, Dan Turk, who was a center for 15 seasons; Dan died on December 24, 2000. In his last season, Dan was the long snapper for one of Matt's punts, to become the first brothers to do so.{{cite news|last=Duncan|first=Chris|url=https://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/2007-08-03-1246044676_x.htm|title=Texans punter inspired by memory of his brother|work=USA Today|agency=Associated Press|date=August 3, 2007|access-date=June 10, 2011}}
His nephew, Ben Turk, was the starting punter for the University of Notre Dame for the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons.{{cite web|title=Ben Turk|url=http://www.und.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/turk_ben00.html|publisher=UND|access-date=Sep 15, 2012}} Ben Turk worked out for the Texans' rookie mini camp in the 2013 off season, but didn't sign.{{Cite web|url=http://blog.chron.com/ultimatetexans/2013/05/texans-report-56-players-take-part-in-drills/|title=Texans report: 56 players take part in drills|date=11 May 2013}} Another of Matt's nephews, Michael Turk was a punter for Arizona State, and transferred to Oklahoma in 2021.{{Cite web|url=https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2020/02/28/arizona-states-michael-turk-excels-in-feats-of-strength/|title=Michael Turk Combine|last=Turk|date=28 February 2020|website=|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}} In April 2023, after going undrafted Michael Turk was signed by one of his uncles former teams, the Miami Dolphins before getting cut.
References
{{reflist|2}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Turk, Matt}}
Category:American football punters
Category:Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks football players
Category:Green Bay Packers players
Category:Los Angeles Rams players
Category:Washington Redskins players
Category:Miami Dolphins players
Category:New York Jets players
Category:St. Louis Rams players
Category:Houston Texans players
Category:21st-century American sportsmen
Category:Jacksonville Jaguars players
Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players
Category:People from Greenfield, Wisconsin
Category:Players of American football from Milwaukee County, Wisconsin