Colby Wadman Bio
Colby Wadman is an American professional football punter for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). Born on April 19, 1995, in Bangor, Maine, he attended Thousand Oaks High School in California before playing college football for the UC Davis Aggies. Since entering professional football in 2017, Wadman has spent time with several NFL organizations, including the Oakland Raiders, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Commanders, while also building a successful career in spring football. He is a two-time USFL champion, a UFL champion, and the USFL punting average leader in 2023.
Listed at 6 feet 1 inch and 226 pounds, Wadman has carved out a long professional career as a specialist, valued for his consistency and directional punting. His path has included brief NFL stints, a release cycle, and championships in the USFL and UFL, establishing him as a dependable veteran punter at the professional level.
Early Life and Background
Colby Wadman was born on April 19, 1995, in Bangor, Maine. He later relocated to California, where he attended Thousand Oaks High School and played high school football. His time in the Thousand Oaks program gave him his earliest exposure to organized football at a competitive level.
Coming out of high school, Wadman was not regarded as a top national recruit, but his development as a punter continued at the collegiate level. He went on to join the University of California, Davis, where he would spend the next several years refining his craft.
Path to American Football
Wadman played college football for the UC Davis Aggies from 2013 to 2016, serving as the program’s punter during that span. UC Davis competes at the Division I FCS level, providing Wadman with consistent in-game experience and the opportunity to develop a pro-style approach to his punting duties.
After completing his college career, Wadman entered the 2017 NFL draft as an undrafted free agent. Although he did not hear his name called during the draft, his collegiate resume was enough to attract NFL interest, and he soon began pursuing a professional opportunity in the league.
Colby Wadman Career
Early Career (2017–2018)
Following the 2017 NFL draft, Wadman worked toward earning a professional opportunity. On March 16, 2018, he signed with the Oakland Raiders, but was waived on May 11 of the same year. The short stint in Oakland did not derail his trajectory, as another opportunity quickly materialized later that summer.
On September 26, 2018, Wadman was signed to the practice squad of the Denver Broncos. Ten days later, he was promoted to the active roster following an injury to incumbent punter Marquette King. In Week 5 of the 2018 season, Wadman made his NFL debut against the New York Jets, recording eight punts for 329 net yards in a loss. He finished the 2018 season with 65 punts for 2,905 net yards and a 44.69 average, solidifying himself as an NFL-caliber punter.
Denver Broncos Breakthrough (2018–2019)
Wadman’s first extended NFL action came with the Denver Broncos, who gave him a full opportunity to handle punting duties after his promotion in 2018. His performance through the back half of that season demonstrated the leg strength and placement that defined his later career, and the Broncos retained him into the 2019 season as well.
During his time in Denver, Wadman established a reputation for consistent hang time and the ability to flip field position. His tenure with the Broncos ended on April 23, 2020, when he was waived by the team, opening the door to the next phase of his professional journey.
Birmingham Stallions Era (2022–Present)
Wadman was selected by the Birmingham Stallions of the United States Football League in the 33rd round of the 2022 USFL draft. He became the team’s punter and contributed to back-to-back USFL championship seasons in 2022 and 2023, establishing himself as one of the most reliable specialists in the league.
After being released in August 2023 to pursue an NFL opportunity, Wadman had a brief stint with the Washington Commanders before returning to the Stallions. He re-signed on September 25, 2023, was released on April 30, 2024, and was re-signed twice more during the 2024 season. With the Stallions, he added a UFL championship in 2024 to his growing collection of spring football titles, and he remains on the active roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Wadman is recognized for his directional punting and ability to control field position, with a strong average and a willingness to attack the boundaries of the field. His career NFL average of 44.5 yards per punt, paired with 51 punts placed inside the 20-yard line across 143 total punts, illustrates the precision he brings to the specialist role.
Notable Events and Milestones
Wadman’s most notable milestones include winning USFL championships in 2022 and 2023, earning UFL champion honors in 2024, and being named to the All-USFL Team in 2023. He also led the USFL in punting average in 2023, capping a defining spring season that reinforced his value as one of the top punters in the spring football circuit.
Colby Wadman Career Wins
Colby Wadman’s professional resume features three major spring football championships, with back-to-back USFL titles in 2022 and 2023 and a UFL title in 2024. While individual game-win totals as a punter are not formally tracked, his role on championship rosters in three consecutive seasons speaks to the consistency and trust placed in him by his special teams units.
USFL Highlights
Wadman joined the Birmingham Stallions as a 33rd-round selection in the 2022 USFL draft and quickly became the team’s primary punter. He helped the Stallions capture USFL championships in 2022 and 2023, and in 2023 he was named to the All-USFL Team after leading the league in punting average. His 2023 campaign was his most decorated individual season, blending championship team success with personal recognition.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his spring football championships, Wadman logged meaningful NFL regular-season action with the Denver Broncos in 2018 and 2019, including a 2018 season in which he averaged 44.69 yards per punt. Across his combined NFL career, he has recorded 143 punts for 6,369 punting yards, with a long of 65 yards.
Colby Wadman Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Wadman’s family background has not been publicly detailed in available verified sources. While he was born in Bangor, Maine, and later moved to California for high school, broader information about his parents and any athletic lineage in his family is not confirmed.
Personal Life
Details about Wadman’s personal life, including marital status, spouse, and children, are not publicly confirmed in available verified sources. His long professional career has been primarily defined by his on-field performance and championship contributions with the Birmingham Stallions.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Colby Wadman remains with the Birmingham Stallions, a franchise that has won three consecutive spring football championships with him as its punter. The Stallions are expected to field one of the most stable rosters in the UFL, and Wadman’s continued presence provides a veteran anchor for the special teams unit.
Wadman will look to extend his championship streak in 2025 while maintaining the strong punting average that has defined his professional career. Having already proven himself as a UFL champion and a former USFL punting average leader, his primary storyline this season is consistency and continued postseason success.
With the Stallions continuing to operate as a model spring football franchise, Wadman’s role as a steady, experienced punter should remain a key piece of the team’s identity and a foundation for any championship push in 2025.
