Johnny Hekker

Johnny Hekker Bio

John Robert Hekker is an American professional football punter in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon State Beavers and entered the NFL in 2012 as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Rams. Across more than a decade in the league, he has earned a reputation as one of the most accurate and inventive punters of his era, highlighted by a Super Bowl championship and multiple All-Pro selections.

Hekker played ten seasons with the St. Louis and Los Angeles Rams from 2012 to 2021, appeared in Super Bowl LIII, and won Super Bowl LVI. After three seasons with the Carolina Panthers, he signed with the Tennessee Titans in 2025 and later joined the Minnesota Vikings in 2026.

Early Life and Background

John Robert Hekker was born on February 8, 1990, in Redmond, Washington. He grew up in the Pacific Northwest and attended Bothell High School in nearby Bothell, Washington, graduating in 2008. At 6 feet 5 inches and around 225 pounds, he developed into a dual-threat football player who handled both kicking and quarterbacking duties for the Cougars.

During his senior season at Bothell, Hekker served as the starting quarterback and punter and led the Cougars to a Washington state championship game, which they ultimately lost. He also briefly played basketball for the school during that same year. His experience directing an offense as a high school quarterback later influenced his confidence in executing fake punts and on-field audibles at the professional level.

Path to the NFL

After high school, Hekker joined the Oregon State Beavers football program at Oregon State University, where he played from 2008 through 2011. As a freshman in the 2008 Sun Bowl, he was named Special Teams MVP after averaging 45 yards on ten punts, including boots of 57 and 52 yards in the fourth quarter of a 3–0 win over the Pitt Panthers. That performance announced him as one of the most promising young punters in college football.

Hekker was a four-year starter in Corvallis and finished his college career as one of Oregon State’s most prolific punters. In 2011, he set a single-game school record with a 52.5-yard average on six punts against the Utah Utes, ranked third in school history in career punt yardage at 41.3 yards per punt, and earned Pac-12 Conference Honorable Mention with 87 career punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He was also a Ray Guy Award semifinalist and a College Football Performance Award Punter of the Week during his senior campaign.

Johnny Hekker Career

Rams Rookie Years (2012–2013)

Hekker signed with the St. Louis Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2012 and made an immediate impact. In his second professional game he was nominated for Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week after recording three punts for 163 yards with a 54.33-yard net average and a long of 66 yards. Two weeks later, against the Seattle Seahawks, he threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Danny Amendola on a fake field goal, becoming the first Rams punter to throw a touchdown pass since the AFL-NFL merger.

Hekker finished his rookie season with 82 punts for 3,756 net yards and a 45.8 average. In 2013, he officially broke the single-season record for net punt yards with a 44.2 average, surpassing the previous mark held by Andy Lee, and earned his first Pro Bowl selection and First-team All-Pro honor.

St. Louis / Los Angeles Rams Peak (2014–2018)

On December 5, 2014, Hekker agreed to a six-year, $18 million contract extension with $9 million guaranteed, the largest contract ever given to a punter at that time. He continued to expand his role as a secret weapon on fake punts, throwing a key pass to running back Benny Cunningham against the Seahawks later that season. In 2015, he again led the league in net punting average, led the NFL in punts and punting yards with 96 and 4,601 respectively, and earned Second-team All-Pro honors.

The 2016 campaign is widely regarded as Hekker’s finest. He set NFL records for punts downed inside the 20 with 51, produced just one touchback, and broke his own net punting yardage record with a 46.0 average. He finished the season with 98 punts for a league-leading 4,680 net yards and a 47.76 average, earning his third Pro Bowl nod and third First-team All-Pro selection.

In 2017, Hekker signed a two-year extension with the Rams and added another Pro Bowl and First-team All-Pro honor. He finished with 65 punts for 3,113 net yards and a 47.89 average as the Rams went 11–5 and reached the playoffs. The 2018 season included a memorable Super Bowl LIII appearance against the New England Patriots, where he set a Super Bowl record with a 65-yard punt, breaking the mark previously held by his former Oregon State teammate Ryan Allen. He also completed a 12-yard fake-punt pass to Sam Shields during the NFC Championship win over the Saints. Hekker closed the Rams era as a four-time First-team All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowler, and a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2010s All-Decade Team.

Championship and Later Stops (2019–2024)

Across 2019 and 2020, Hekker remained a steady force for the Rams, earning multiple NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and Player of the Month awards while averaging more than 47 yards per kick in 2019. In 2021, he played a pivotal role in the Rams’ playoff run, planting all five of his punts inside the 20-yard line in a 34–11 Wild Card win over the Cardinals, and then helped Los Angeles defeat the Cincinnati Bengals 23–20 in Super Bowl LVI to capture his first championship ring.

The Rams released Hekker on March 16, 2022, and two days later he signed a three-year, $7.6 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. With Carolina, he posted 81 punts for 3,925 yards and a 48.46 average in 2022, 82 punts for 3,838 yards and a 46.80 average in 2023, and 73 punts for 3,338 yards and a 45.73 average in 2024, providing veteran reliability throughout his three-year Panthers stint.

Tennessee Titans Era (2025–2026)

On March 13, 2025, Hekker signed a one-year, $1.42 million contract with the Tennessee Titans. In his lone season in Tennessee he handled 78 punts for 3,653 yards and a 46.8 average, serving as the team’s primary punter and continuing to provide strong field-position work for the Titans’ coverage units.

Driving Style and Strengths

Hekker built his reputation on a combination of booming leg strength and exceptional placement inside the 20-yard line. He was comfortable executing fake punts and audibles, often changing protections or throwing passes at his own discretion. His willingness to take on situational football responsibilities made him a trusted weapon for his coaching staffs throughout his career.

Notable Events and Milestones

Signature moments include his rookie touchdown pass to Danny Amendola, the Super Bowl-record 65-yard punt against New England in 2018, and his pinpoint Wild Card performance against Arizona in the 2021 playoff run that helped propel the Rams to a Super Bowl LVI title. His career 1,041 punts for 48,705 yards and 401 punts downed inside the 20 rank him among the most productive punters of his generation.

Johnny Hekker Career Highlights

Johnny Hekker has built one of the most decorated careers of any punter in modern NFL history, with one Super Bowl championship, four First-team All-Pro selections, four Pro Bowl invitations, and a place on the Pro Football Hall of Fame 2010s All-Decade Team.

NFL and Playoff Highlights

His first NFL win came as a rookie in 2012 with the St. Louis Rams, and his most recent playoff victory was the Rams’ 34–11 Wild Card win over the Cardinals in January 2022. Hekker earned four First-team All-Pro honors in 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2017, was twice named Second-team All-Pro in 2014 and 2018, and led the league in punting yards in both 2015 and 2016.

Other Performances

Hekker also set a Rams franchise record with a 56.9-yard gross punting average against the Arizona Cardinals in his rookie season, an early sign of the consistency that would define his prime years in Los Angeles.

Johnny Hekker Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Public information about Johnny Hekker’s parents and extended family is limited, and no racing or athletic lineage in his immediate family has been publicly confirmed beyond his own accomplishments.

Personal Life

Johnny Hekker is married to his wife, Makayla, and the couple has three children together. He has also spoken publicly about his Christian faith, which he has credited as an important part of his personal life and professional outlook.

2025 Season Performance

Johnny Hekker’s 2025 campaign with the Tennessee Titans showcased his continued durability and consistency in a new uniform. He handled 78 punts for 3,653 yards and a 46.8 average, anchoring the Titans’ special teams unit and frequently flipping field position in tight games.

His veteran presence helped stabilize a Titans roster in transition, and his ability to limit return opportunities remained a defining trait of his game. Coaches praised his preparation and reliability throughout the year.

Following the 2025 season, Hekker signed a one-year contract with the Minnesota Vikings on March 17, 2026, setting the stage for the next chapter of his record-setting career.