Matthew Hayball

Matthew Hayball Bio

Matthew Hayball, born on 12 March 1997 in Adelaide, South Australia, is an Australian professional American football punter currently with the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League. Hayball first rose to prominence in Australian rules football before transitioning to American football, where he built a distinguished college career at Florida Atlantic University and Vanderbilt University. In 2024, he joined the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, and in 2026 he signed with the Atlanta Falcons. He earned Second-team All-American and First-team All-SEC honors in 2023, finishing as a Ray Guy Award finalist.

Early Life and Background

Matthew Hayball was born on 12 March 1997 and grew up in West Adelaide, Australia. His father played in the Central Australian Football League, which gave Hayball an early connection to the sport. He attended Sacred Heart College in Adelaide from grades 7 through 12, developing his athletic skills in a school environment known for producing Australian rules players.

Hayball grew up playing Australian rules football as a midfielder and was a member of the West Adelaide Football Club U18s in the 2015 season, playing two games at the reserve level toward the end of the year. His performances in junior ranks eventually drew the attention of professional scouts in the AFL system.

Path to American Football

Hayball was the final pick of the 2015 AFL national draft, selected 70th overall by the Geelong Football Club, a choice that surprised many observers given his relative anonymity. He went on to play three years for Geelong, appearing in 50 matches in the Victorian Football League (VFL), and was also taken by the club in the second round (30th overall) of the 2018 AFL rookie draft. Following the 2018 season, he was delisted without ever appearing in an AFL game.

After his time at Geelong ended, Hayball switched to American football, contacting former NFL punter Nathan Chapman to join Chapman’s Prokick Australia academy, a program designed to help Australian athletes earn scholarships to play college football in the United States. His path then moved to Florida Atlantic University in 2019, where he began his college career as a punter for the Florida Atlantic Owls. He later transferred to the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2022, finishing his college career in the Southeastern Conference (SEC).

Matthew Hayball Career

Early Career (2019–2021)

Matthew Hayball enrolled at Florida Atlantic University in 2019 and quickly established himself as a reliable college punter. As a freshman, he appeared in 14 games and punted 68 times for 2,958 yards, averaging 43.5 yards per punt, which ranked 33rd in the nation. He was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team and was the Special Teams MVP of the team’s 2019 Boca Raton Bowl victory.

During the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Hayball continued to develop, playing nine games in 2020 with 45 punts for 1,983 yards and a 44.1-yard average, and 12 games in 2021 with 61 punts for 2,785 yards and a 45.7-yard average. He was twice named honorable mention All-Conference USA and earned Academic All-Conference honors across his three years at Florida Atlantic, finishing with 35 games played.

Vanderbilt Breakthrough (2022–2023)

Hayball transferred to the Vanderbilt Commodores in 2022 and immediately made an impact, playing 12 games and punting 59 times for 2,634 yards, with a long of 65 yards and 21 punts inside the 20. His punting average of 45.36 yards that season placed fourth in school history, second in the SEC, and 11th nationally. He also forced one fumble during the season and was named to the SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll.

As a senior in 2023, Hayball delivered one of the most decorated seasons in Vanderbilt history, playing 12 games and punting 57 times for 2,713 yards, with 24 punts inside the 20 and a long of 71 yards. His 47.6-yard punting average ranked top ten nationally and first in the SEC, while his net punting average of 43.1 yards was seventh nationally. He was named first-team midseason All-American by Pro Football Focus and the Associated Press, earned second-team All-American honors from five selectors, and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award. He was the first Vanderbilt All-American at any position since 2016 and the program’s first first-team All-SEC punter since 1996.

Atlanta Falcons Era (2026–Present)

On June 18, 2026, Matthew Hayball signed with the Atlanta Falcons, joining an NFC South franchise looking to solidify its special teams. His move came after his release from the New Orleans Saints in August 2025. The signing positioned Hayball as a key punting option in Atlanta as he continued his NFL career.

Driving Style and Strengths

Hayball is known for his consistent directional punting and his ability to pin opponents inside the 20-yard line, having led the NFL in punts downed inside the 20 at 54.7 percent during his rookie season. His background in Australian rules football has contributed to a strong rugby-style kicking technique, while his Prokick Australia training emphasized hang time and placement over raw distance.

Notable Events and Milestones

Hayball’s most notable moment came during the 2023 season, when he was named Ray Guy Punter of the Week after averaging 50.3 yards on punts, the second-best single-game average in Vanderbilt history. He also holds Vanderbilt’s all-time punting average record at 46.5 yards per punt and was the only active NCAA punter with over 13,000 career yards at the end of the 2023 season.

Matthew Hayball Career Wins

Matthew Hayball’s career win totals reflect his role as a punter rather than a primary scorer, with success measured through statistical achievements and team victories. In the NFL, his standout performance came during the 2024 season, when he led the league in punts downed inside the 20-yard line, helping the New Orleans Saints control field position throughout the year.

College and NFL Highlights

At Florida Atlantic, Hayball was the Special Teams MVP of the 2019 Boca Raton Bowl, contributing to a team victory in his freshman season. He earned First-team All-SEC and Second-team All-American honors in 2023, alongside his Ray Guy Award finalist recognition, marking the peak of his college achievements. In the NFL, he made the New Orleans Saints’ initial 53-man roster in 2024 as one of only four undrafted free agents to do so.

Other Performances

Hayball also appeared in the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl following his college career, an invitation extended to top senior prospects. In the AFL pathway, he was the final pick of the 2015 AFL national draft, the only such selection in that year’s event, and later appeared in 50 VFL matches for Geelong.

Matthew Hayball Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Matthew Hayball was raised in a family with strong ties to Australian rules football. His father played in the Central Australian Football League, introducing Hayball to the sport from a young age. This family connection to the game helped shape his early athletic development in West Adelaide.

Personal Life

Hayball attended Sacred Heart College in Adelaide and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in organizational performance from Vanderbilt University. He is an Australian national who has built his professional life in the United States since 2019.

2025 Season Performance

Matthew Hayball’s 2025 season did not include regular-season NFL action, as he was released by the New Orleans Saints on August 6, 2025, during final roster cuts. Despite the setback, his strong 2024 rookie campaign, in which he led the league in punts downed inside the 20, kept his name in the mix for future NFL opportunities.

Heading into the next phase of his career, Hayball signed with the Atlanta Falcons in June 2026, signaling a fresh start with a new organization. His proven ability to control field position and his Prokick Australia background position him as a strong candidate for a featured role in Atlanta’s special teams unit.