Michael Palardy Bio
Michael Albert Palardy (born July 6, 1992) is an American professional football punter. He played college football for the Tennessee Volunteers and was signed by the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2014. He has also been a member of the St. Louis Rams, Toronto Argonauts, Carolina Panthers, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, and Washington Commanders.
Early Life and Background
Michael Palardy was born in Margate, Florida. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, where he played high school football. During his time in high school, he was rated as a three-star prospect on Rivals.com, showcasing his potential as a football player from an early age. Following high school, he went on to play college football at the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of the Tennessee Volunteers football team from 2010 to 2013.
Path to American Football
At the University of Tennessee, Palardy played under head coaches Derek Dooley and Butch Jones. He served as both a placekicker and punter during his college career. As a freshman, he converted 13 of 14 extra point attempts and 5 of 7 field goal attempts, demonstrating his skills early on. His notable performance came in his senior year when he hit a game-winning 19-yard field goal against the No. 11 South Carolina Gamecocks, marking a significant victory for the Volunteers.
Michael Palardy Career
Early Career (2014)
Michael Palardy’s professional career began when he signed with the Oakland Raiders on June 5, 2014, after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. Although he was waived shortly after, he was signed to the Raiders’ practice squad later that year. This marked the beginning of his journey in the National Football League.
Breakthrough (2016-2020)
Palardy’s breakthrough came when he was signed by the Carolina Panthers on April 4, 2016. He made his NFL debut against the New Orleans Saints in Week 11 of the 2016 season, recording six punts for 280 net yards. He secured the Panthers’ punting job in 2017 and had a successful season, finishing with 71 punts for 3,268 net yards. In 2018, he signed a three-year contract extension with the Panthers, solidifying his role as a key player on the team.
Notable Works and Milestones
Throughout his career, Palardy has achieved significant milestones, including being named Second-team All-SEC in 2013. He has consistently performed well, with a career average of 44.73 yards per punt during his time with the Miami Dolphins in the 2021 season, earning him recognition as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Michael Palardy Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Michael Palardy has received recognition for his performances, including being named Second-team All-SEC in 2013.
Michael Palardy Awards Won
Michael Palardy has achieved notable recognition in his career, including being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week during the 2021 season for his impressive performance with the Miami Dolphins.
Michael Palardy Family
Information regarding Michael Palardy’s family is not publicly available.
Personal Life
Details about Michael Palardy’s personal life, including marital status and children, are not publicly disclosed. However, he is known to have pursued a career in coaching, signing with Athletes Untapped as a private football coach in April 2024.