Riley Dixon Bio
Riley T. Dixon is an American professional football punter for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Denver Broncos in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft, and he played college football for the Syracuse Orange. Standing 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) and listed at 221 lb (100 kg), Dixon has built a reputation as one of the league’s most consistent directional punters. Over the course of his NFL career, he has appeared for five organizations and continued to deliver strong net punting averages into his tenth professional season.
Riley Dixon Early Life and Background
Early Life and Background
Riley T. Dixon was born on August 24, 1993, in Oneida, New York, in the United States. He grew up in central New York, an area with a strong tradition of high school football. Dixon attended and played high school football at Christian Brothers Academy in DeWitt, New York, a program that helped introduce him to the kicking game at a competitive level.
At Christian Brothers Academy, Dixon developed the leg strength and directional control that would later define his pro profile. His time at the school laid the foundation for a college recruitment path that would eventually lead him to a major conference program. By the time he finished high school, he had attracted attention from several college scouts and ultimately chose to walk on at Syracuse.
Riley Dixon Path to American Football
Path to American Football
Dixon’s path to professional football began in 2011, when he joined the Syracuse Orange football team as a walk-on. Despite not arriving on scholarship, he worked his way up the depth chart and became a multi-year starter for the program. His development at Syracuse turned him into one of the more reliable punters in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
In 2015, Dixon earned First-team All-ACC honors, ranking sixth in Syracuse history with an average of 42.6 yards per punt. His combination of distance and hang time drew the attention of NFL scouts heading into the 2016 draft. He left Syracuse having started for three seasons, and his senior production was the springboard to his selection in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL draft by the Denver Broncos with the 228th overall pick.
Riley Dixon Career
Early Career (2016–2017)
Dixon’s first NFL opportunity came with the Denver Broncos, who signed him to a four-year, $2.42 million rookie contract that included an $80,009 signing bonus. He secured the starting punting job on August 30, 2016, when the Broncos released veteran Britton Colquitt. In his rookie season, Dixon punted 89 times for a 41.3-yard net average, the highest by a rookie in NFL history. He was named to the 2016 PFWA All-Rookie Team, becoming the first Bronco selected to that squad since 2011.
During that 2016 season, Dixon also completed a 16-yard pass on a fake punt against the New England Patriots, becoming only the second Denver punter to throw a pass in a game since 1986. In 2017, he continued his strong work, totaling 73 punts for 3,331 net yards and a 45.63-yard average. The Broncos later signed Marquette King, however, opening the door for a trade.
Denver Broncos Breakthrough (2016)
Dixon’s rookie breakthrough came in Denver, where he became a core member of the special teams unit. His historic net punting average as a rookie set a new league standard, and his selection to the All-Rookie Team confirmed his arrival. He also showed versatility as a passer on a designed fake punt, an unusual wrinkle for a punt specialist.
New York Giants (2018–2021)
On April 20, 2018, Dixon was traded to the New York Giants for a 2019 conditional seventh-round draft pick. In his first Giants season, he posted 71 punts for 3,226 net yards and a 45.44-yard average. On December 8, 2019, he signed a three-year contract extension with the team, finishing the 2019 campaign with 69 punts for 3,178 yards and a 46.1-yard average.
On November 15, 2020, Dixon launched a 71-yard punt against the Philadelphia Eagles, the longest of his professional career. He finished 2020 with 65 punts for 2,911 yards and a 44.8-yard average, then completed 2021 with 74 punts for 3,283 yards and a 44.4-yard average. On March 10, 2022, the Giants released him after restructuring his contract the previous December.
Los Angeles Rams Era (2022)
On April 5, 2022, Dixon signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Rams. The highlight of his Rams tenure came in a Week 16 matchup against the Denver Broncos, when Los Angeles won 51–14 without ever punting the football. The Christmas Day contest marked Dixon’s first career zero-punt game, a rare statistical oddity in a punter’s season log.
Denver Broncos Era (2023–2024)
On March 21, 2023, Dixon returned to Denver on a two-year contract. In 2023, he handled 79 punts for 3,659 yards and a 46.3-yard average, then followed it up in 2024 with 77 punts for 3,597 yards and a 46.7-yard average. During a 2024 Wild Card playoff matchup against the Buffalo Bills, Dixon completed a 17-yard pass to Marvin Mims on a fake punt, highlighting his continued value on trick plays.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2025–Present)
On March 13, 2025, Dixon signed a two-year, $6 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 13 of the 2025 season, he punted five times, including two kicks that landed inside the 10-yard line, in a 20–17 win over the Arizona Cardinals, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He finished the 2025 season with 63 punts for 2,815 yards and a 44.7-yard average.
Driving Style and Strengths
Dixon is known for directional control, hang time, and the willingness to execute fake punts in high-leverage situations. His leg strength has allowed him to post multiple seasons with punting averages above 45 yards, while his placement inside the 20-yard line remains his most valuable trait. He has repeatedly delivered in late-season and playoff environments, a sign of a steady temperament under pressure.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones include his record-setting rookie net punting average, a 71-yard career-long punt in 2020, a zero-punt game with the Rams in 2022, a successful fake-punt completion in the 2024 playoffs, and an NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award in 2025. Each of these moments underscores his longevity and the trust his special teams coordinators have placed in him.
Riley Dixon Career Wins
As a punter, Riley Dixon’s production is measured less in wins and more in field position and accuracy. Across his career, he has consistently ranked among the league’s better directional punters, with multiple seasons above a 45-yard average and frequent placement inside the opponent’s 20-yard line. He has also contributed to team success on special teams, including postseason appearances with the Broncos and Buccaneers.
NFL Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Dixon had recorded 731 career punts for 33,502 yards, a 45.8-yard punting average, a 71-yard career long, 260 punts inside the 20, and 46 touchbacks. His work in Denver, New York, Los Angeles, and Tampa Bay has cemented his status as one of the more dependable specialists of his draft class.
College Highlights
At Syracuse, Dixon ranked sixth in program history with a 42.6-yard punting average and earned First-team All-ACC honors in 2015. He started for three seasons for the Orange, building the body of work that ultimately led to his selection in the 2016 NFL draft.
Riley Dixon Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Publicly available details about Dixon’s family background are limited. He is American by nationality and was raised in the Oneida area of central New York, where he attended Christian Brothers Academy in nearby DeWitt.
Personal Life
Dixon’s personal life is largely kept out of the public spotlight. He is widely known by his playing name, Riley Dixon, and has built his professional identity around his craft as an NFL punter.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season marked Dixon’s first year with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after signing a two-year, $6 million contract in March. He provided immediate stability for Tampa Bay’s special teams, finishing the year with 63 punts for 2,815 yards and a 44.7-yard average. His ability to pin opponents deep was on full display in a Week 13 win over the Arizona Cardinals, when he earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Across the season, Dixon maintained the directional control that has defined his career, helping the Buccaneers win the field-position battle in several close games. His performance also extended into the postseason, where his experience with playoff football, including the 2024 Wild Card round with Denver, provided veteran poise to a young special teams unit.
With his contract running through the 2026 season, Dixon is positioned to remain Tampa Bay’s punter heading into 2026. His consistency and the trust of the coaching staff suggest another steady campaign lies ahead, with continued emphasis on net average and inside-the-20 placement as the primary benchmarks of his role.
