Undrafted Penn State punter who ranks second in NFL history in career yards per punt.
Blake Gillikin has quietly been one of the league's most efficient leg specialists since taking over New Orleans' punting job in 2021. Now with Arizona, he pairs a strong directional leg with a career average that places him among the most productive punters ever to play the position.
Path to the league
Gillikin was a four-year starter and two-time team captain at Penn State, finishing second in program history in yards per punt (43.03) and setting the school record with seven punts of 65-plus yards. He went undrafted in 2020 and signed with the New Orleans Saints.
Career highlights
Gillikin took over the Saints' full-time punting job in 2021, averaging 47.7 yards per punt, and was later named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month. He signed with Arizona in October 2023 and posted a career-long 77-yard punt that season. His career average of 48.46 yards per punt ranks second in NFL history.
2025 season recap
Gillikin punted 22 times for 1,138 yards (51.7 average) for Arizona before a back injury landed him on injured reserve on October 11, 2025, cutting his season short.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Blake Gillikin
- Pro Football Reference: Blake Gillikin
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Punting
5 games played▶Punting · career
| Year | Team | GP | PUNTS | YDS | AVG | LNG | IN20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | cardinals | 5 | 22 | 1,138 | 51.7 | 63 | 8 |
| 2024 | cardinals | 13 | 38 | 1,887 | 49.7 | 63 | 19 |
| 2023 | cardinals | 13 | 51 | 2,580 | 50.6 | 77 | 11 |
| 2022 | saints | 17 | 77 | 3,571 | 46.4 | 68 | 32 |
| 2021 | saints | 17 | 83 | 3,956 | 47.7 | 63 | 29 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Punter
- Group
- specialTeam
- College
- Penn State
- Hometown
- Smyrna, GA, USA
- Age
- 28
- Status
- active
