An Irish-born, UC Davis-trained punter who led the entire NFL in gross punting average during a record-breaking 2025 season.
Daniel Whelan's path to the NFL ran through an undrafted signing, a release, and a stint in the XFL before he won Green Bay's punting job in training camp. He has since become one of the league's most productive specialists, topping the NFL in gross punting average in 2025.
Path to the league
Whelan starred at UC Davis, setting the school's single-season punting average record at 46.25 yards and finishing his career with a 44.01-yard average, the program's all-time best, earning All-Big Sky and second-team All-American honors. He signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2022 but was waived that summer, then played for the XFL's D.C. Defenders before beating out the incumbent for Green Bay's punting job in 2023 training camp.
Career highlights
Whelan has held down the Packers' punting job since 2023, developing into one of the league's more consistent and productive specialists both in hang time and directional placement.
2025 season recap
Whelan had a franchise record-setting 2025 season, leading the NFL with a 51.7-yard gross punting average, the third-best single-season mark in NFL history, to go with a 43.9-yard net average, also a franchise record. He pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 21 times, hit a long of 72 yards, and earned a 90.4 PFF grade that ranked first among all qualified punters.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Daniel Whelan
- Pro Football Reference: Daniel Whelan
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Punting
17 games played▶Punting · career
| Year | Team | GP | PUNTS | YDS | AVG | LNG | IN20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | packers | 17 | 49 | 2,533 | 51.7 | 72 | 18 |
| 2024 | packers | 17 | 56 | 2,582 | 46.1 | 74 | 22 |
| 2023 | packers | 17 | 57 | 2,634 | 46.2 | 68 | 18 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Punter
- Group
- specialTeam
- College
- UC Davis
- Hometown
- Rancho Mirage, CA, USA
- Age
- 27
- Status
- active
