An undrafted Hawaii product, Rigoberto Sanchez set an NFL rookie net punting record and has remained Indianapolis' punter for a decade.
Rigoberto Sanchez has held down the Colts' punting job since winning the role as an undrafted rookie in 2017. Now in his 10th season, he continues to rank among the league's more effective directional punters.
Path to the league
Sanchez punted for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors in 2015 and 2016, averaging over 44 yards per punt in both seasons. He signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in May 2017 and won the starting job as a rookie, beating out veteran Jeff Locke.
Career highlights
As a rookie, Sanchez set franchise records with 84 punts for 3,764 yards, and his 42.6-yard net average set an NFL rookie record, earning him a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He signed a four-year, $11.6 million contract extension with the Colts in June 2019.
2025 season recap
Sanchez posted a 76.7 PFF punting grade in 2025, ninth among qualified punters, punting 44 times for a 44.6-yard net average with a long of 59 yards. He pinned opponents inside the 20-yard line 25 times and averaged 4.43 seconds of hang time per punt.
Sources
- Wikipedia: Rigoberto Sanchez
- Pro Football Reference: Rigoberto Sanchez
Statistics
2025 season and career2025 Season · Punting
17 games played▶Punting · career
| Year | Team | GP | PUNTS | YDS | AVG | LNG | IN20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | colts | 17 | 44 | 2,146 | 48.8 | 59 | 22 |
| 2024 | colts | 17 | 68 | 3,382 | 49.7 | 65 | 27 |
| 2023 | colts | 17 | 68 | 3,281 | 48.3 | 69 | 21 |
| 2021 | colts | 17 | 59 | 2,627 | 44.5 | 79 | 24 |
| 2020 | colts | 14 | 42 | 1,940 | 46.2 | 60 | 18 |
| 2019 | colts | 16 | 59 | 2,619 | 44.4 | 60 | 22 |
| 2018 | colts | 16 | 57 | 2,629 | 46.1 | 63 | 24 |
| 2017 | colts | 16 | 84 | 3,764 | 44.8 | 61 | 28 |
Player Profile
Background
- Position
- Punter
- Group
- specialTeam
- College
- Hawai'i
- Hometown
- Hamilton City, CA, USA
- Age
- 31
- Status
- active
