The Kansas City Chiefs offense garners plenty of well-deserved attention around the league, but an often overlooked strength of the team is their ability to win the field position battle against opponents on special teams.
Punter Tommy Townsend’s 2022 season was about as good as could be for any NFL punter. He earned Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors, making it his best season to date. Townsend spoke with the media on Monday, revealing his plans to improve in 2023, even referencing a famous wizard for inspiration.
“[I’m] just trying to work on, like, the same things that I did last year,” Townsend explained. “[I’m] just trying to, like, hold on to the ball a little bit longer, because like I’ve mentioned before, and like everyone knows… Kansas City [is] one of the windiest places to play.
“So yeah, just trying to, like, hold on to the ball as long as I can. And really pull my legs straight through. But, you know, a big thing, you know, try and work on a bunch of different kicks, and you know, try and be a wizard with the football just, you know, [be] Harry Potter with the football.”
Townsend was named an AFC Special Teams Player of the Week last year and was a playoff captain for Kansas City during its Super Bowl run. He will look to replicate that same magic in 2023 as the new season draws near.
