PRO: Brett Kern is a strong-legged punter that has shown a keen ability to down his kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. The fifth-year pro is coming off his best season in 2011 when he tallied career-highs with 86 punts for 3,747 yards, a 39.4-yard net punt average (franchise record) and 31 punts inside the 20-yard line. Kern joined the Titans franchise during the 2009 season when he was claimed off waivers from the Denver Broncos.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• In 2011, Kern set a new Titans/Oilers franchise record with his 39.4-yard net average. He also posted career-highs in punts (86), punt yards (3,747) and punts inside the 20-yard line (31).
• In 2010, Kern saw action in all 16 games and finished seventh in the NFL with a then career-best 39.1-yard net punt average. He also posted career-highs with 77 punts and 3,302 yards.
• In 2009, Kern’s combined average of 45.5 yards per punt with the Titans and Broncos ranked eighth in the NFL. He also downed a combined 27 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
• In 2008, Kern ranked fifth in the league with a 46.7-yard punting average and was named to the All-Rookie team by Pro Football Weekly/PFWA and the Sporting News.
TITANS TIDBITS:
• Kern’s father, Cal, owns a collegiate baseball team in Niagara Falls, N.Y., called the Niagara Power. The team plays in the New York Collegiate Baseball League and has had players from Lipscomb (Nashville) University in recent seasons. The summer of 2011 marks the club’s fifth season.
• Kern is an avid golfer that sports a 1 handicap. He picked the game up late in his high school years and caddied for three summers at Inverness Golf Club while in college. The course is located in Toledo, Ohio, and has hosted PGA and NCAA Championships. In 2011, Kern competed in The Vinny, a local golf fundraising tournament hosted by singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant, and finished fourth in the event.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Grand Island, N.Y., native was originally signed by the Denver Broncos as a rookie free agent on April 28, 2008.
• Claimed by the Titans off waivers from the Broncos on Oct. 27, 2009.
COLLEGE:
• Played 47 career games at the University of Toledo, punting 189 times for 7,994 yards (42.3 avg.) with 59 punts placed inside the 20-yard line.
• Ranked second in the nation in gross punting average (46.1 yds., 52 punts for 2,399 yards) and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award (nation’s best punter) as a senior.
• Earned third team All-America honors as a senior as the only player from the Mid-American Conference to receive Associated Press All-America honors.
• Named Mid-American Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year as a senior.
• Earned a bachelor’s degree in geography from Toledo and posted a 3.38 grade point average while earning CoSIDA second-team academic all-district recognition as a senior.
PERSONAL:
• Married to Tiffany Kern and the couple has a son, Bryce Jeremiah and a daughter, Anelle Naomi.
• Was a two-time first-team all-state selection at Grand Island High School in Grand Island, N.Y., and averaged 39 yards per punt as a senior and 42.5 yards per punt as a junior.
• Also played basketball and was a long jumper and high hurdler on the track team in high school.
• Follow Kern on Twitter at @brettkern6.
• Born Brett Alan Kern on Feb. 17, 1986, in Grand Island, N.Y.
PRO: Brett Kern is a strong-legged punter that has shown a keen ability to down his kicks inside the opponents’ 20-yard line. The fifth-year pro is coming off his best season in 2011 when he tallied career-highs with 86 punts for 3,747 yards, a 39.4-yard net punt average (franchise record) and 31 punts inside the 20-yard line. Kern joined the Titans franchise during the 2009 season when he was claimed off waivers from the Denver Broncos.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
• In 2011, Kern set a new Titans/Oilers franchise record with his 39.4-yard net average. He also posted career-highs in punts (86), punt yards (3,747) and punts inside the 20-yard line (31).
• In 2010, Kern saw action in all 16 games and finished seventh in the NFL with a then career-best 39.1-yard net punt average. He also posted career-highs with 77 punts and 3,302 yards.
• In 2009, Kern’s combined average of 45.5 yards per punt with the Titans and Broncos ranked eighth in the NFL. He also downed a combined 27 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.
• In 2008, Kern ranked fifth in the league with a 46.7-yard punting average and was named to the All-Rookie team by Pro Football Weekly/PFWA and the Sporting News.
TITANS TIDBITS:
• Kern’s father, Cal, owns a collegiate baseball team in Niagara Falls, N.Y., called the Niagara Power. The team plays in the New York Collegiate Baseball League and has had players from Lipscomb (Nashville) University in recent seasons. The summer of 2011 marks the club’s fifth season.
• Kern is an avid golfer that sports a 1 handicap. He picked the game up late in his high school years and caddied for three summers at Inverness Golf Club while in college. The course is located in Toledo, Ohio, and has hosted PGA and NCAA Championships. In 2011, Kern competed in The Vinny, a local golf fundraising tournament hosted by singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant, and finished fourth in the event.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS:
• The Grand Island, N.Y., native was originally signed by the Denver Broncos as a rookie free agent on April 28, 2008.
• Claimed by the Titans off waivers from the Broncos on Oct. 27, 2009.
COLLEGE:
• Played 47 career games at the University of Toledo, punting 189 times for 7,994 yards (42.3 avg.) with 59 punts placed inside the 20-yard line.
• Ranked second in the nation in gross punting average (46.1 yds., 52 punts for 2,399 yards) and was a finalist for the Ray Guy Award (nation’s best punter) as a senior.
• Earned third team All-America honors as a senior as the only player from the Mid-American Conference to receive Associated Press All-America honors.
• Named Mid-American Conference’s Special Teams Player of the Year as a senior.
• Earned a bachelor’s degree in geography from Toledo and posted a 3.38 grade point average while earning CoSIDA second-team academic all-district recognition as a senior.
PERSONAL:
• Married to Tiffany Kern and the couple has a son, Bryce Jeremiah and a daughter, Anelle Naomi.
• Was a two-time first-team all-state selection at Grand Island High School in Grand Island, N.Y., and averaged 39 yards per punt as a senior and 42.5 yards per punt as a junior.
• Also played basketball and was a long jumper and high hurdler on the track team in high school.
• Follow Kern on Twitter at @brettkern6.
• Born Brett Alan Kern on Feb. 17, 1986, in Grand Island, N.Y.
