Team

6’3” • 213 lbs. • Born: 5.18.71 • Exp. (NFL/Titans): 16/12 • UFA (GB) – 1998 • Notre Dame

2008 GP/GS: 16/0 (Playoffs 1/0) • Career GP/GS: 239/0 (Playoffs 22/0) • Alton, Ill.

Pro Bowls (2): 1998, 2003

Super Bowls (1): 1996

PRO: Craig Hentrich was signed to a contract extension early in the 2009 offseason, allowing the team’s all-time leading punter to commence his 16^th NFL season and 12^th with the Titans as one of the most valuable field-position weapons in football. Hentrich’s 852 punts in 175 games in an Oilers/Titans uniform rank first in club annals, and his gross average with the team of 42.8 yards ranks second behind Greg Montgomery (43.6). Only three players in team history – Bruce Matthews, Elvin Bethea and Brad Hopkins – have appeared in more games than Hentrich. Including his four seasons with the Green Bay Packers at the start of his career, he has played 239 games, tied for fifth in NFL history among punters. His 1,141 career punts are tied (Rohn Stark) for seventh place in NFL history and rank second among all active players (Jeff Feagles, 1,649). One of the league’s top specialists in terms of ball placement, Hentrich’s career 36.8-yard net average ranks 10^th in the NFL in the 33 seasons the statistic has been tracked (since 1976). Likewise, his total of 34.7 percent of punts placed inside the 20 ranks second in the league since 1976. In the Divisional Playoff game against the Baltimore Ravens on Jan. 10, 2009, Hentrich became the second player in NFL history (Ray Guy, 111) to reach 100 postseason punts (101).

Throughout his career he has been asked to do more than most punters – kicking off, holding on place kicks, kicking long-range field goals, passing and even rushing – and yet the two-time Pro Bowler is a perennial presence among the league’s punting leaders. He has averaged more than 40 yards per punt in every season of his career and more than 42 yards per punt in every season but two. Over the course of his career, he has developed a unique "knuckleball" punt, which falls to the ground unpredictably due to its lack of rotation and has caused several fumbles by opposing punt return specialists. In 2003, he was named to his second Pro Bowl after he led the AFC in net punting average (37.8) and finished third in the conference with a 43.9-yard gross average. In 1998, he earned All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl berth after setting a franchise record with a 47.2-yard gross average. Hentrich signed with Tennessee as an unrestricted free agent in 1998 after five seasons in Green Bay, where he set the Packers record for gross average in a single season (45.0) in 1997. A member of Green Bay’s Super Bowl XXXI Championship team, he has played in two additional Super Bowls (XXXII and XXXIV). Prior to making Green Bay’s 53-man roster, he spent 1993 on the practice squad after being released by the New York Jets. He was originally an eighth-round draft choice (200th overall) of the Jets in 1993.

TITANS TIDBITS:

• Hentrich’s wife, Lisa, is becoming an accomplished singer/songwriter in Nashville’s music community. She plays several music clubs in the area, including the famous Blue Bird Café and Puckett’s Grocery. In addition to releasing her own country album as an artist in 2007, she has penned cuts by Chris Cagle and Richie McDonald (formerly of Lonestar) as well as songs on the upcoming albums of Clay Walker and legendary singer-songwriter Lee Greenwood.

• Lisa Hentrich has inspired Craig to get involved in music for the first time in his life. Now in his fifth year of taking piano lessons, he made his public “music debut” accompanying her on keyboard at TJ Martell Foundation’s “Country in the Rockies” charity event in 2008. He says that performing in recitals and accompanying his wife on stage are experiences that make him “far more nervous than playing in the Super Bowl.”

• Hentrich is one of the NFL’s most avid and accomplished golfers. He teamed with Pat Hurst to win the 2006 Franklin American Mortgage Championship Pro-Am. He also won the "NFL Cadillac Classic" golf tournament in 2000 and finished third in 1999, fifth in 1996 and eighth in 1995. He plays in several charity golf events, including fundraisers for American Diabetes Association, Muscular Dystrophy Association, Brett Favre's annual golf tournament,Vince Gill's annual "Vinny" tournament, and his own golf tournament in his hometown of Alton, Ill., which has raised money for the Alton Boys & Girls Club for 15 consecutive years.

• In June 2007, Golf Digest ranked the best golfers among more than 200 current and former professional athletes. Hentrich was ranked fifth in the group, the best among current and former NFL players and the best among current professional athletes.

• He credits much of his success to his father, Tom, who began holding for him in field goal practice when he was five years old and did so for the next eight years until Hentrich began high school.

• His right leg bears tattoos of the names of his children: Abbey, Sam and Nate.

• Nearly every day Hentrich can be found working on crossword puzzles and sudoku puzzles. He credits his former teammate Bruce Matthews with getting him hooked on the crosswords 13 years ago.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:

2008 (16/0, 1/0 – Tennessee): Rounded out 15th NFL season and 11th with Titans. Punted 87 times for 3,725 yards, a 42.8-yard average with a net of 36.5. Placed 27 punts inside opponents’ 20-yard line.

• At Cincinnati (9/14), booted 70-yard punt that went out of bounds at Cincinnati 2 and led to blocked punt in end zone four plays later.

• At Kansas City (10/19), he punted four times for a 43.0 average (37.5 net). With his first punt, he moved past John James (1,083 career punts) for 10th place on the NFL’s all-time career punting list.

• Against Indianapolis (10/27), recorded 75-yard punt to pin the Colts on their own six-yard line in second quarter. The punt was second-longest of Hentrich’s 15-year career and second-longest punt in the NFL in 2008 (82 yards by Andy Lee, San Francisco). It ranked as fourth-longest punt in club history. Hentrich also punted for the 800th time as member of Titans.

• At Chicago (11/2), named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after punting eight times and tying career high with five punts placed inside the 20.

• At Indianapolis (12/28), tied Chris Mohr for fifth place in NFL history among punters by playing in 239th career game. With six punts against the Colts, moved into tie with Rohn Stark for seventh place on league’s all-time list with 1,141 career punts.

• In Divisional Playoff against Baltimore (1/10), played in 22nd career postseason game and became second player in NFL history to reach 100 punts in postseason Ray Guy (111). Punted four times for 213 yards (53.3 avg., 36.0 net), including career postseason long of 66 yards.

2007 (15/0, 1/0 – Tennessee): Averaged 42.0 yards (36.5 net) on 70 punts with 24 punts inside the 20. Played in 15 games, missing one contest (9/24 at New Orleans) with back injury.

• At New Orleans (9/24), listed as inactive for first time in his career due to back injury, ending streak of 210 consecutive games. Streak with Titans ended at 146 games, the third-longest in team history (Matthews and Brazile).

• At Houston (10/21), became 17th punter in NFL history to reach 1,000 career punts.

• At Kansas City (12/16), he surpassed Tom Tupa for 11th place in NFL history among punters by playing in his 221st career game.

• Against San Diego (12/9), booted season-high eight punts for 44.1-yard average, including two inside the 20-yard line, and registered one special teams tackle.

2006 (16/0 – Tennessee): Played in all 16 games for 13th consecutive season and had second-most attempts of career, hitting 88 punts (fifth in NFL) for 42.7-yard average (23rd) and 37.3 net average (15th). Placed 32 punts inside the 20 for third-highest total of his career and had only 10 touchbacks.

• At Jacksonville (11/5), averaged 46.7 yards on seven punts with three punts inside 20. Punt of 73 yards in third quarter was his season high and second longest of career (78).

• Against Baltimore (11/12), averaged season-high 51.2 yards per punt on five punts.

• At Houston (12/10), punted five times for 42.0-yard average with five punts inside the 20, which set regular season career high (tied playoff high from 1/11/98).

2005 (16/0 – Tennessee): Played in all 16 games for 12th consecutive season and punted 78 times for 3,371 yards and 21 punts inside the 20. Ranked eighth in AFC and 10th in NFL with 37.8-yard net average, and finished 10th in AFC and 15th in NFL with 43.2-yard gross average.

• Against Seattle (12/18), punted two times for 45.0-yard average and executed fake punt by completing 26-yard pass to Donnie Nickey for first down.

• At Miami (12/24), punted season-high nine times for 42.4-yard average with four punts inside 20.

2004 (16/0 – Tennessee): Recorded third-best finish of career with 38.0-yard net punting average, which was second-best in AFC and ranked fourth in NFL. Finished seventh in AFC and 13th in NFL with 42.7-yard average on 73 punts and placed 20 punts inside 20-yard line. Also was team’s kickoff specialist and holder for kicker Gary Anderson. Attempted three field goals during season, making one, career-long 50-yarder against Denver (12/25). Attempted four passes, completing two for 10 yards and one first down. Also rushed eight yards for first down against Cincinnati (10/31).

• In season opener at Miami (9/11), served only as placekicking holder due to back soreness, marking first game in career he did not record punt.

• Completed two passes during season – a four-yard pass to Troy Fleming against Indianapolis (9/19) and six-yard pass to Eddie Berlin for first down at Minnesota (10/24).

• At San Diego (10/3), executed surprise onside kick in fourth quarter that was recovered by Donnie Nickey.

• Against Cincinnati (10/31), punted five times for 44.2-yard average (44.2 net) with two punts inside 20 in victory. In second quarter, rushed for eight yards and first down on punt fake to extend drive that ended with Shad Meier’s one-yard touchdown reception.

• At Indianapolis (12/5), executed three surprise onside kicks in first quarter, two of which were recovered by Tennessee (Scott McGarrahan and Troy Fleming).

• Against Denver (12/25), connected on career-long 50-yard field goal as time expired in first half.

2003 (16/0, 2/0 – Tennessee): Earned his second Pro Bowl selection following a season in which he led the AFC with a 37.8 net punting average (second in NFL) and finished third in the conference with a 43.9 gross average (fifth in NFL). Also named All-AFC by Pro Football Weekly. Placed 26 of his 71 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line (36.6%). Made four of five field goal attempts, filling in for the injured Joe Nedney in the season opener against Oakland (9/7), and also handled long attempts for remainder of season. Additionally, handled all kickoff responsibilities, served as kicker Gary Anderson’s holder and tallied five special teams tackles. In two postseason games, averaged 40.4 yards (39.3 net) on 10 punts with six punts inside the opponent’s 20.

• In 2003 season opener against Oakland (9/7), served as both punter and placekicker in a 25-20 win after Joe Nedney left game with a sprained right knee in second quarter. Connected on all three field goal attempts (49, 34 and 33 yards) and only extra point attempt in addition to averaging 41.8 yards on five punts. As time expired in first half, hit 49-yard field goal, his first attempt since 2000. Made 33-yard attempt with less than one minute remaining in game to provide final five-point margin. Along with Nedney, who hit 50-yarder prior to being injured, became first NFL teammates since 1984 (Cleveland’s Matt Bahr and Steve Cox, 10/21/84) to each make field goals of 45 yards or longer in same game. Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.

• Attempted five passes during season (two completions), including successful fake punts for 10 yards to Scott McGarrahan at Indianapolis (9/14) and for 15 yards to Justin McCareins against New Orleans (9/21).

• Connected on 48-yard field goal at New England (10/5).

• Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for second time of season after performance at Houston (12/21) in which he averaged 45.9 yards (40.7 net) in a 27-24 win.

• In Wild Card Playoff win at Baltimore (1/3/04), averaged 44.7 yards on six punts with four punts inside the 20. Set career playoff high with 44.3-yard net average and hit 63-yard punt to tie career playoff long and set franchise playoff record in third quarter. Also pinned Ravens on their two-yard line with 48-yard punt in fourth quarter.

2002 (16/0, 2/0 – Tennessee): Played in all 16 regular season games and punted 65 times for a 41.9-yard gross average and a 33.9-yard net average, ranking fifth and 10th in the AFC, respectively. He placed 28 punts inside the 20 (fourth in AFC) with just five touchbacks.

• Converted two fake punts for first downs during the season, the first a 17-yard pass to Greg Comella at Dallas (9/15) and the second a five-yard rush on fourth-and-one play against Jacksonville (10/13).

• At Baltimore (11/24), had a punt blocked (Ed Reed) for the first time since 1995.

• After Joe Nedney hyperextended his knee in the AFC Championship at Oakland (1/19), assumed placekicking duties and converted his only extra point attempt without a field goal attempt.

2001 (16/0 – Tennessee): Saw action in all 16 games and was named an alternate to the Pro Bowl. Booted 85 punts for 3,567 yards, both of which ranked second in his career (90 punts for 3,824 yards in ’99). His 37.0 net average ranked fourth in AFC, and he tied for second in the AFC (Turk, Miami) with 28 punts inside opponent’s 20-yard line.

• Tied his career high with 10 punts for an average of 40.2 yards at Baltimore (10/7).

• Set career highs (minimum four attempts) with a 57.5 gross average and a 48.5 net average against Jacksonville (11/4) on four punts.

• Against his former team, Green Bay (12/16), connected on a 70-yard punt, which was downed on Green Bay’s one-yard line and led to a safety the next play.

2000 (16/0, 1/0 – Tennessee): Handled punting, kickoff and extra-point holder duties in 16 regular season games and one playoff game. Recorded 76 punts for a 40.8-yard gross average, and his punts were returned for 160 yards, the second-lowest total in AFC and sixth-lowest total in NFL. Ranked third in the AFC and tied for third in the NFL with 33 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, which trailed only Baltimore's Kyle Richardson (35) and Pittsburgh's Josh Miller (34).

1999 (16/0, 4/0 – Tennessee): Played in all 16 games and all four playoff games and punted a career-high 90 times for a 42.5-yard gross average. Net average of 38.1 yards ranked third in the AFC, and his 35 punts downed inside the 20 (with only three touchbacks) ranked second in the NFL, trailing only Baltimore's Kyle Richardson. Earned the Golden Toe Award from Pro Football Weekly, given annually to the league's top kicker or punter.

• Downed three punts inside the six-yard line, including two downed inside the three-yard line in a win over Cleveland (9/19).

• Developed his "knuckleball" punt in 1999, which led to a Darrien Gordon fumble to seal a win over Oakland (12/9).

• Boomed a career-long 78-yard punt and downed three inside the 20 at Pittsburgh (1/2).

1998 (16/0 – Tennessee): Played in 16 games, earning his first Pro Bowl berth as well as All-Pro honors from the Associated Press. He led the NFL in both gross (47.2) and net average (39.2). His gross average was sixth and net average ranked fifth in NFL history. He booted 29 of 85 kickoffs (34.1 percent) for touchbacks, exceeding the club's 1997 touchback total by 25.

• Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November 1998 after averaging 50.3 yards per kick (43.8 net). Had streak of eight consecutive punts better than 50 yards from 11/8 to 11/22.

• Completed a 13-yard pass to Jackie Harris on a fake punt to convert a fourth down versus the Chargers (9/13).

• Earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after pinning three punts inside the 20 (one at Bucs’ one-yard line) with a 71-yard punt at Tampa Bay (11/8).

1997 (16/0, 3/0 – Green Bay): Set the Packers’ single-season record for gross punting average (45.04), surpassing Jerry Norton's 44.69-yard average from 1963. He ranked third in the NFC and tied for sixth in the NFL in gross average, while his 36.0-yard net average was the fifth-best in the NFC. He tied for third in the NFC in punts inside the 20 with 26.

• Named NFL Special Teams Player of the Week and set a career high by dropping all five punts inside the 20 in the NFC Championship Game at San Francisco (1/11).

1996 (16/0, 3/0 – Green Bay): Tied the Packers record for single-season net punting average (36.3, Brian Wagner, 1993) and turned in the second-best gross punting average (42.4) by a Packer in two decades. He punted a team-record 28 times inside the 20 (stat began in 1976).

• Registered the second-longest punt in Packers playoff history (63 yards) vs. San Francisco (1/4) in the divisional playoffs.

• Averaged 42.7 yards on seven punts, including 58 and 54-yarders, in Super Bowl XXXI win over New England (1/26).

1995 (16/0, 3/0 – Green Bay): Averaged 42.2 yards per punt to rank seventh in the NFC. He dropped 26 punts inside the 20, which was good for third in the NFC.

• Filled in as the field goal kicker for two games while Chris Jacke was sidelined with a hamstring injury. He made the first field goals of his NFL career at Chicago (9/11), connecting from 32 and 38 yards.

1994 (16/0, 2/0 – Green Bay): Beat out incumbent Brian Wagner in training camp for the punting job. He ranked fifth in the NFC with 24 punts inside the 20 and finished tied for seventh in the NFC with a 41.4 gross punting average.

• Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance against the N.Y. Jets (11/13), which included a 70-yard punt.

• Had the second-best gross average (44 yards) in Packer postseason history at Dallas (1/8), a game in which he handled kickoff duties for the first time as a pro.

1993 (0/0 – Green Bay): Spent the majority of the season on Green Bay’s practice squad following his training camp release from the Jets (8/24). He was signed off the Packers' practice squad on Jan. 14 for the NFC divisional playoff game at Dallas and was placed on the inactive list. He initially joined the Packers practice squad on Sept. 7, 1993.

COLLEGE:

• Lettered four years at Notre Dame (1989-92), serving as both the placekicker and punter.

• Finished his career with a school-record 44.1-yard punting average and had 39 career field goals (on 56 attempts) to rank second behind John Carney’s 51.

• Left school ranked second on the school's all-time scoring list with 294 points, the most ever by an Irish kicker, and made a record 98.3 percent (177/180) of his PAT attempts.

• Earned honorable mention All-America selection by Football News as a punter each of his last three seasons.

• Majored in management information systems.

PERSONAL:

• Married to Lisa, couple resides in Franklin, Tenn. Has a daughter, Abbey (9), and sons, Sam (3) and Nate (1).

• Lettered four times in football and baseball, as well as once in basketball, at Marquette High School in Alton, Ill. In football, he served as a kicker, punter, safety and quarterback and was an All-America selection by Parade, SuperPrep and USA Today. He punted 98 times for a 42.7-yard average for the Explorers and set the Illinois state record with 26 career field goals (on 44 attempts).

• Participated in tornado clean-up in East Nashville in the spring of 1998.

• Was a featured player in "Take a Titan to School" in 2002.

• Participated with wife Lisa in TJ Martell Foundation's COUNTRY IN THE ROCKIES 2008, benefiting cancer research.

• Member of Garth Brooks' TEAMMATES FOR KIDS Foundation benefiting children's charities. Donations are made for every punt inside the 20 yard line.

• Honorary co-chair (with wife Lisa) of the 2008 MAKE-A-WISH Stories of Light Campaign Event.

• Participated in Titans Caravan, Titans Hometown Huddle and Titans Charity Golf Classic.

• Enjoys playing golf, fishing, and cooking.

• Regularly participates in charity golf tournaments, including his own annual event in Alton, Illinois which has benefited the Boys and Girls Club for 15 consecutive years.

• List of favorites: (movie) "Elf"; (TV shows) "House," “American Idol,” “Ghost Whisperer” and “Medium”; (book) "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown; (school subject) math; (food) sushi; (sports media personality) Scott Hamilton; and (music artists) Lisa Hentrich, Diamond Rio, Lonestar, Amy Grant, Restless Heart, Steve Azar and Marcus Hummon.

• Born Craig Anthony Hentrich on May 18, 1971 in Alton, Ill.