Can a punter be one of the most impactful signings in franchise history? Yes they can, and in fact one is. Chris Gardocki was brought over in 1995 from the Chicago Bears. He came in the prime of his career and was actually a big game changer at some points.
Gardocki was in Indianapolis for four years and was named first team All-Pro and the Pro Bowl 1996. He helped a bad football team from 1996 to 1998. Flipping field position is definitely something that is needed when you don’t have an offense that can move the ball.
Gardocki consistently averaged over 45 yards per punt and never had a single punt blocked during his time wearing the Horseshoe. He was a steady force on special teams and was a good holder when it came to field goal tries and extra point attempts.
Punter isn’t the sexiest position on the football field, but it is a position that is extremely important to the success of a team. Being able to pin an opponent deep in their own territory is a weapon. It gives the defense a head start on stopping the opposing offense.
Gardocki eventually moved on after just four years with the team. He punted for a total of 16 years in his NFL career. While most players would love to have that long of a career, this next guy still played a long time and had a decent impact with the Colts.