MIAMI, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 02: Dustin Colquitt #2 of the Kansas City Chiefs. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Chiefs punter Dustin Colquitt
The Pittsburgh Steelers are making sure that their often-criticized special teams are up to snuff in a pivotal 2020 season, and adding former Kansas City Chiefs ace punter and two-time Pro Bowler Dustin Colquitt seems to be what Mike Tomlin thinks this unit needs.
The Steelers have decided that Jordan Berry didn’t do enough to once again win the punter job, as they decided to sign Colquitt, the son of a former Steeler punter, to a contract.
Dustin Colquitt spent the last decade in Kansas City
Punting in the NFL might as well be the Colquitt family business. His cousin Jimmy had a brief career with the Seattle Seahawks, while brother Britton has spent the last decade punting for the Broncos, Browns, and Vikings. His father, Craig Colquitt, made his name as a punter with the Steelers, as he won two Super Bowl rings during his six-year stint with Pittsburgh in the late 70s and early 80s.
The 38-year-old former Tennessee star, who has been with Kansas City since they picked him up in 2005, averaged 44.3 yards per punt last year, winning his first championship ring. While Berry’s 45.4 yard per punt average exceeds that of Colquitt, Tomlin seems to think Colquitt’s more accurate leg is better for pinning opponents deep in their own territory than Berry’s boomstick.
Colquitt was born to be a Steelers punter. While the Chiefs opted for former Florida punter Tommy Townsend over the aging Colquitt, his numbers last year show that he can still belt it for a team that has championship aspirations. Reliability is the best trait a punter can have, and Tomlin can rest easy knowing that Colquitt is back there launching bombs off of his right foot.
