Bradley Pinion
ATLANTA FALCONS
| Position | College | Years in the NFL |
|---|---|---|
| Punter | Clemson University | 9 |
Demonstrates Excellence on the Field
Through nine games this season, Bradley Pinion punted 40 times for 1,902 yards (47.6 gross; 42.0 net), including 13 punts inside the 20-yard line and a long of 62 yards. Pinion's 47.6 gross average and 42.0 net average both represented single-season career highs for the ninth-year punter out of Clemson. He also matched his career high through nine games with six punts inside the 10-yard line and two punts inside the 5-yard line.
In addition to punting, Pinion also handles kickoffs and holding responsibilities on field goal and point after attempts. This season, he's served as a crucial part of a kicking operation that connected on 20-of-21 attempts through nine games, including a league-leading two game-winning field goals. Through nine games, 83.3 percent of Pinion's kickoffs resulted in touchbacks.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts this Year
Pinion and his wife Kaeleigh have recognized the profound ability his position in the NFL gives him to help their community and are using it to the fullest.
This season, they created "Punts for Purpose." For every punt that Pinion kicks that falls within the 20-yard line, he donates $1,000 to Compassion International, a charity supporting child survival centers in the developing world to increase worldwide childbirth survival statistics. According to Compassion International, 2.6 million impoverished babies do not survive their first 28 days of life, 830 women die annually from pregnancy and childbirth complications, and 99% of maternal deaths happen in low-income countries. The money raised through Punts for Purpose supplies mothers and babies with access to healthcare, food, and clean water until the baby turns one.
A trip that Pinion and his wife took to Tanzania, Africa this off season sparked the idea for Punts for Purpose. They have helped fund two development centers in the region and want to see the work of both done at the grassroots level. They also have visited and plan to make future visits to see the children that their contributions continue to help.
This specific program is even more poignant for the Pinions after learning they'll be expecting their first child in January. "Knowing what my wife is going through, what we're going through," Pinion said, "and all the resources we have and that these people may not have those same resources has really put a driving force behind that."
In addition to Punts for Purpose, Pinion has participated in several community events throughout the season. Pinion, along with the other Atlanta specialists, funded their annual Thanksgiving dinner for women and children in the Atlanta Mission: My Sister's House shelter. He also has been a part of several other events, including showing appreciation to the military during a visit to Clay National Guard, speaking with youth at a local detention center, and cooking for breast cancer survivors at the annual Dazzle and Dine event.
Demonstrates Dedication and Commitment to Community Efforts in Years Past
Pinion and his wife's passion for charity work is not new. Over the years as a punter, he has consistently used his platform to give back in ways he and his wife are passionate about. "We've been blessed beyond belief," Pinion said, "We're just trying to give back any way possible."
While a punter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Pinion started a Punts for Pups program. For every punt that landed within the 20-yard line, they sponsored a dog at a local shelter and covered the adoption fees. This idea was originally sparked when Pinion heard about the surge of more than 350 dogs at the shelter that desperately needed help. In addition to covering costs, Pinion and his wife would visit the local animal shelter the day after each game. During these visits, they would play with the dogs at the shelter, pick out which dogs they wanted to sponsor, and pay their adoption fees on the spot. Also, to help raise awareness and inform the community that animals were in need at the center, they would post pictures of the dogs that they were sponsoring on social media.
Since joining the Falcons in 2022, Pinion has made a consistent impact in Atlanta. Last season, Pinion and his wife funded a dinner at the local Ronald McDonald House, an organization that provides a home away from home for families of sick and injured children receiving care at local hospitals. Pinion, along with his teammates that he recruited to also attend, provided a special meal for the families and stayed to play games and visit with the families for the evening. He also was a regular at weekly community events hosted by the team. Pinion helped spread cheer to season ticket members in the community, visited service members at military bases (including Joint Base Lewis McChord in Seattle), read to students at elementary schools, showed appreciation to nurses at the local children's hospital, played games with active-duty military members, and visited wounded veterans at the Shepherd's Center.
Demonstrates Consistency in Positive Character and Models a Lifestyle of Giving Back
Despite his gentle demeanor, Pinion is indisputably a strong force in the locker room. He understands he only has this platform for so long and wants to make the most of it, and this genuine passion for giving back and using his platform has inspired many other players on the team, as well as others across the league. He has encouraged other punters around the NFL to pledge donations to charity this season – including Jake Bailey (MIA), Corey Bojorquez (CLE), Sam Martin (BUF) and Tress Way (WASH). He also has recruited several other punters to donate to charity for their punts that make it within the 20-yard line during their Sunday, December 10th games.
