Jack Fox becomes first ever Lions punter to win Special Teams Player of the Month

I’m not sure we’ve ever written about a punter this much in one month, but it continues on Thursday as Detroit Lions punter Jack Fox was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.

Fox has been outstanding through four games. Fox currently leads all NFL punters with an average of 53.1 yards per punt, and a net average of 51.1. To give you a sense of how impressive those numbers are, last year’s league leader finished with an overall average of 49.6 yards per punt and a net average of 44.5.

Fox has also been masterful in pinning the opponents deep inside their own territory and providing enough hangtime to prevent returns. Seven of Fox’s 13 punts have been downed inside the opponent’s 20-yard line, while Detroit has allowed just 6 total punt returns yards all year.

This is the first time a Lions punter has ever won the monthly award, and it’s the first time an NFC punter has won the award in the first month of their playing career since Chris Kluwe in 2005, according to the Lions’ PR team. Earlier this week, Lions kicker Matt Prater was announced as the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Week.

This offseason, the Lions decided to move on from long-time Lions punter Sam Martin, who signed a three-year, $7.05 million deal with the Broncos. Fox, meanwhile, is under contract in Detroit for one year at a salary of just $610,000. It was a risk by the Lions, but one that is paying off in a big way thus far. If Fox can keep up this kind of performance, he’ll be due for a nice little payday next year.