Brad Maynard
Encyclopedia
Bradley "Brad" Alan Maynard (born February 9, 1974 in Tipton, Indiana
) is an American football
punter for the Cleveland Browns
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the New York Giants
in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Ball State
.
He has also been a member of the New York Giants
, Chicago Bears
and Houston Texans
.
, where he averaged 44.2 yards per kick, ranking third in NCAA history. He amassed over 10,700 yards on 242 punts. Maynard was named onto the consensus All-American selection and All-Mid-American Conference
first-team pick. He won MAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year and MVP following his senior campaign. He majored in business while playing for the Cardinals. He was described as quiet, humble, and hard working during his collegiate years.
Maynard was inducted into Ball State's Athletic Hall of Fame on February 8, 2008.
, which made him one of the highest drafted punters in the modern era of football. He was a member of the 2000 New York Giants, who played the Baltimore Ravens
at Super Bowl XXXV
. Though the Giants lost the game, 34–7, Maynard set an NFL record for most punts in a Super Bowl game.
and signed with the Chicago Bears.
Maynard is known for his occasional trick plays. On rare occasions, he may pass in order to convert a first down. His most notable trick play came in 2001, when he threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Brian Urlacher
on a fake field goal en route to a 20–15 victory over the Washington Redskins
, which secured the Bears the NFC
's second playoff seed. He also threw passes on fake punts during two Bears' season finales in 2005 and 2006. His career passing stats are 4-7 with two touchdowns.
In January 2007, he was voted the sexiest member of the Chicago Bears. Along with Patrick Mannelly
, kicker Robbie Gould
claims Maynard to be one of the Bears' unsung heroes.On July 25th, 2011, the Bears released Maynard. Maynard was replaced with former Jacksonville Jaguars
punter Adam Podlesh
.
.
While on the Bears, every Monday during football season he was featured on "Maynard Monday" with Eric and Kathy on 101.9 the Mix in Chicago where he discusses the previous Bears game. His wife was also featured on the segment after a bye week.
Tipton, Indiana
Tipton is a city in and the county seat of Tipton County, Indiana, United States. The population was 5,106 at the 2010 census. It is part of the 'Kokomo, Indiana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
) is an American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
punter for the Cleveland Browns
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional football team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are currently members of the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft
1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Ball State
Ball State Cardinals football
The Ball State Cardinals football team represents Ball State University in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football competition as a member of the Mid-American Conference .-Recent history:...
.
He has also been a member of the New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and Houston Texans
Houston Texans
The Houston Texans are a professional American football team based in Houston, Texas. The team is currently a member of the Southern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
College career
Maynard attended Ball State UniversityBall State University
Ball State University is a state-run research university located in Muncie, Indiana. It is also known as Ball State or simply BSU.Located on the northwest side of the city, Ball State's campus spans and includes 106 buildings...
, where he averaged 44.2 yards per kick, ranking third in NCAA history. He amassed over 10,700 yards on 242 punts. Maynard was named onto the consensus All-American selection and All-Mid-American Conference
Mid-American Conference
The Mid-American Conference is a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I college athletic conference with a membership base in the Great Lakes region that stretches from Western New York to Illinois. Nine of the twelve full member schools are in Ohio and Michigan, with single members...
first-team pick. He won MAC Defensive Player-of-the-Year and MVP following his senior campaign. He majored in business while playing for the Cardinals. He was described as quiet, humble, and hard working during his collegiate years.
Maynard was inducted into Ball State's Athletic Hall of Fame on February 8, 2008.
New York Giants
The New York Giants selected Maynard in the third round of the 1997 NFL Draft1997 NFL Draft
The 1997 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 19–20, 1997. No teams elected to claim any players in the supplemental draft that...
, which made him one of the highest drafted punters in the modern era of football. He was a member of the 2000 New York Giants, who played the Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
at Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV
Super Bowl XXXV was played on January 28, 2001 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida to decide the National Football League champion following the 2000 regular season. The American Football Conference champion Baltimore Ravens defeated the National Football Conference champion New York...
. Though the Giants lost the game, 34–7, Maynard set an NFL record for most punts in a Super Bowl game.
Chicago Bears
After the 2000 season ended,Maynard became a Free AgentFree agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
and signed with the Chicago Bears.
Maynard is known for his occasional trick plays. On rare occasions, he may pass in order to convert a first down. His most notable trick play came in 2001, when he threw a 27-yard touchdown pass to Brian Urlacher
Brian Urlacher
Brian Keith Urlacher is an American football player for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League . He attended the University of New Mexico, where he was one of the school's most decorated athletes. In addition to setting multiple university records, Urlacher earned consideration for the...
on a fake field goal en route to a 20–15 victory over the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
, which secured the Bears the NFC
National Football Conference
The National Football Conference is one of the two conferences of the National Football League . This conference and its counterpart, the American Football Conference , currently contain 16 teams each, making up the 32 teams of the NFL.-Current teams:Since 2002, the NFC has comprised 16 teams,...
's second playoff seed. He also threw passes on fake punts during two Bears' season finales in 2005 and 2006. His career passing stats are 4-7 with two touchdowns.
In January 2007, he was voted the sexiest member of the Chicago Bears. Along with Patrick Mannelly
Patrick Mannelly
Patrick Mannelly is an American football long snapper for the Chicago Bears of the NFL. He was originally selected with the 36th pick of the sixth round of the 1998 NFL Draft out of Duke University.-High school years:...
, kicker Robbie Gould
Robbie Gould
Robert Paul "Robbie" Gould III is an American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Penn State...
claims Maynard to be one of the Bears' unsung heroes.On July 25th, 2011, the Bears released Maynard. Maynard was replaced with former Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
punter Adam Podlesh
Adam Podlesh
Adam Podlesh is an American football punter for the Chicago Bears.-Early life:Podlesh, who is Jewish, is a graduate of Pittsford Sutherland High School. He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins....
.
Houston Texans
On August 2nd, 2011 the Houston Texans signed Maynard to a 1-year deal.. He was released on September 3rd, and replaced by the rookie Brett HartmannBrett Hartmann
Brett Hartmann is an American football punter for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was signed by the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent in 2011...
Cleveland Browns
On September 13, 2011 the Cleveland Browns signed Maynard to replace the injured Richmond McGeeRichmond McGee
Richmond McGee is an American football punter for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League. He was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as a street free agent in 2008...
.
Personal
He and his wife, Karen, have two sons, Conner and Cole, and a daughter, Ava.While on the Bears, every Monday during football season he was featured on "Maynard Monday" with Eric and Kathy on 101.9 the Mix in Chicago where he discusses the previous Bears game. His wife was also featured on the segment after a bye week.