Matt Turk
Encyclopedia
Matthew Edward Turk is an American football
punter who is currently a free agent
. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers
as an undrafted free agent in 1993. He played college football
at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.
A three-time Pro Bowl
selection, Turk has also been a member of the Los Angeles Rams
, Washington Redskins
, Miami Dolphins
, New York Jets
, St. Louis Rams
, Houston Texans
, and Jacksonville Jaguars
.
in 1986.
Matt played college football
for the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1993. With the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks, Turk averaged 36.3 yards per punt. The Warhawks won three straight Wisconsin State University Conference
championships from the 1990 to 1992 seasons.
, a semi-professional football team in Racine, Wisconsin
.
Turk punted for the Houston Texans
in 2007 after punting for the St. Louis Rams
the previous year. He has also punted for the Miami Dolphins
, the Washington Redskins
, and the New York Jets
.
On March 18, 2008, the Texans re-signed Turk to a two-year, $2.35 million contract with a $500,000 signing bonus. He was re-signed to a one-year contract on March 5, 2010.
With the retirement of Jeff Feagles
, Turk became the oldest active player in the league after the 2008 season. However, in week 4 of the 2010 season, the New Orleans Saints
resigned 46-year-old kicker John Carney and released Carney in October 2010, thereby relinquishing the status of oldest active player back in the league back to Turk. Turk is the only currently active NFL player born in the 1960s.
Turk signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on July 29, 2011. He was released on October 11.
, who was a center for 15 seasons; Dan died on December 24, 2000. In his last season, Dan was the long snapper for one of Matt's punts, to become the first brothers to do so.
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 who is currently a free agent
Free 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....
. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
as an undrafted free agent in 1993. 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 the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.
A three-time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
selection, Turk has also been a member of the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, 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,...
, Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
, 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...
, and 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...
.
Early years
Turk graduated Greenfield High School in his birthplace Greenfield, WisconsinGreenfield, Wisconsin
Greenfield is a city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 35,476 at the 2000 census.-History:Greenfield was originally created as the Town of Kinnickinnic around 1839. On Feb. 19, 1841, the name of the town was changed to Greenfield, taking its name from the name of the...
in 1986.
Matt 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...
for the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater and graduated with a degree in elementary education in 1993. With the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks, Turk averaged 36.3 yards per punt. The Warhawks won three straight Wisconsin State University Conference
Wisconsin State University Conference
The Wisconsin State University Conference is a former intercollegiate college athletic conference that was formed in July 1913 as the Wisconsin State Normal Conference. As implied by the name, all member institutions were located in the State of Wisconsin...
championships from the 1990 to 1992 seasons.
Professional career
Before entering the NFL, Turk also punted for the Racine RaidersRacine Raiders
The Racine Raiders American football club is an Elite MCFL team based in Racine, Wisconsin. Founded in 1953, they are the oldest Minor League Football team in Wisconsin that is still in existence. After one season in the Mid-States Football League, the team announced a move to the Elite MCFL in 2011...
, a semi-professional football team in Racine, Wisconsin
Racine, Wisconsin
Racine is a city in and the county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city had a population of 82,196...
.
Turk punted for the 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...
in 2007 after punting for the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
the previous year. He has also punted for the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, 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,...
, and the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
On March 18, 2008, the Texans re-signed Turk to a two-year, $2.35 million contract with a $500,000 signing bonus. He was re-signed to a one-year contract on March 5, 2010.
With the retirement of Jeff Feagles
Jeff Feagles
Jeffrey Allan Feagles is a retired American football punter. He was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1988. He played college football at the University of Miami, and most recently played for the New York Giants of the National Football League.Feagles is...
, Turk became the oldest active player in the league after the 2008 season. However, in week 4 of the 2010 season, the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
resigned 46-year-old kicker John Carney and released Carney in October 2010, thereby relinquishing the status of oldest active player back in the league back to Turk. Turk is the only currently active NFL player born in the 1960s.
Turk signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on July 29, 2011. He was released on October 11.
Personal
The youngest of six brothers, Matt Turk had a brother who also played in the NFL, Dan TurkDan Turk
Daniel Anthony Turk was an American football center in the National Football League from 1985 to 1999 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, and Washington Redskins. Turk was mainly used as a long snapper and reserve center...
, who was a center for 15 seasons; Dan died on December 24, 2000. In his last season, Dan was the long snapper for one of Matt's punts, to become the first brothers to do so.