Former Kansas City Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend has found a new home in the NFL after signing a two-year deal to play for the Houston Texans. Per reports, the deal is worth up to $6 million.
Last year, Townsend averaged 47.1 yards/punt for the Chiefs and had 34 percent of his punts downed inside the opponent's 20-yard line.
Tommy Townsend will remain in the AFC after four seasons with the Chiefs.
The Chiefs have enjoyed a nice chain of success at the punter position over the last several years, a testament to Dave Toub's eye for who to keep in the proverbial Rolodex in case of emergencies.
From the moment the Chiefs were questioning Dustin Colquitt's effectiveness, they turned to Jack Fox to help fill in the interim. Fox is now one of the league's best punters for the Detroit Lions. After losing Fox, the Chiefs found Townsend, another one of the best young specialists in the game, before now turning to Matt Araiza.
Townsend came into the NFL after living in the shadow of his brother, Johnny, at the University of Florida, but he put up solid seasons for the Chiefs in his first two years, even if he was a rarely used specialist due to the team's efficient offensive production. In 2022, however, he turned the corner and exhibited both greater power and accuracy and was named a first-team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler following the season.
This past year, Townsend followed up a breakthrough campaign with another strong season as the Chiefs won back-to-back Super Bowl titles. Given the raise he was set to demand, however, in free agency, the Chiefs knew they could save a few million by letting Townsend walk and signing Matt Araiza instead.