Rich Camarillo: NFL Punter/Hall of Fame nominee class of 2009

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• published: 20 Apr 2015
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Richard Jon Camarillo (born on November 29, 1959 in Whittier, California) is a former professional American Football punter who played 16 seasons in the NFL for the New England Patriots (1981–1987), Los Angeles Rams (1988), Phoenix Cardinals (1989–1993), Houston Oilers (1994–1995), and Oakland Raiders (1996). Before his NFL career, he earned All-America honors at Cerritos Junior College. He then transferred to the University of Washington,(79-80). Where he was selected as a member of the Huskies All-Century team. A consistently solid, dependable punter during his 16 NFL seasons, Camarillo led the league in punting yards twice (1985, 1994), net yard average three times,(1983, 1991 & 1992), gross yards per punt once (1989). He also led the league in 1994 with 35 balls inside the 20. With the Patriots, Camarillo made a championship appearance in Super Bowl XX, and ended up getting to punt quite often as his team was blown out 46-10 by the Chicago Bears. Camarillo punted 6 times for 263 yards (43.8 avg), with 225 net yards (37.5 avg), 1 touchback, and 1 punt in the 20, including a then Super Bowl record 62-yard punt that planted the Bears back at their own 4-yard line. However, Chicago still managed to drive a Super Bowl record 96 yards and score a touchdown anyway. Camarillo finished his career with 1,027 punts for 43,895 yards (42.7 avg) and 279 punts inside the 20. Upon his retirement, that mark stood as the most in NFL history. Camarillo also had a career net average of 36.0 yards per punt. He was named to the NFL's all rookie team in 1981. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl after the 1983, 1989, 1991, 1992 & 1993 seasons. His 5 pro bowl appearances as a punter, are second only to Ray Guy who holds the record with 7. Camarillo had a punt returned for a touchdown in his first NFL game October 25, 1981. Fourteen seasons and 876 punts later on October 30, 1994, would be the next time one of his punts was returned for a score. He also owns the NFL's record for highest net avg. in a season with a mark of 39.6 yards. Camarillo's 44.5 yards per punt still stands as the highest punting average in NFL playoff history. He was also selected seven times (first or second team) All-Pro, in his career. He was also named to the team of the 90's by CNNSI. Camarillo, is a nominee for induction into the NFL Pro Football Hall of Fame, class of 2009. Camarillo coached the Ahwatukee Little League All-stars from Phoenix, Arizona in the 2006 Little League World Series in Williamsport, PA. His son Eric was a member of that team. On 14 September 2009, he was selected to the 50 Greatest New England Patriots Team.