Steve Weatherford Steven Thomas " Steve " Weatherford ( born December 17 , 1982 ) is an American football punter for the New York Giants of the National Football League . He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2006 . He played college football at Illinois . He also played for the New Orleans Saints , Kansas City Chiefs , Jacksonville Jaguars and the New York Jets . Early years . Weatherford attended Terre Haute North Vigo High School , where he played punter , kicker and safety on the football team . As a punter and place kicker , he set records for the most field goals in a career , longest punting average and longest field goal made ( 55 yards vs . Lawrence North High School ) . He averaged 45 . 4 yards per punt and held a 4 . 26 second hangtime average . As a kicker , Weatherford made 37 of 40 extra point attempts and connected on seven field goals from 40 yards or longer . He was named to the All - Conference team and earned All - State honors as a kicker twice consecutively . As a safety , Weatherford managed two interceptions , one of which was returned for a touchdown . He also played soccer , track and basketball , earning a total of thirteen varsity letter s in his high school career . He was an All - County forward in soccer , and an All - State track team member three times . He also set a Junior Olympics record in the 4x800 meters relay . He set a school record in the 300 - meter hurdles ( 39 . 34 seconds ) . College career . Entering the University of Illinois in 2001 , Weatherford redshirt ed his freshman year . He was named the starter in 2002 , averaging 39 . 7 yards on 23 punts . In 2003 , Weatherford was an Honorable Mention All - Big Ten Conference selection . Weatherford averaged 44 . 5 yards on 43 punts , breaking the school record held by Dike Eddleman since 1948 ( 43 . 0 yards per punt ) . This placed Weatherford at second in the Big Ten and 12th in the nation in punting average . He was also named the school ' s Special Teams player of the Year . In 2004 , Weatherford earned First - team All - Big Ten honors from the Coaches and Second - team honors from the media . " Sports Illustrated " named him the Most Underrated Player in the Big Ten . He finished second in the Big Ten in punting average , again , and fourth nationally . Weatherford averaged 45 . 4 yards per punt on 57 attempts , breaking the record he set the previous season . He was a semifinalist for the Ray Guy Award . He also scored a touchdown on a fake field goal against Northwestern on November 20 , 2004 . In his senior season in 2005 , Weatherford punted 64 times for a per punt average of 42 . 8 yards . Weatherford finished his collegiate career as the school ' s all - time leader in career punting average , with a career average of 43 . 6 yards per punt . Weatherford was also a member of the men ' s track team at the University of Illinois . He placed 3rd in the heptathlon at the 2005 Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships , setting a school record with 5 , 365 points . Professional career . New Orleans Saints . Weatherford was signed as an undrafted free agent on April 20 , 2006 by New Orleans . Weatherford was released by New Orleans on September 2 only to be re - signed on September 5 , 2006 . Steve Weatherford played in all 16 games for the New Orleans Saints , punting 77 times for an average of 43 . 8 yards per punt , which ranked 15th in the NFL . He had a season - long of 59 yards , and 19 of his punts were inside the 20 - yard line . Weatherford also recorded two solo tackles and a 15 - yard rush for a first down . On October 20 , 2008 , he was released by the Saints . Kansas City Chiefs . Weatherford was claimed off waivers by the Kansas City Chiefs on October 22 , 2008 , to replace an Injured Dustin Colquitt . The Chiefs then put him on waivers on November 4 . Jacksonville Jaguars . Weatherford was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 25 after Adam Podlesh went on injured reserve . He competed with Podlesh for a spot on the Jaguars ' roster for 2009 but was eventually cut by the team on September 5 , 2009 . New York Jets . Weatherford was signed by the New York Jets on September 7 , 2009 and was the team ' s punter for the 2009 season . However , he was unable to play in the Jets ' first playoff game due to problems with an irregular heartbeat . After the game , Weatherford explained that he had undergone surgery during college to correct a genetic heart condition that caused his heart to race , and that during his professional career the problem had not recurred until this game . Weatherford said he was taking medication to control the condition , was cleared to play in the Jets ' next game , and would have minor heart surgery to address the problem after the season . In March 2010 Weatherford underwent cardiac ablation at Morristown Memorial Hospital in Morristown , New Jersey . During the 2010 season , Weatherford tied the record for most punts inside the 20 - yard line in a single season with 42 . New York Giants . Weatherford agreed to terms with the New York Giants on July 29 , 2011 . For the 2011 regular season , Weatherford recorded a punt average of 45 . 7 yards with a net punt average of 39 . 2 ( both career highs ) . Weatherford has been noted for his physique and strength , uncommon for a special teams player . He was featured in the December 2011 issue of Men ' s Fitness , where his " maniacal " workout routine was described . He is reportedly able to squat 475 pounds and bench press almost 400 pounds , and teammates call him the " strongest player pound - for - pound " on the team . Weatherford was the second player to enter the postseason with both New York teams . He also got his first Super Bowl title after the Giants defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI . Weatherford averaged 40 . 8 yards per punt , and provided the Giants with integral field position , which led to a safety after an intentional grounding penalty by Tom Brady . After the 2011 season , the Giants used the franchise tag on Weatherford while they continued to negotiate a longer contract . On March 16 , Weatherford signed a five - year contract with the Giants . Personal . He and his wife , Laura , have three children , Ace , Carney , and Aurora