Mat McBriar Mat McBriar ( born July 8 , 1979 ) is an Australia n punter of American football who currently plays as a free agent . After playing college football for the Hawaii Warriors , he was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2003 . He spent the 2003 preseason with the Broncos and Seattle Seahawks before signing with the Dallas Cowboys in December 2003 . McBriar played for the Cowboys for eight seasons until he signed with the Eagles in 2012 . Early years . McBriar began as an Australian rules football player , playing for Brighton Grammar School and Deakin University ( he attended three semesters ) . At one stage , he entered a junior superkick competition , finishing 3rd overall . Unlike others such as Darren Bennett who earlier played in the NFL , McBriar was not a standout athlete in Australia . After performing well at an NFL - sponsored kicking competition in Waverley Park , however , Bennett helped him receive a football scholarship with the University of Hawaii . There he recorded the Warriors ' all - time , single - game record with a 53 . 8 yards / attempt average against Tulane University on 25 December 2002 . After 3 years , he had the second - best career punting average for the Warriors with 42 . 22 yards per punt behind Jason Elam . As a junior he made the second team All - WAC after averaging 43 . 4 yards per punt , and earned All - WAC honors as a senior , after averaging 44 . 8 yards per punt . In January 2003 , McBriar was the first - ever Australian player to be selected to play in the Hula Bowl Maui , as punter for the Kai ( North ) team . Professional career . Denver Broncos . On 28 April 2003 , he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Denver Broncos and had six punt s for a 41 . 5 - yard average in the preseason . Seattle Seahawks . McBriar was traded from the Broncos to the Seattle Seahawks on 22 August 2003 for a conditional draft choice . He averaged 44 . 8 yards on five punts in his only preseason game with the Seahawks . Shortly thereafter , the team waived him on 31 August 2003 . Dallas Cowboys . On 26 December 2003 , he was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to their practice squad , becoming the second Australian to play for the team , after punter / kicker Colin Ridgway . In 2004 he became the team starter at punter . In 2006 , McBriar made headlines with a 75 - yard punt which made the record books as the second longest in Cowboys ' history . Also in 2006 , he has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice for his outstanding punting ability . In December 2006 season , McBriar was only the second ever Australian player to be selected in the Pro Bowl , as punter for the NFC team . His league leading 48 . 2 yards - per - punt average in the 2006 season broke Sam Baker ' s team record of 45 . 4 yards per punt , made him the first player to average over 48 yards per punt since 1963 and tied him for fifth best in NFL history . He was the Cowboys ' first Pro Bowl punter since 1971 . On 28 February 2007 , the Cowboys extended McBriar ' s contract to a 5 - year , $ 8 . 5 - million contract . He also received a $ 2 . 5 - million signing bonus . This contract made McBriar the highest - paid punter in the league . That season he narrowly missed a Pro Bowl selection , after being chosen as a reserve for the NFC team . On 12 October 2008 , McBriar sustained a season - ending fracture in his kicking foot , after he suffered his first career blocked punt , which was also returned for the game - winning touchdown on the final play of an overtime loss against the Arizona Cardinals . Before the injury he was averaging 49 yards per punt and had a 38 . 8 net punting average . In 2009 he had a team record 38 punts downed inside the red zone ranking third in the NFL , and sixth all - time in a single season in league history . With the injury of Brad Johnson in 2009 , McBriar took up holding duties for the Cowboys on field goal s and extra point attempts . However , after several missed field goals , holding duties were handed over to Tony Romo in game 13 versus the San Diego Chargers . McBriar resumed his role as the team ' s holder during the 2010 season , in which he also was named to his second Pro Bowl , after leading the NFL in both gross punting average ( 47 . 9 yards ) and net average ( 41 . 7 ) . He also had 22 punts downed inside the red zone , with eight touchback s . In 2011 he was bothered during the season by a nerve issue that affected his left foot , so he was placed on the injured reserve before the final game . He finished the year with a 43 . 8 gross average and a 36 . 1 net average per punt . His contract was not renewed after the season , leaving as the franchise leader in net average ( 38 . 1 ) , gross average ( 45 . 3 ) and punts inside the 20 - yard line ( 175 ) . Philadelphia Eagles . On July 25 , 2012 , McBriar signed a one - year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles , where he battled Chas Henry for the starting position . McBriar was released by the Eagles on August 29 ; however , he was re - signed September 25 to replace Henry as the team ' s punter . McBriar was released by the Eagles on March 25 , 2013 making him a free agent . Pittsburgh Steelers . On October 29 , 2013 , McBriar was signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers .