Thomas Morstead Thomas Morstead ( born March 8 , 1986 ) is an American football punter and kickoff specialist for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football for Southern Methodist University ( SMU ) . He was drafted by the Saints 164th in the fifth - round of the 2009 NFL Draft . Early years . Morstead was born in Pearland , Texas . He attended Pearland High School and was an excellent student - athlete . He won varsity letters in football and soccer . In football , as a senior , Morstead received second - team All - District honors and was named the Brazoria County Special Teams MVP . He was also a member of the National Honor Society , adding Academic All - State honors . College career . Morstead decided to enroll at Southern Methodist in 2004 , turning down scholarship offers from Texas Christian , Rice , Texas and Missouri , but spent the season as a redshirt . He was a member of the Conference USA ' s Academic Honor Roll in 2005 , but never appeared in a game . Morstead took over place - kicking and punting chores in 2006 , earning All - Conference USA third - team honors . He led the league and ranked 15th in the nation in punting , averaging 43 . 82 yards on 50 attempts , the best average by an SMU punter since Craig James averaged 44 . 9 yards in 1982 . He made 13 of 18 field goals and 34 of 35 extra points for a total of 73 points , as he also recorded one solo tackle . As a sophomore Morstead was a consensus All - Conference USA first - team pick and also gained league academic honors . He again led C - USA and finished eighth nationally with a 44 . 65 - yard average , as the Mustangs also ranked fourth in the NCAA with a 39 . 33 - yard net average . He scored 82 points and set the league single - season record by making all 43 PAT attempts , as he also connected on 13 of 20 field goals . Morstead concentrated more on directional punting in 2008 . The All - Conference USA honorable mention averaged a career - low 41 . 78 yards on 59 punts , but only 19 were returned , as the Mustangs placed third in the league with a 37 . 22 - yard net average . He made 11 of 15 field goals , 29 of 30 extra points and amassed 62 points . Morstead missed three kicks inside of 40 yards in 2008 , four in both 2006 and 2007 . Professional career . Morstead was drafted on the 5th round of the 2009 NFL Draft , # 164 overall , by the New Orleans Saints . He was the second punter chosen in 2009 , after Kevin Huber ( by the Cincinnati Bengals ) . New Orleans Saints . Morstead beat out Glenn Pakulak for the Saints ' punting job in 2009 . He played a critical role in the Saints ' victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV . Morstead executed an onside kick during the second half kickoff . The Saints recovered the ball and were able to convert that possession into a touchdown and a 13 - 10 lead . The Saints would eventually win the game 31 - 17 . After the game , Morstead stated that while he was excited about executing the play , he was also terrified knowing that if the play was not executed perfectly , the Colts would have likely recovered the ball with a shot of extending their 10 - 6 lead . He currently holds the record for most touchbacks in one game ( 9 in a 62 - 7 defeat of Indianapolis on October 23 , 2011 ) and the record for the most touchbacks in a single season ( 68 in 2011 ) . In July 2012 the Saints signed Morstead to a six - year extension stated to be worth $ 21 . 9 million , making him the second highest paid punter in the league ( after Shane Lechler of Oakland ) . He went on to have an outstanding season , leading the league ( with a record - setting pace through 15 games ) in net punting yardage , and was elected to the Pro Bowl .