Tyler R. Long (born April 6, 1993) is an American former professional

football Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...

punter. He played

college football College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...

for the

University of Alabama at Birmingham The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is a public research university in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Founded in 1969 and part of the University of Alabama System, UAB has grown to be the state's largest employer, with more than ...

and holds records for career

field goal A field goal (FG) is a means of scoring in gridiron football. To score a field goal, the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop kick, the ball through the goal, i.e., between the uprights and over the crossbar. Consequently, ...

s as well as the longest field goal in school history.

Professional career

Washington Redskins

On May 7, 2015, Long signed with the

Washington Redskins The Washington Commanders are a professional American football team based in the Washington metropolitan area. The Commanders compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East ...

to compete with

placekicker In gridiron football, the placekicker (PK), or simply kicker (K), is the player responsible for attempts at scoring Field goal (football), field goals and extra points. In most cases, the placekicker also serves as the team's kickoff specialist ...

Kai Forbath. He played in three preseason games for the team. On August 30, 2015, he was waived.

Pittsburgh Steelers

On January 20, 2016, Long signed a reserve/future contract with the

Pittsburgh Steelers The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh. The Steelers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. Founded in 1933 P ...

. On May 5, 2016, he was waived by the team.

BC Lions

Long was signed by the

BC Lions The BC Lions are a professional Canadian football team based in Vancouver, British Columbia. The Lions compete in the West Division (CFL), West Division of the Canadian Football League (CFL), and play their home games at BC Place. The Lions playe ...

of the

Canadian Football League The Canadian Football League (CFL; , LCF) is a Professional gridiron football, professional Canadian football league in Canada. It comprises nine teams divided into two divisions, with four teams in the East Division (CFL), East Division and f ...

(CFL) on May 24, 2017. He became the starting punter and placekicker, following the release of veteran kicker Swayze Waters. Long converted 39 of 44

s (88.6%) in his first season with the Lions. He also averaged 47.9 yards on 116 punts. At the conclusion of the 2018 season Long was named the Lions' nominee for Most Outstanding Player and Most Outstanding Special Teams Player. He was also named a CFL All-Star for the second consecutive season. On January 4, 2019, he was released by the Lions in order to pursue an NFL opportunity (Long's contract would have expired February 12, 2019).

Los Angeles Chargers

On January 14, 2019, Long signed a reserve/future contract with the

Los Angeles Chargers The Los Angeles Chargers are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Chargers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC W ...

. He was named the Chargers starting punter to start the season. In Week 1, following an injury to kicker

Michael Badgley Michael Badgley ; (born July 28, 1995), nicknamed "the Money Badger", is an American professional football placekicker. He played college football at Miami and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. Badgley has ...

, Long took over kicking duties along with punting. He converted his only field goal attempt and converted all three

extra points The conversion, try (American football), also known as a point(s) after touchdown, PAT, extra point, two-point conversion, or convert (Canadian football) is a gridiron football play that occurs immediately after a touchdown. The scoring team att ...

, while punting twice for 98 yards inside the 20-yard-line. After his NFL debut performance against the

Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. The Colts compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC South, South division. Since the 2008 India ...

, Long was named the Week 1 AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In Week 4, against the

Miami Dolphins The Miami Dolphins are a professional American football team based in the Miami metropolitan area. The Dolphins compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team ...

, Long converted three extra point attempts and three field goal attempts in the 30–10 victory. Long signed a one-year exclusive-rights free agent tender with the Chargers on March 17, 2021.

New York Jets

On September 14, 2022, Long was signed to the

practice squad In gridiron football, the practice squad, also called the taxi squad or practice roster, is a group of players signed by a team but not part of their main roster. They serve as extra players during the team's practices, often as part of the scou ...

of the

New York Jets The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...

. He was released on September 20.

References

External links

UAB Blazers bio
{{DEFAULTSORT:Long, Ty 1993 births Living people UAB Blazers football players Players of American football from Roswell, Georgia BC Lions players Players of Canadian football from Georgia (U.S. state) American football placekickers Canadian football placekickers Canadian football punters Washington Redskins players Pittsburgh Steelers players Los Angeles Chargers players New York Jets players American football punters