Dave Jennings (American football) explained

Dave Jennings
Number:13, 4
Position:Punter
Birth Date:June 8, 1952
Birth Place:New York, New York, U.S.
Death Place:Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, U.S.
Height Ft:6
Height In:4
Weight Lbs:203
College:St. Lawrence
Undraftedyear:1974
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Statlabel1:Punts
Statvalue1:1,154
Statlabel2:Punting yards
Statvalue2:47,567
Statlabel3:Average punt
Statvalue3:41.2
Statlabel4:Longest punt
Statvalue4:73
Pfr:J/JennDa20

David Tuthill Jennings (June 8, 1952 – June 19, 2013) was an American professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL) from 1974 to 1987. He played for the New York Giants and the New York Jets.[1] He later worked as a radio color commentator for Jets and Giants games until 2007. He died of complications with Parkinson's disease in 2013.

Life and career

Jennings played both college football and college basketball and graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1974.[2] As a high school student, he did not play football.[3] He lettered in both football and basketball at St. Lawrence, and was inducted to the St. Lawrence Saints hall of fame in 1988.[4]

After graduating from St. Lawrence, Jennings was not drafted, and briefly signed with the Houston Oilers as a practice squad member until he was released and recruited to the New York Giants as a free agent. He played for the Giants from 1974 to 1984, and then moved to play for the New York Jets from 1984 to 1987. During his professional career, he went to the 1978, 1979, 1980, and 1982 Pro Bowl games. He also led the league for total punts in the 1979 season, and in punting yards in both the 1979 and 1980 seasons.[1] He retired after the 1987 season.

After his career playing professional football, Jennings began work as a radio color commentator. He commented on Jets games from 1988 to 2001 for New York sports radio station WFAN.[5] He then moved to commenting on Giants games from 2002 until 2007, when he was replaced by former Giants linebacker Carl Banks.[6] During this time, Jennings worked as a game analyst alongside fellow WFAN Giants announcers Bob Papa and Dick Lynch.[6] [7] In addition to his booth work, Jennings was a part of the Giants pre- and post-game shows, covering player interviews from the locker room.[6] [8]

Dave Jennings was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1995, and publicly revealed his condition in 2005.[9] [10] It was speculated around when he retired from broadcasting in 2008 that fatigue due to Parkinson's may have been the cause of his change in broadcasting roles and eventual retirement.[6] He was inducted into the Giants' Ring of Honor in 2011 as one of the best punters in the franchise's history. Jennings died due to complications with Parkinson's on June 19, 2013, eleven days after his 61st birthday.[11]

NFL career statistics

Legend
Led the league
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamPunting
Punts
NYG14 68 2,709 1,991 64 39.8 28.4 2 - 12
NYG14 76 3,107 2,663 64 40.9 35.0 0 - 4
NYG14 74 3,054 2,354 61 41.3 30.6 3 11 10
NYG14 100 3,993 3,233 58 39.9 32.3 0 19 4
NYG16 95 3,995 3,151 68 42.1 33.2 0 18 11
NYG16 104 4,445 3,818 72 42.7 36.7 0 19 9
NYG16 94 4,211 3,445 63 44.8 36.6 0 16 13
NYG16 97 4,198 3,397 62 43.3 35.0 0 19 12
NYG9 49 2,096 1,829 73 42.8 37.3 0 16 3
NYG16 84 3,386 3,003 66 40.3 35.3 1 29 5
NYG16 90 3,598 2,919 54 40.0 31.4 3 22 10
NYJ16 74 2,978 2,499 66 40.2 33.8 0 23 8
NYJ16 85 3,353 3,068 55 39.4 36.1 0 27 6
NYJ12 64 2,444 2,224 58 38.2 34.8 0 12 6
Career 205 1,154 47,567 39,594 73 41.2 34.0 9 231 113

Playoffs

YearTeamPunting
Punts
NYG2 8 349 311 51 43.6 38.9 0 2 0
NYG2 10 381 357 47 38.1 35.7 0 5 0
NYJ1 5 192 180 49 38.4 36.0 0 1 0
NYJ2 17 646 556 55 38.0 30.9 1 1 1
Career 7 40 1,568 1,404 55 39.2 34.2 1 9 1

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dave Jennings. Pro Football Reference. November 9, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20101216055323/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/J/JennDa20.htm. December 16, 2010.
  2. News: Grimsley. Will. Gridders Make Like Oarsmen. The Press-Courier. Oxnard. February 17, 1979. 13. November 9, 2010.
  3. News: Giant Punter Beacon Guest. The Evening News. Newburgh. December 4, 1975. 2D. November 9, 2010.
  4. Web site: Dave Jennings (1988) - Hall of Fame . 2022-05-12 . St. Lawrence University Athletics . en.
  5. News: Vacchiano . Ralph . Dave Jennings, former All-Pro punter for the NY Giants, dead at 61 . Daily News . New York . June 20, 2013 . November 9, 2010 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20130623031602/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/ex-giants-all-pro-punter-jennings-dead-61-article-1.1376978 . June 23, 2013 .
  6. News: Raissman. Bob. Banks enters radio booth. Daily News. New York. September 6, 2007. November 9, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20070910225632/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/2007/09/06/2007-09-06_banks_enters_radio_booth-1.html. September 10, 2007.
  7. News: Pro Football; Jennings Joins Giants in Booth. The New York Times. July 27, 2002. November 9, 2010. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150527212616/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/27/sports/pro-football-jennings-joins-giants-in-booth.html. May 27, 2015.
  8. Web site: The MikeFrancesa.com Mike's On & WFAN Message Board Forum. www.mikefrancesa.com. April 24, 2018.
  9. News: Raissman . Bob . His Secret Pain. After 10 years, Jennings reveals battle with Parkinson's . Daily News . New York . June 19, 2005 . 2022-05-12.
  10. Web site: Former Giants, Jets Punter And Broadcaster Dave Jennings Dies At 61 . CBS New York . CBS . August 28, 2018 . June 29, 2013.
  11. Web site: Former Giants punter Dave Jennings succumbs to Parkinson's disease . USAToday.com . Gannett Satellite Media, LLC. . 10 December 2021.