Bryan Anger Bio
Bryan Corey Anger, born on October 6, 1988, is an American professional football punter for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 203 pounds, he is widely recognized for his powerful leg and consistent punting accuracy. After a decorated college career with the California Golden Bears, Anger was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft, becoming the highest-drafted punter since 1995. He has since built a long NFL career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Houston Texans, and Dallas Cowboys, earning multiple Pro Bowl selections along the way.
Early Life and Background
Bryan Corey Anger was born on October 6, 1988, in Camarillo, California, where he grew up and attended Camarillo High School. As a senior, he posted a 41.8-yard punting average, recorded 11 punts downed inside the 20-yard line, and contributed 42 receptions for 678 yards and six touchdowns as a receiver. His senior performance earned him USA Today All-American, EA Sports All-American, All-Far West team by SuperPrep, Prepstar All-West Region, and Cal-Hi Sports first-team All-State honors. He was also listed as the No. 2 punter in the country by Rivals, signaling his arrival as a top-tier special teams prospect.
Coming from Camarillo, a city with a strong high school football tradition, Anger developed his leg strength and directional punting skills during his formative years. His ability to combine hang time with distance made him a highly recruited prospect, drawing attention from several college programs on the West Coast. The disciplined work ethic he built in high school carried over into his college preparation and, eventually, his professional career.
Path to American Football
Anger accepted a football scholarship from the University of California, Berkeley, joining the California Golden Bears program. As a redshirt freshman, he registered a 43.1-yard punt average, the sixth-best mark in school history, and placed 26 punts inside the 20-yard line. He also produced several highlight punts, including a 75-yarder against Stanford, a career-long 76-yarder in another game against Stanford, a 72-yarder against Arizona State, and a 48.4-yard average on seven attempts against Arizona.
During his junior year, Anger set the school single-season record for punt average at 45.6 yards, ranking second in the Pac-10 and sixth nationally. As a senior, he recorded a 44.2-yard average and finished second in school history and sixth in Pac-12 conference history in career gross punting average. He became the second player in school history to receive first-team all-conference honors for three consecutive seasons, matching Alex Mack’s 2006 to 2008 achievement. Anger was also invited to the 2012 East-West Shrine Game, where he averaged 60.0 yards per punt on three attempts. Over four years, he never missed a game, totaling 255 punts for 11,094 yards, a 43.5 average, and a 38.2 net average.
Bryan Anger Career
Early Career (2012-2015)
Anger was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the third round, 70th overall, of the 2012 NFL draft, becoming the highest-drafted punter since Todd Sauerbrun was chosen 56th overall in 1995. A day later, on April 29, the Jaguars cut punters Nick Harris and Spencer Lanning to make room for him. As a rookie, he punted 91 times for 4,353 yards and a 47.8 average, the second-best mark in the league. He was named to All-Rookie teams by CBS Sports, ESPN, Pro Football Weekly, and many other media outlets, and also received a vote for the 2012 All-Pro Team from the Associated Press.
In 2013, Anger led the league in punts and punting yards, with 95 punts for 4,338 yards and a 45.66 average. He followed that up in 2014 with 94 punts for a career-high 4,464 yards and a league-leading 47.5 average, with his 4,464 punting yards ranking second in the league that year. His 2015 season saw 80 punts for 3,700 yards and a 46.3 average, capping a strong four-year run with the Jaguars.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2016-2018)
On March 22, 2016, Anger signed a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and won the starting punting job after the team released Jake Schum. On December 31, 2016, he signed a five-year, $17 million contract extension with the Buccaneers through the 2021 season. The following day against the Carolina Panthers in the regular-season finale, he punted five times for 229 yards, landing all five inside the 20-yard line as the Buccaneers won 17-16, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He finished the 2016 season with 70 punts for 3,215 yards and a 45.93 average.
In 2017, Anger recorded 65 punts for 2,857 yards and a 43.95 average, followed by 57 punts for 2,567 yards and a 45.04 average in 2018. He was released by the Buccaneers on March 13, 2019, ending a productive three-year stint in Tampa Bay that included his first major contract extension and weekly award recognition.
Houston Texans Era (2019-2020)
On July 23, 2019, Anger signed with the Houston Texans but was released on August 30, 2019. He was re-signed on September 17, 2019, after the team cut Trevor Daniel. On December 28, 2019, he was signed to a three-year contract extension, and he finished the season with 45 punts for 2,094 yards. In the 2020 season, he had 54 punts for 2,505 yards and a 46.38 average before being released by the Texans on March 18, 2021.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2021-Present)
On April 7, 2021, Anger signed a one-year contract with the Dallas Cowboys, beginning the most decorated stretch of his career. After punting 65 times for 3,143 yards and a 48.4 average in the 2021 season, he was named to the 2022 Pro Bowl, his first selection, and also earned second-team All-Pro honors. In the Wild Card round against the San Francisco 49ers, he punted five times for 268 yards and added a 16-yard completion in a 23-17 loss.
On March 22, 2022, Anger re-signed with the Cowboys on a three-year, $9 million contract. He finished the 2022 season with 68 punts for 3,291 yards and a 48.4 average, then posted 44 punts for 2,262 yards and a 51.41 average in 2023. His steady performance in Dallas has made him one of the most reliable punters in the league during this era.
Driving Style and Strengths
Bryan Anger is known for his powerful leg and directional punting accuracy, combining distance with the ability to flip the field and pin opponents deep in their own territory. His hang time allows coverage units to get downfield, and his consistency has been a defining feature throughout his career. Pairing leg strength with smart decision-making has helped him post strong net punting averages year after year.
Notable Events and Milestones
Anger’s selection in the third round of the 2012 NFL draft made him the highest-drafted punter since 1995, and his Jacksonville teammates gave him the nickname Banger because of his powerful leg. He led the league in punting yards in 2013 and 2014, and earned his first Pro Bowl nod and All-Pro recognition in 2021 with the Cowboys, followed by a second Pro Bowl selection in 2023. A memorable cultural moment came shortly after his draft, when NFL Network host Rich Eisen popularized the phrase Punters are people too while having Anger on his podcast.
Bryan Anger Career Wins
Bryan Anger’s career achievements include being a two-time Pro Bowl selection in 2021 and 2023, a two-time second-team All-Pro in 2021 and 2023, and a member of the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2012. He was also a three-time first-team All-Pac-10 selection in 2009, 2010, and 2011, and a second-team All-Pac-10 pick in 2008, along with leading the NFL in punting yards in 2013. While team win totals are tied to roster and schedule outcomes, his individual statistical leadership and postseason appearances, including the 2021 Wild Card game with Dallas, mark the highlights of his resume.
Bryan Anger Family
Personal Life
Bryan Corey Anger’s personal life has been kept largely private, and public details about his immediate family and relationships are limited. He has shared glimpses of his life off the field through his public Instagram account, where he engages with fans under his well-known Banger nickname. His professional reputation and the cultural moment sparked by Rich Eisen’s Punters are people too phrase have made him one of the more recognizable specialists of his generation.
2025 Season Performance
As the 2025 NFL season approaches, Bryan Anger remains under contract with the Dallas Cowboys on the three-year, $9 million deal he signed in March 2022. Heading into the new season, he is coming off a 2023 campaign in which he posted 44 punts for 2,262 yards and a 51.41 average, the highest of his career. His continued role as the Cowboys’ punter reflects the team’s confidence in his leg strength, directional accuracy, and veteran presence on special teams.
With two Pro Bowl selections and two second-team All-Pro honors already on his resume, Anger will look to build on his late-career peak and provide consistent field-position advantages for Dallas in 2025. His partnership with the Cowboys’ special teams unit remains a key strength, and his performance during the 2024 season will help frame expectations for the year ahead. As one of the most accomplished punters in team history, Anger’s stability and big-stage experience figure to remain valuable assets for the Cowboys as they pursue another playoff push.