Bryce Baringer Bio
Bryce Baringer (born April 26, 1999) is an American professional football punter for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He attended Notre Dame Preparatory School in Michigan before beginning his college football journey with the Illinois Fighting Illini and continuing it with the Michigan State Spartans. Selected by New England in the 2023 NFL Draft, Baringer quickly established himself as one of the league’s most consistent directional punters and earned All-Rookie recognition in his first professional season.
Early Life and Background
Bryce Baringer was born and raised in Waterford, Michigan, where he attended Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy. Growing up in a region with a strong football culture, he developed an early interest in the kicking game and punting. His high school resume drew attention from several college programs, and he initially signed a National Letter of Intent to play at Southern Illinois. After being granted a release from that agreement, Baringer committed to the University of Illinois as a preferred walk-on, setting the stage for a winding path through college football.
Path to American Football
After joining the Illinois Fighting Illini, Baringer redshirted his true freshman season before deciding to transfer to Michigan State University. Once at Michigan State, he initially did not plan to continue playing football until the Spartans’ coaching staff reached out. He attended two tryouts without earning a roster spot, but his opportunity came in 2018 when punters Jake Hartbarger and Tyler Hunt suffered injuries. Baringer joined the active lineup and appeared in four games, punting 15 times for a 32.4-yard average. He was cut entering the 2019 season after the program added Australian punter Jack Bouwmeester, but he continued practicing on his own and rejoined the Spartans once Bouwmeester departed. That persistence helped him climb from a walk-on invite to one of the top punting prospects in the country.
Bryce Baringer Career
Early Career at Michigan State (2018–2021)
Baringer re-established himself in East Lansing during his redshirt junior season, winning a preseason competition against graduate transfer Mitchell Crawford to claim the starting punting job. He averaged 43.6 yards across 37 punts that year, showing the directional control and leg strength that had once caught the eye of the coaching staff. His development accelerated the following season, when he became one of the conference’s most productive legs. As a redshirt senior, Baringer punted 59 times for a Michigan State-record 48.4-yard average and earned Second-team All-Big Ten honors. That breakthrough campaign confirmed that his career path had moved well beyond a walk-on story.
Michigan State Senior Season and Draft Rise (2022)
Using the extra year of eligibility granted to college athletes during the COVID-19 pandemic, Baringer returned to Michigan State for a sixth season and delivered his most decorated year. He was recognized as a Consensus All-American, won Big Ten Punter of the Year, and was named First-team All-Big Ten. His performance elevated his professional stock, and ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. rated him the top punting prospect for the 2023 NFL Draft heading into his final collegiate season. By the time he declared for the draft, Baringer was viewed as a polished specialist with the size, trajectory control, and hang time to contribute immediately in the NFL.
New England Patriots Era (2023–Present)
The New England Patriots selected Baringer in the sixth round, 192nd overall, of the 2023 NFL Draft. He signed a standard four-year rookie contract valued at approximately $4.02 million, including a signing bonus of $178,459. Baringer wasted little time justifying the selection, opening his career with a punt of at least 50 yards in each of his first 26 professional games. That streak ended in Week 11 of the 2024 NFL season. His strong debut campaign earned him a place on the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team, reinforcing his reputation as a reliable young specialist for the Patriots.
Driving Style and Strengths
Listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 216 pounds, Baringer punts with a balanced combination of distance, directional accuracy, and hang time. He is at his best when working the sideline and flipping the field, often pinning opposing returners inside their own 20-yard line. His six-year college journey sharpened his preparation habits, and he has translated that routine into consistency on an NFL stage. Coaches have leaned on him to handle kickoff duties in addition to punting, and his willingness to refine his craft has been central to his early professional growth.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Baringer’s signature accomplishments are his 48.4-yard Michigan State single-season punting average, his selection as a Consensus All-American in 2022, and his opening 26-game streak of 50-yard punts to begin his NFL career. Earning PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team honors in 2023 added another milestone, confirming his immediate impact with the Patriots. Each step reinforced his reputation as one of the most accomplished punters of his draft class.
Bryce Baringer Career Wins
While individual statistical achievements rather than race-style wins define a punter’s resume, Baringer has accumulated several headline performances across his college and professional career. His record-setting Michigan State senior season, his 2022 All-American honors, and his 2023 PFWA All-Rookie selection stand as the defining markers of his career to date.
NFL Highlights
In the NFL, Baringer’s most notable achievements are his 26-game opening streak of 50-yard punts to start his professional career and his selection to the PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team in 2023. Drafted 192nd overall by New England, he signed a four-year rookie contract worth about $4.02 million, a strong return for a sixth-round specialist. His early consistency has helped anchor the Patriots’ third-phase of the game.
Other Wins & Performances
At the college level, Baringer’s signature performances include his 2022 Consensus All-American season, Big Ten Punter of the Year honors, and First-team All-Big Ten recognition. He followed his 2021 Second-team All-Big Ten campaign with a record-setting senior year at Michigan State, building the resume that ultimately led to his NFL opportunity.
Bryce Baringer Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Bryce Baringer’s immediate family is limited. He was raised in Waterford, Michigan, where he attended Notre Dame Preparatory School and Marist Academy before launching his football career.
Personal Life
Off the field, Baringer is a close friend of professional golfer James Piot, who was also his roommate during their time at Michigan State. The two have remained connected since their college days, sharing an athletic bond that extends beyond football.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into 2025, Baringer is expected to remain a core part of the New England Patriots’ special teams unit. His 2024 campaign closed the book on a historic 26-game streak of 50-yard punts to begin his NFL career, but the underlying performance remained steady, and he retained his role as the team’s primary punter and a kickoff contributor. With the Patriots continuing to reshape their roster, the coaching staff has emphasized field position and coverage, areas where Baringer has consistently delivered.
As the 2025 season unfolds, Baringer will be counted on to provide the same directional control and hang time that defined his rookie year. The Patriots’ renewed emphasis on competition in training camp gives him a clear opportunity to reinforce his standing and to push for additional All-Pro recognition. His contract, which runs through 2026, gives the organization stability at the position while giving Baringer a defined runway to build on his early-career resume.
For Baringer personally, the 2025 season represents a chance to move past the end of his historic streak and write a new chapter. His combination of size, preparation, and big-stage poise has already made him a trusted specialist in New England, and continued consistency would strengthen his case as one of the NFL’s most dependable young punters.