Matthew Hayball Bio
Matthew Hayball is an Australian professional American football punter, born on 12 March 1997 in Adelaide, South Australia. He played college football for the Florida Atlantic Owls and the Vanderbilt Commodores, earning second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC honors in 2023. Hayball signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and has competed at the highest level of the National Football League. Before switching to American football, he played Australian rules football and was drafted by the Geelong Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
Standing 6 feet tall and weighing around 190 pounds, Hayball has built his career on precision, hang time, and directional control. His progression from suburban Adelaide to American college football and then the NFL reflects one of the most distinctive paths in modern professional football.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Hayball grew up in West Adelaide, Australia, in a household shaped by Australian rules football. His father played in the Central Australian Football League, giving Matthew an early connection to the sport. He attended Sacred Heart College in Adelaide from grades 7 through 12, where he played Australian rules football as a midfielder and developed the athletic foundation that would later support his punting career.
As a teenager, Hayball joined the West Adelaide Football Club U18s during the 2015 season. He played two reserve-level games toward the end of that year, showing enough promise to attract attention from professional scouts. His combination of leg strength and field awareness set him apart from his peers in South Australian football circles.
Path to American Football
Hayball entered the 2015 AFL national draft and was the final pick of the draft, selected 70th overall by the Geelong Football Club. His late-round selection surprised many observers because limited public information was available about him before draft night. Over three years with Geelong, he appeared in 50 matches in the Victorian Football League (VFL), the second tier of Australian rules football, without ever playing a senior AFL game. Geelong also selected him in the second round, 30th overall, of the 2018 AFL rookie draft before delisting him following that season.
After his time in the AFL system ended, Hayball turned his attention to American football. He contacted Nathan Chapman and joined Chapman’s Prokick Australia academy, a program designed to help Australians earn athletic scholarships to U.S. college programs. In 2019, Hayball enrolled at Florida Atlantic University and joined the Florida Atlantic Owls football team as a punter, beginning a new chapter in his athletic career.
Matthew Hayball Career
Early Career at Florida Atlantic (2019–2021)
Matthew Hayball made an immediate impact as a freshman at Florida Atlantic University in 2019. He appeared in 14 games and punted 68 times for 2,958 yards, ranking 33rd nationally with a 43.5-yard punting average. He was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team and earned Special Teams MVP honors in the team’s 2019 Boca Raton Bowl victory.
In his next two seasons, Hayball continued to develop. He played nine games in 2020, recording 45 punts for 1,983 yards with a 44.1-yard average, and was recognized as honorable mention All-Conference USA. As a junior in 2021, he punted 61 times for 2,785 yards at a 45.7-yard average, placing 28 punts inside the 20-yard line. Across three seasons with the Owls, he averaged 44.4 yards per punt in 35 games.
Vanderbilt Breakthrough (2022–2023)
Hayball transferred to the Vanderbilt Commodores for the 2022 season and quickly established himself as one of the top punters in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). In his first year, he played 12 games and punted 59 times for 2,634 yards, with a long of 65 yards and 21 punts inside the 20. His 45.36-yard average ranked fourth in school history, second in the SEC, and 11th nationally. He was named to the SEC First Year Academic Honor Roll.
His senior season in 2023 elevated his national profile. He played 12 games and recorded 57 punts for 2,713 yards, with a 47.6-yard average that ranked in the top ten nationally and first in the SEC. His long punt of 71 yards was matched by only 14 punters all season. He was named Ray Guy Punter of the Week after averaging 50.3 yards in a single game, second-best in Vanderbilt history. Hayball earned first-team midseason All-American honors from Pro Football Focus and the Associated Press, and ended the year with second-team All-America honors from five selectors. He became a finalist for the Ray Guy Award and was named the College Football Network SEC Punter of the Year, becoming the first Vanderbilt All-American at any position since 2016 and the first first-team All-SEC punter from the school since 1996.
Hayball finished his college career as Vanderbilt’s all-time leader in punting average at 46.5 yards per punt. He totaled 289 punts for 13,073 yards across his career, averaging 45.2 yards per punt with 108 punts inside the 20. He was the only active punter in the NCAA with over 13,000 career punting yards at the end of 2023. He also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida Atlantic and a master’s degree in organizational performance from Vanderbilt.
New Orleans Saints Era (2024–2025)
After going unselected in the 2024 NFL draft, Matthew Hayball signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent, with a contract that included $35,000 in guaranteed money. He was also chosen in the first round, second overall, of the 2024 CFL Global Draft by the Ottawa Redblacks. With the Saints, he competed with fellow Australian Lou Hedley for the starting punter job. After Hedley was waived during final roster cuts, Hayball secured a spot on the team’s initial 53-man roster.
Hayball started all 17 games of the 2024 NFL season, punting 75 times for 3,303 yards. He led the league in punts downed inside the 20-yard line at 54.7 percent, demonstrating exceptional directional control and placement. On August 6, 2025, the Saints released him, ending his first NFL tenure.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hayball’s strengths as a punter center on placement, hang time, and consistency. He excels at pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line, a skill reflected in his league-leading 54.7 percent rate in 2024. His Australian rules football background gives him a strong background in kicking mechanics and field awareness, which has translated well to the American game.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among his career milestones, Hayball’s 71-yard punt during the 2023 season stands out, as it placed him among an elite group of college punters that year. He was the first Vanderbilt All-American at any position since 2016 and the first first-team All-SEC punter from the school since 1996. His appearance in the 2024 East–West Shrine Bowl further underscored his status among the top college punters in the country.
Matthew Hayball Career Wins
Matthew Hayball’s career is measured by statistical excellence rather than traditional win totals. Across his college career at Florida Atlantic and Vanderbilt, he earned All-American, All-Conference, and All-SEC honors. In the NFL, his 2024 season with the Saints was highlighted by his league-leading percentage of punts placed inside the 20-yard line.
College Highlights
At Florida Atlantic, Hayball was a Conference USA All-Freshman selection and Special Teams MVP of the 2019 Boca Raton Bowl. At Vanderbilt, he became a Ray Guy Award finalist, a second-team All-American, and the College Football Network SEC Punter of the Year in 2023. He ended his college career as Vanderbilt’s all-time leader in punting average.
Other Performances
Before college football, Hayball played 50 matches in the Victorian Football League for Geelong’s reserves. His transition from Australian rules football to American punting stands as one of the more unusual developmental paths in the sport.
Matthew Hayball Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Matthew Hayball comes from a sporting family in Adelaide. His father played in the Central Australian Football League, which exposed Matthew to competitive football from a young age. He grew up playing Australian rules football in West Adelaide before transitioning to American football.
Personal Life
Hayball attended Sacred Heart College in Adelaide from grades 7 through 12. He has pursued his education alongside his football career, earning a bachelor’s degree in finance from Florida Atlantic University and a master’s degree in organizational performance from Vanderbilt University. He is active on social media and is represented professionally through his verified accounts.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL offseason brought a significant change for Matthew Hayball when the New Orleans Saints released him on August 6, 2025. After leading the league in punts placed inside the 20-yard line during his rookie season, he entered free agency seeking a new opportunity. His proven ability to control field position and deliver consistent placement makes him an attractive option for teams in need of punting depth.
As of mid-2025, Hayball remains a free agent with the regular season underway. His combination of Australian roots, SEC pedigree, and proven NFL performance provides a strong foundation for the next phase of his career. Whether he returns to the NFL, explores opportunities in the CFL with the Ottawa Redblacks, or continues to develop his craft, Hayball’s trajectory reflects the steady rise of an athlete who has consistently delivered under pressure.