Ryan Rehkow Bio
Ryan Rehkow is an American professional football punter for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Born on September 11, 1998, in Veradale, Washington, Rehkow played college football for the BYU Cougars before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2024. He first signed with the Kansas City Chiefs and later joined the Bengals, where he quickly established himself with a record-setting professional debut. Ryan Rehkow is recognized for his strong leg, consistent placement, and the accolades he earned at both the collegiate and professional levels.
Early Life and Background
Ryan Rehkow was raised in Veradale, Washington, where he grew up surrounded by athletics and outdoor activity typical of the Inland Northwest. He attended Central Valley High School in nearby Spokane Valley, Washington, where he lettered in both football and basketball. The multi-sport background helped him develop the leg strength and body control that later became central to his punting craft.
Coming out of high school, Rehkow committed to play college football for the BYU Cougars, a program with a long history of developing specialist talent. His decision to attend Brigham Young University reflected both his athletic ambitions and his personal faith, as he is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Before enrolling at BYU full time, Rehkow served a church mission in London, England, an experience that shaped his discipline and approach to the sport.
Path to Professional Football
Rehkow’s development as a punter took shape during his years with the BYU Cougars. He gradually worked his way into the starting role and steadily improved his average distance and placement. His progression through the college ranks positioned him as one of the most reliable specialists in the Big 12 Conference by the time of his senior season.
After the conclusion of the 2023 season, Rehkow declared for the 2024 NFL Draft. Although he went undrafted, his college film and combine testing drew interest from several teams. His path to the NFL reflected the increasing value that professional clubs place on specialists who can flip field position with a single kick.
Ryan Rehkow Career
College Career at BYU
Rehkow made his first collegiate punt in the opening week of the 2020 season against Navy, a kick that traveled 56 yards. He finished the 2020 season with 28 punts for an average of 45.1 yards per punt, and he even contributed a 49-yard rush on a fake. That debut season provided the foundation for the larger roles that followed.
In 2021, Rehkow elevated his game, earning a spot on the Ray Guy Award watch list throughout the year. During the third week of that season, he set a BYU school record with an 83-yard punt against Arizona State. He finished 2021 with 40 punts for an average of 48.6 yards per punt and was named the Pro Football Network Independent Punter of the Year.
The 2022 season saw Rehkow punt 40 times for an average of 46.2 yards, with a long of 71 yards. In 2023, he opened the year by earning co-Big 12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors after averaging 53.2 yards on nine punts in a 14-0 win over Sam Houston. He finished the season with 68 punts for a 48.3-yard average and was named First-Team All-Big 12, then declared for the NFL Draft.
Kansas City Chiefs (2024)
Following the 2024 NFL Draft, Ryan Rehkow signed with the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent. His time with the Chiefs was brief, as the organization released him on June 13, 2024. The short stint nonetheless gave him valuable exposure to a championship-level operation and confirmed that he could compete at the professional level.
Cincinnati Bengals (2024–Present)
On July 26, 2024, Rehkow signed with the Cincinnati Bengals and immediately competed for the starting punter role. As an undrafted rookie, he won the job outright and made the Bengals’ 53-man roster, a notable achievement for a specialist entering the league without a draft pedigree.
Rehkow’s professional debut on September 8, 2024, became one of the most talked-about special-teams performances of the season. He set the NFL record for gross punt average in a single game, averaging 64.5 yards on four punts and breaking the previous mark of 63.6 set by AJ Cole III in 2023. His longest punt of 80 yards also stood as the longest in Bengals franchise history. For his rookie campaign, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
On February 18, 2025, Rehkow and the Bengals agreed to a two-year contract extension, signaling the franchise’s long-term commitment to him as their punter. The deal covers his play through the 2026 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Rehkow punts with a left-footed, rugby-style approach that produces exceptional hang time and distance. His strengths include booming kickoffs on shorter fields, accurate coffin-corner placement, and the poise to perform in cold or windy conditions. The Bengals’ punt operation pairs his leg strength with disciplined coverage units, allowing him to swing field position with consistency.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rehkow’s signature moment came in his very first NFL game, when he set the league record for gross punt average in a single game at 64.5 yards. His 80-yard punt in that debut also set a Cincinnati Bengals franchise record. Earlier in his career, he had set a BYU record with an 83-yard punt against Arizona State in 2021.
Ryan Rehkow Career Wins
Ryan Rehkow’s resume features milestone performances at both the college and professional levels. While individual game wins for a specialist are measured differently than for skill positions, his record-setting averages and award selections highlight his impact. He earned Pro Football Network Independent Punter of the Year for 2021, First-Team All-Big 12 honors in 2023, and a PFWA All-Rookie Team selection in 2024.
College Highlights
At BYU, Rehkow set a school record with an 83-yard punt against Arizona State in 2021 and earned weekly conference recognition for his performance in the 2023 opener against Sam Houston. His 48.6-yard average in 2021 and 48.3-yard average in 2023 ranked among the best in program history.
NFL Highlights
In his rookie season with the Cincinnati Bengals, Rehkow set the NFL record for gross punt average in a single game and posted the longest punt in franchise history. His All-Rookie Team selection underscored a debut year that exceeded expectations for an undrafted specialist.
Ryan Rehkow Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
Ryan Rehkow is the younger brother of former NFL kicker Austin Rehkow, giving the family a clear football lineage. His youngest brother, Cameron Tyler Rehkow, battled leukemia at the age of 11, an experience that has shaped the family’s public support for pediatric cancer causes.
Personal Life
Rehkow married his wife, Hadlee, in 2022. The couple has been a consistent presence throughout his career transitions, including his move from BYU to the NFL ranks. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Rehkow served a mission in London, England, before beginning his college career at BYU.
2025 Season Performance
Heading into the 2025 season, Ryan Rehkow enters his second year with the Cincinnati Bengals on the heels of a two-year contract extension signed in February 2025. The deal reflects the organization’s belief that his rookie record-setting performance was no fluke and that he can serve as a long-term answer at punter.
The 2025 outlook for Rehkow centers on consistency and the development of his placement work alongside his already elite distance. With a full offseason to refine his operation and build chemistry with the Bengals’ coverage units, he is expected to remain a central figure in Cincinnati’s special-teams plan.
As the Bengals pursue postseason contention in the AFC, field position battles are likely to play a meaningful role in close contests, and Rehkow’s leg offers his team a clear edge. Continued production at or near his 2024 pace would further cement his standing among the top punters in the league.