Tress Way Bio
Tressler William Way, known professionally as Tress Way, is an American professional football punter for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oklahoma Sooners and signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2013. Way joined the Commanders the following year, where he has developed into one of the most reliable punters in the league, earning three Pro Bowl selections and second-team All-Pro honors. He is also notable for punting left-footed, a relative rarity in the NFL.
Over the course of his career, Way has set franchise records in punting yards and led the NFL in gross punting average during his rookie season. His consistency and leg strength have made him a long-tenured special teams contributor in Washington.
Early Life and Background
Tressler William Way was born on April 18, 1990, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He grew up in the Tulsa area and attended Union High School, where he graduated in 2008. His upbringing in Oklahoma placed him in a region with a strong football tradition, which helped shape his early interest in the sport.
Way went on to attend the University of Oklahoma, joining the Oklahoma Sooners football program. He redshirted his freshman season before eventually transitioning to the punter role after spending time working as a kicker. He completed his bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies at Oklahoma in December 2012, finishing his college eligibility before pursuing a professional career.
Path to American Football
Way’s path to a professional punting career began at Union High School, where he developed the leg strength and directional skills that would later define his professional profile. At the University of Oklahoma, he initially worked as a kicker before switching to punter, a move that allowed him to carve out a clearer role within the Sooners’ special teams unit.
During his time at Oklahoma, Way earned recognition as a Third-team All-American and a Second-team All-Big 12 selection in 2009. Although he was not selected in the 2013 NFL Draft, his college performance and strong leg attracted interest from NFL teams. The Chicago Bears signed him as an undrafted free agent on April 28, 2013, giving him his first opportunity at the professional level.
Tress Way Career
Early Career (2013–2014)
Way signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent in April 2013, brought in to compete with veteran punter Adam Podlesh. He was waived by the Bears on August 25, 2013. The following offseason, Way re-signed with Chicago, but he was released again on August 18, 2014, after losing out to rookie Pat O’Donnell.
Shortly after his release from the Bears, the Washington Redskins claimed Way off waivers on August 20, 2014. He quickly earned the starting role following the release of Robert Malone. In his first preseason game with Washington, Way averaged 45.3 yards on four punts. He finished his 2014 rookie season with 77 punts and a 47.5-yard gross average, leading the NFL in gross punting average that year.
Washington Redskins Era (2014–2019)
Way quickly established himself as a reliable special teams asset in Washington. At the start of the 2015 season, his teammates voted him as a team captain for the special teams unit. He posted a 46.6-yard average across 70 punts that season, then signed a five-year contract extension in March 2016 after the team tendered him earlier that month.
Over the following seasons, Way continued to produce strong numbers, including 83 punts for a 45.7-yard average in 2017 and 79 punts for a 45.33-yard average in 2018. During a Week 10 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2018, he earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. His breakout campaign came in 2019, when he punted 79 times for a 49.61-yard average, led the NFL in yards per punt, and recorded the longest punt of the season at 79 yards. That performance earned him his first Pro Bowl selection and second-team All-Pro honors, and he signed a four-year, $15 million extension in December 2019.
Washington Football Team and Commanders Era (2020–Present)
Through the franchise’s rebrand, Way remained a steady presence in Washington. In 2020, he earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice, including in Week 11 against the Cincinnati Bengals and again in Week 14 against the San Francisco 49ers. He appeared in all 16 games that season, recording 73 punts for a 48.00-yard average.
Way was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October 2022 and was voted to the 2023 Pro Bowl after his 2022 performance. Following the 2024 NFL Draft, in which Washington selected quarterback Jayden Daniels second overall, Way gave up his longtime uniform number 5 in a deal with Daniels. By the end of the 2024 season, Way had become Washington’s all-time leader in punting yards. He re-signed with the Commanders on a one-year contract on March 20, 2025, and on December 23, 2025, he was named the team’s lone selection to the 2026 Pro Bowl Games.
Driving Style and Strengths
Way is known for his powerful left-footed punting style, an unusual trait in the NFL that gives him a distinctive approach. He has built his reputation on directional accuracy and the ability to flip field position, regularly pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. His consistency over more than a decade has made him a trusted special teams anchor in Washington.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Way’s most notable achievements, he led the NFL in gross punting average during his 2014 rookie season and set the franchise’s all-time punting yards record by the end of 2024. He has earned multiple NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and an NFC Special Teams Player of the Month award. During the 2024 NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Way completed a 23-yard pass off a fake punt to tight end Ben Sinnott, his first passing attempt since 2018.
Tress Way Career Wins
As a punter, Tress Way does not accumulate traditional wins in the same manner as position players, but his career has been marked by individual accolades and long-term team stability. He has earned three Pro Bowl selections in 2019, 2022, and 2025, along with second-team All-Pro honors in 2019. He also holds the Washington franchise record for career punting yards.
NFL Highlights
Way has been one of the most productive punters in the NFL during his time in Washington. His 2014 rookie season led the league in gross punting average at 47.5 yards, and he followed with consistent seasons that included a career-best 49.61-yard average in 2019. He has been selected to multiple Pro Bowls and earned weekly and monthly special teams honors throughout his career.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Way earned Third-team All-American and Second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2009 while at the University of Oklahoma. These recognitions helped establish him as a legitimate professional prospect despite going undrafted in 2013.
Tress Way Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Way was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he attended Union High School. While his family background is not widely documented, his Oklahoma roots and college choice reflect strong regional ties.
Personal Life
In 2013, Tress Way married Brianna Turang, a former softball and soccer player at the University of Oklahoma. She is the sister of Milwaukee Brewers infielder Brice Turang and the daughter of former Major League Baseball outfielder Brian Turang. Way is a Christian and continues to make his home in the Washington, D.C., area during the NFL season.
2025 Season Performance
Tress Way re-signed with the Washington Commanders on a one-year contract on March 20, 2025, returning as the team’s starting punter for another season. He continued to serve as a key special teams contributor, providing veteran leadership and field-position advantages for the Commanders throughout the year.
On December 23, 2025, the NFL announced that Way was the only player from Washington voted into the 2026 Pro Bowl Games, his third career selection. The recognition underscored his continued reliability and consistency as one of the league’s most dependable punters.
With his re-signed contract running through the 2025 season and ongoing value as a leader on special teams, Way remains an important piece of the Commanders’ roster heading into the future.