It’s been a wild ride for Broncos fans so far this season.
They’ve experienced their share of thrilling wins and heartbreaking losses. So, it’s no surprise that most of the credit has gone to big-moment players like Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton, Nik Bonitto, and Patrick Surtain. However, there’s a part of the game outside of offense and defense that often gets overshadowed—special teams.
The Broncos have played some high-octane offensive games, but that hasn’t always been the case. Their matchups against the Titans and Jets are examples. In such games, Denver’s rookie punter Jeremy Crawshaw has seen lots of action—and has been vital to the team overcoming its offensive struggles.
Who is Jeremy Crawshaw?
After Riley Dixon, the Broncos’ punter for the past two seasons, left for the Buccaneers in free agency, Denver turned to the draft for a solution. The Broncos selected Crawshaw in the sixth round. He went down as the lone punter drafted in 2025.
Crawshaw excelled with the Florida Gators during his college career. He set the single-season average record with 48.9 yards in 2023. With his track record, it should be no surprise that he’s thriving in Denver.
Why Credit the Punter?
Through seven games, Crawshaw has 18 punts inside the opposing team’s 20-yard-line—the most in the league according to NFL.com. If he maintains that pace, he’s on track to breaking the rookie record of 41 set last year by Saints punter Matthew Hayball. He could even break Johnny Hekker’s league record of 51 set in 2016.
Denver has relied on Crawshaw more than they’d like. He ranks second in total punts, but his performance goes beyond volume. He also leads the league in net yards (1.492), and hasn’t kicked a single ball out of bounds.
When filtering by total punts, most of the league leaders come from struggling teams. However, regarding punts inside the 20, punters from contenders like the Lions, Chiefs, and Rams show up. That overlap underscores how valuable consistent field positioning can be. For a team that punts as often as Denver, staying in games isn’t easy—something fans of the 2022 and 2023 Broncos know well. But with Crawshaw repeatedly pinning opponents deep, he’s shifted the entire dynamic.
By forcing offenses to start with poor field position, Crawshaw gives the defense breathing room and shortens the field for Nix and company. Broncos fans once watched in agony as Corliss Waitman’s low averages only made matters worse. Now, Crawshaw’s precision has turned stalled drives into hidden opportunities—proving just how much punting can change a game.
Punters Win Games!
Whether it’s a slow-moving battle like the one against the Jets or a thriller like the matchup with the Giants, having a good punter is huge. They help the defense by forcing opponents to start deep in their own territory and give the offense time to build momentum.
They can do just enough to turn the tide, like in the 13–11 victory in London, and can keep their team in it until the offense finds a rhythm, as in the nail-biter against the Giants.
Jeremy Crawshaw, though still unknown to most NFL fans, has been a crucial part of Denver’s success in 2025. He’s kept them in games they had no business being in, consistently set up the defense for success, and, thankfully for Broncos fans, he’s not going anywhere anytime soon.
Leave a comment