The Baltimore Ravens are in the middle of a disappointing season and look like they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2021, which would only be the second time in the Lamar Jackson era.
Even though the Ravens’ season has not turned out like Baltimore wanted, one player has taken the spotlight, is looking to develop into the next great star on the team, and has just made his first Pro Bowl appearance.
Filling the Shoes of a Ravens Legend
Ravens punter Jordan Stout is having a career year. He’s currently third in the NFL in punting average at 50.5 yards per punt, but leads the league in net average punt yards (punting yards total minus return yards and touchbacks) at 44.9.
Stout’s numbers don’t just stand out; they outperform an all-time Ravens legend in Sam Koch, who revolutionized the game of punting over his 16 seasons with the team. Koch is a one-time Pro Bowler who holds the team record for games played with 256 and for consecutive games played at 239.
In a sport that has world-renowned players and freakish athletes, Koch was different. He wasn’t just a punter; he was a technician who had over 13 different types of punts in his arsenal.
After his retirement following the 2021-22 season, replacing a player who had stonewalled the position for so long wasn’t going to be easy. With the 130th pick in the fourth round, the Ravens took a chance on Stout, a punter from Penn State. In his first three seasons, he was unremarkable, ranking 21st in net in his rookie year, then 33rd in net in 2023, before moving up to 20th in net in 2024. After three seasons, he still stood in Koch’s shadow.
This season, everything seems to be clicking on all cylinders for Stout. He has finally broken out and seems to be the next great Ravens special teamer, as he just became the second Ravens punter ever to be named to the Pro Bowl.
What’s Been the Difference?
Jordan Stout‘s rise to special teams stardom is about more than his ability to pin opponents deep in their own red zone. It’s also about how he has improved on the little things, such as hang time and limiting returns. He had seven punts placed inside the 10-yard line and four inside the 5-yard line.
Ravens special team coordinator Chris Horton had plenty of praise for Stout, saying, “I wouldn’t say there was a specific moment. I think with Jordan, he just came in –every year – he came in, he worked, and he just tried to find something to get better at every year. And I think this year, it has really just clicked for him.”
This year, Stout has shown a lot more confidence in himself when he’s on the field and punting the ball. His mechanics are better, and he looks like he’s in command when punting the ball. In the end, the results speak for themselves, and he’s earned all the praise and recognition that’s coming his way.
Looking Ahead for Jordan Stout
With the Ravens facing elimination as soon as this Sunday, Jordan Stout has emerged as one of the few bright spots of this season and looks to have a future ahead in the black and purple.
Koch set the standard for playing like a Raven as a punter; Stout is now carrying the mantle forward and looking to keep building his legacy in Baltimore.
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