The Steelers have settled on a new punter. The team released veteran Jordan Berry today, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). This means rookie seventh-round pick Pressley Harvin III has won the starting gig.
Berry, a 2014 undrafted free agent out of Eastern Kentucky, had been with the Steelers since the 2015 season. Berry didn’t miss a game through his first five seasons in the NFL, averaging 44.2 yards per punt on his 328 attempts. It looked like his stint in Pittsburgh had ended in 2020 when the team released him in favor of Dustin Colquitt, but the team reversed course and re-signed Berry in October. The veteran ended up seeing time in 11 games last season, and he finished with a career-high 45.8 yards per punt.
Harvin will now take over the starting gig following a standout career at Georgia Tech. The punter earned a long list of accolades in 2020, including unanimous first-team All-American, first team All-ACC, and the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s top punter.
The Steelers special teams room will look a bit different in 2021, as the team also swapped long snapper Kam Canaday with Christian Kuntz. This leaves kicker Chris Boswell as the lone holdover.
He’s listed at 263lbs, put him on the line damn.
Berry was so inconsistent. Too many ups and downs. He’s had a good preseason and wouldn’t be surprised if he gets picked up. Harvin may have won the job game 1 with his performance
If you can get an elite K or P, I do like the use of late round picks on them, instead of just taking whatever you can find on the FA market.
Yea like that Undrafted rookie out of Texas who became the NFL all time most accurate kicker, Justin Ticker.
Yes, but wouldn’t you have been happy if your team spent a 7th round draft pick on Justin Tucker before the Ravens could even talk to him?
Harvin absolutely crushes the ball. He also has been known to throw it quite well on fakes. Berry had had moments but was always way too inconsistent, especially in colder weather.
And that one punt a couple of weeks ago that he crushed 50 yards and it landed softly at the one like he tossed a beanbag into a cradle from 3 ft away