Glenn Pakulak

Glenn Adam Pakulak, Jr. (born April 9, 1980) is a former American football punter. He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 2003. He played college football at Kentucky.

Pakulak has also been a member of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets.

Early years

Pakulak attended Lapeer East High School in Lapeer, Michigan where he was a two-year starter as a placekicker, punter, linebacker and wide receiver playing for the Lapeer East Eagles.

He made first team all league and all area punter as a junior and senior, averaging 39.5 yards per punt as a junior and 40.1 as a senior. Also all league and all area receiver and second team all league linebacker as a senior.

Pakulak played basketball as well, making first team all-League and second team all-area as a junior. He took home first team all-league and all-area and honorable mention all-state in his senior year. On top of this he also played baseball with which he earned second team all-area and all-league. He was granted the school’s scholar athlete award.^[1][2][3]

College career

Pakulak spent his freshman year at Rochester College where he played basketball and baseball.

He transferred to Kentucky where he had to redo his freshman year, was redshirted and punted for the UK junior varsity team.

In his sophomore year he was allowed to punt the final 3 games of the season and averaged 37.8 per punt.

As a junior he posted an average of 44.5 per punt with opponents having zero return yards in three games. He was selected third team All America by Football News, an honorable mention All America CollegeFootballNews.com, first team all Southeastern Conference by the Associated Press, and Football News (2001) and second team all Southeastern Conference by SEC coaches.

In his senior year he led the conference and ranked third in the nation with an average of 45.6 per punt. He was selected All American first team by The NFL Draft Report and CBSSports.com, second team by College Football News and third team by the Associated press. Selected first team all Southeastern Conference by Associated Press and second team by the leagues coaches. Was finalist for the Ray Guy Award, given to the nation’s top punter. Was awarded the Mosi Tatupu Award, given to the nation’s Special Teams Player of the Year. Majored in Kinesiology.^[1][3][4]

Professional career

Seattle Seahawks

Pakulak signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in May 2003 but was released on July 27.^[5]

Pittsburgh Steelers

He was then claimed of waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers on August 4 but released two weeks later.^[6]

Atlanta Falcons

Pakulak joined the Atlanta Falcons on February 5, 2004, but was cut during training camp on August 15.^[6]

He did not play the entire year but did attend a kicking camp in the winter of 2005.^[7]

Amsterdam Admirals (NFL Europe)

Pakulak signed with the Oakland Raiders on January 19, 2006. The Raiders allocated Glenn Pakulak to the Amsterdam Admirals of the NFL Europe.

Appeared in all 10 regular season games and helped the Amsterdam Admirals to a 7-3 record, finishing the season in first place and gaining them a World Bowl berth. Also appeared in World Bowl XIV in which he punted a 69 yarder. He had not been exactly shy of getting in the thick of the action before but became an instant fan favorite for preventing a touchdown by making a solo tackle when one of his punts looked to be returned all the way in front of his home crowd. Gained Special Teams Player of NFL Europe Week 9 honors, in which he punted for a total of 317 yards for 7 attempts, with his furthest punt 59 yards, one touchback and 3 inside the 20, averaging 45.3 per punt. Led NFL Europe with an average of 42.2.^{[8][9][10][11]}

Was released by the Oakland Raiders on August 28.^[6]

Tennessee Titans

Signed with the Tennessee Titans on January 13. The Titans re-allocated Glenn Pakulak to the Amsterdam Admirals for a second year of NFL Europe.

Chicago Bears

Pakulak signed with the Chicago Bears on January 29, 2008. One of three punters on the Bears' roster, he was waived on June 1.

Oakland Raiders

On August 13, 2008, the Raiders re-signed Pakulak after releasing linebacker Edgerton Hartwell^[12][13] He was waived on August 30 but re-signed to the team's practice squad a day later. However, on September 3 he was released from the practice squad.

New Orleans Saints

Pakulak was signed by the New Orleans Saints on October 29, 2008 to replace the recently released Ben Graham. He was waived on August 27, 2009.

New York Jets

Pakulak was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets on August 28, 2009.^[14] He was waived on September 2 after the Jets signed tight end Ben Hartsock.

Washington Redskins

Pakulak was signed to the Washington Redskins' practice squad on October 6, 2009. He was signed from the practice squad on October 10 after starting punter, Hunter Smith suffered a groin injury. He was waived on October 12 and re-signed to the practice squad on October 15. For the second straight week, Pakulak was signed from the practice squad on October 17.

San Diego Chargers

Pakulak was signed to the San Diego Chargers on August 31, 2010.^[15]

Third stint with Raiders

On January 5, 2011, the Raiders re-signed Pakulak. On September 3, 2011 the Raiders waived Pakulak.^[16]

Personal

Pakulak is the son of Gail and Glenn Pakulak Sr. He is related to Al Iafrate a former NHL player. His grandfather, Roger Susin, was awarded a Purple Heart during World War II, after losing an arm, and surviving an incident where all of his comrades perished. He was teammate and roommate of, Arena Football League star receiver and former NFL Europe Berlin Thunder star, Aaron R. Boone, for whom he ended up doing the laundry for a semester over the sale of a coffeetable in college. Pakulak enjoys listening to 80s music. His all-time favorite football player is Barry Sanders.^[1][2][17]

In 2005 Pakulak did not play for any NFL or NFL Europa team, but instead spent the year working at a steel factory and training in New Orleans with his college friend Shane Boyd (who also played in NFL Europa in 2006, but as quarterback for the Cologne Centurions). Pakulak also returned to Lexington to follow some classes there. He also clearly wrote this article himself.

He appeared on the Bravo television series Most Eligible Dallas in 2011.

References