_(cropped).jpg) Gillan with the Cleveland Browns in 2021 | |||||||||||||||
| No. 12 – New York Giants | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Punter | ||||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||
| Born | (1997-07-04)4 July 1997 (age 28) Forres, Scotland | ||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||
| High school | Leonardtown(Leonardtown, Maryland, U.S.) | ||||||||||||||
| College | Arkansas–Pine Bluff (2015–2018) | ||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2019: undrafted | ||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||||||||
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Jamie Gillan (born 4 July 1997), nicknamed theScottish Hammer, is a Scottish professionalAmerican footballpunter for theNew York Giants of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theArkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions.
Originally fromForres,Morayshire, Scotland, Gillan first played forHighland Rugby Club, before attending and playing rugby forMerchiston Castle School in Edinburgh. In 2013, he moved toLeonardtown, Maryland, where his father was stationed as a member of theRoyal Air Force, and Gillan began playing American football in high school there.[1] He then went on to playcollege football at theUniversity of Arkansas at Pine Bluff,[2] receiving the scholarship offer through aFacebook invitation.[3] Across his four years with theGolden Lions, Gillan had a total of 9,024 yards on 214 punts and average of 42.2 yards per punt.[4] During a pre-draft workout, he reportedly popped three regulation-size NFL footballs.[5]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft1+1⁄4 in (1.86 m) | 207 lb (94 kg) | 30+1⁄8 in (0.77 m) | 8+7⁄8 in (0.23 m) | 36.5 in (0.93 m) | 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m) | 23 reps | ||||||
| All values fromPro Day[6] | ||||||||||||
After going undrafted in the2019 NFL draft, Gillan signed with theCleveland Browns.[7] In the team's second 2019 preseason game against theIndianapolis Colts, Gillan blasted a 74-yard punt.[8] On 31 August 2019, he was named the starting punter for the Browns over veteranBritton Colquitt.
In Week 2, Gillan punted six times, five landing inside the 20 with a long of 47 in a 23–3 win over theNew York Jets, earning himAFC Special Teams Player of the Week. After having 11 punts inside the 20 and only allowing 19 punt return yards Gillan was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in September.[9] In Week 5, Jamie Gillan punted 7 times for 397 yards including a 71-yard punt that set a career long for Gillan. Gillan ended his rookie season with 63 punts for 2,913 yards (2,622 net yards) with 28 punts downed inside the 20 yard line which earned him a spot on thePro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team.[10]
Gillan was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Browns on 30 July 2020,[11] and activated from the list four days later.[12]
Gillan was waived by the Browns on 22 December 2021.[13]
On 24 December 2021, Gillan was signed to thepractice squad of theBuffalo Bills.[14]
On 7 February 2022, theNew York Giants signed Gillan to reserve/future contract and he became the lead contender to be the Giants' 2022 punter when the team releasedRiley Dixon in March.[15][16] He kicked several field goals in a preseason game against the Bengals following an injury toGraham Gano,[17] and made the 53 man roster.[18]
On 12 December 2022, while playing in a game against thePhiladelphia Eagles, Gillan was flagged for a rare illegal kickpenalty. While attempting apunt, Gillan fumbled the snap and kicked the ball after it bounced off the ground. Whiledrop kicks are legal in the National Football League during a field goal, officials decided Gillan's kick was illegal and levied a 10 yard "Illegal kick of the football" penalty against the Giants.[19]
On 13 March 2023, Gillan signed a two-year, $4 million contract extension with the Giants.[20] On 17 December, Gillian successfully kicked a 40–yard field goal against theNew Orleans Saints, in relief for injured kickerRandy Bullock.[21] In Week 18, Gillan punted five times with four inside the 20-yard line, in a 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[22]
On 8 March 2025, Gillan signed a three-year, $10 million contract extension with the Giants.[23] In Week 3 against theKansas City Chiefs, Gano suffered a groin injury during warmups, causing Gillan to attempt an extra point during the game, which was blocked.[24]
Gillan is nicknamed "The Scottish Hammer."[25]
Gillan originally went to the United States on aNATO visa through his father. This was never changed to a work visa when he joined the NFL. When he traveled to London to play in a game with the New York Giants in October 2022, the visa issue delayed his return to the United States, andU.S. diplomats had to intervene to update his visa.[26][27][28]
