After being waived by the Broncos after less than two full seasons, Kern was then acquired by theTennessee Titans in 2009 and became a three-timePro Bowl selection and a two-timeAll-Pro with the team over the course of 13 seasons. After being released by the Titans, he spent part of the 2022 season with thePhiladelphia Eagles before retiring.
Kern is a 2004 graduate ofGrand Island Senior High School, where he played on thefootball team.[2] He was named All-New York State as a senior and was a member of the schools Section VI championship. Following graduation from high school, Kern represented New York State in the New York-New Jersey Governor's Bowl played at theUnited States Military Academy. He also played basketball and was a long jumper and high hurdler on the track team.
As a freshman in 2004, Kern was immediately inserted into the role of punter for the Rockets. In his collegiate debut, he had eight punts for 344 net yards (43.0 average) againstMinnesota.[4] In the next game againstKansas, he had a season-high nine punts for a season-high 357 net yards (39.7 average).[5] On October 16, againstOhio, he had two punts for 101 net yards for a season-high 50.5 average.[6] In the next game againstCentral Michigan, he recorded his first collegiate pass, a successful 46-yard throw.[7] On the season, he had 44 punts for 1,788 net yards for a 40.6 average.[8]
Kern continued to contribute in his second season as the Rockets' punter. On September 1, in the season opener againstWestern Illinois, he had three punts for 99 net yards for a 33.0 average.[9] On September 27, againstFresno State, he had five punts for a season-high 206 net yards for a 41.2 average.[10] On October 15, againstBall State, he had a successful passing attempt for 34 yards.[11] On October 22 againstBuffalo, he had two punts for 91 net yards for a season-high 45.5 average.[12] Overall, in the 2005 season, he had 33 punts for 1,305 yards for a 39.5 average.[13]
Kern's punting career continued into his junior season in 2006. On August 31, againstIowa State, he had a single punt for 46 yards in the season opener.[14] On September 15, againstKansas, he had a season-high 12 punts for a season-high 484 net yards for a 40.3 average.[15] On October 7, againstCentral Michigan, he completed a 25-yard pass.[16] Overall, in the 2006 season, he had 60 punts for 2,502 net yards for a 41.7 average.[17]
Kern's final season with the Rockets was in 2007. On September 1, againstPurdue, he had eight punts for 394 net yards for a 49.3 average.[18] On September 15, againstKansas, he had a season-high 10 punts for a season-high 420 net yards for a 42.00 average.[19] On September 29, 2007, againstWestern Michigan, he had six punts for 323 net yards for a season-high 53.8 average.[20] On October 27, againstNorthern Illinois, he had a 50-yard rush in the game.[21] The MAC Report Online named Kern the Mid-American Conference's ‘’Special Teams Player of the Year’’ in 2007.[22] Kern was also a finalist for theRay Guy Award in 2007.[23] That year, he averaged 46.5 yards per punt, second in the nation.[24] Overall, in his final season, he had 52 total punts for 2,399 yards for a 46.1 average.[25]
In 2008, Kern won the starting punter job for theBroncos, winning the job over competitorSam Paulescu.[27]
During his rookie season, Kern attempted 46 punts for an average of 46.7. He made his NFL debut the season opener against theOakland Raiders, recording two punts for 80 yards for a 40.0 average.[28] Kern's longest punt of the year was 64 yards against theSan Diego Chargers in Week 2.[29] On October 5, against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, he had five punts for a season-high 248 net yards for a 49.6 average.[30] Kern gave away one touchdown that year against the Oakland Raiders in Week 12 whenJohnnie Lee Higgins took the punt back 89 yards for the score.[31][32]
Kern in 2009
Kern remained as the Broncos' punter in his second professional season. In the season-opener against theCincinnati Bengals, Kern had a season-high eight punts for a season-high 340 net yards for a 42.5 average.[33] In the next game against theCleveland Browns, he had two punts for 109 net yards for a season-high 54.5 average.[34]
Despite having the third-highest yards per punt average in NFL history,[35] Kern was waived by the Broncos on October 26, 2009.[36]
Kern was claimed off waivers by theTennessee Titans, replacingReggie Hodges. When Kern was released from the Broncos and claimed by the Titans, the Broncos were6–0 while the Titans were 0–6. A subsequent Titans winning streak and Broncos losing streak led to a situation where teams with Kern on the roster had compiled a record of 11–0 to begin the season, despite the two teams being a collective 12–10 overall in that period.
On November 1, Kern made his Titans debut against theJacksonville Jaguars. He had four punts for 193 net yards for a 48.25 average.[37]
Kern finished the 2009 season with 64 punts for 2,910 yards for a 45.47 average.[38]
Kern remained as the Titans' punter in the 2010 season. During the season opener against theOakland Raiders, he had four punts for 200 net yards for a season-high 50.0 average.[39] During Week 16 against theKansas City Chiefs, Kern had a season-high eight punts for a season-high 352 net yards for a 44.0 average.[40] Overall, in the 2010 season, he had 77 punts for 3,302 net yards for a 42.88 average.[41]
On February 24, Kern signed a four-year, $5.2 million contract extension with the Titans with $2.1 million guaranteed.[42]
During the season opener, Kern had seven punts for 291 net yards for a 41.57 average against theJacksonville Jaguars.[43] Two weeks later against theDenver Broncos, he had a 21-yard rush.[44] During Week 8 against theIndianapolis Colts, Kern had a season-high eight punts for a season-high 330 net yards for a 41.25 average.[45] On December 4, against theBuffalo Bills, he had five punts for 239 net yards for a season-high 47.8 average.[46]
Kern finished the 2011 season with 86 punts for 3,747 net yards for a 43.57 average.[47]
During the season opener, against theNew England Patriots, Kern had four punts for 209 net yards for a 52.25 average.[48] During Week 14 against theIndianapolis Colts, he had three punts for 165 net yards for a season-high 55.0 average.[49] In the next game against theNew York Jets, Kern had a season-high 10 punts for a season-high 391 net yards for a 39.1 average.[50] Overall, in the 2012 season, he had 81 punts for 3,855 yards for a 47.59 average.[51]
During the season-opener against thePittsburgh Steelers, Kern had five punts for 208 net yards for a 41.6 average.[52] In the next game against theHouston Texans, he had a season-high eight punts for 382 net yards for a 47.75 average.[53] On December 8, against theDenver Broncos, Kern had four punts for 201 net yards for a season-high 50.25 average.[54] Overall, in the 2013 season, he had 78 punts for 3,386 net yards for a 43.41 average.[55]
In the season opener against theKansas City Chiefs, Kern had six punts for 304 net yards for a 50.67 average.[56] During Week 10 against theBaltimore Ravens, Kern had a season-high eight punts for a season-high 414 net yards for a 51.75 average.[57] In the regular-season finale against theIndianapolis Colts, he had seven punts for 383 net yards for a season-high 54.71 average. In addition, he had a career-long 79-yard punt in the game.[58]
Kern finished the 2014 season with 88 punts for 4,118 net yards for a 46.80 average.[59]
On March 8, 2015, Kern signed a five-year $15 million contract extension with the Titans.[60]
During the season opener against theTampa Bay Buccaneers, Kern had four punts for 189 net yards for a 47.25 average.[61] During Week 15 against theNew England Patriots, he had five punts for 272 net yards for a season-high 54.4 average.[62] In the next game against theHouston Texans, Kern had a season-high nine punts for a season-high 427 net yards for a 47.44 average.[63] Overall, in the 2015 season, he recorded 88 punts for 4,175 net yards for a 47.44 average.[64]
In the season-opener against theMinnesota Vikings, Kern had five punts for 231 net yards for a 46.2 average.[65] Two weeks later against theOakland Raiders, he had six punts for 311 net yards for a season-high 51.83 average.[66] During Week 16 against theJacksonville Jaguars, Kern had seven punts for a season-high 313 net yards for a 44.71 average.[67] In the 2016 season, he finished with 77 punts for 3,402 net yards for a 44.18 average.[68]
During the season-opener against theOakland Raiders, Kern had four punts for 188 net yards for a 47 average.[69] Two weeks later against theSeattle Seahawks, he had six punts for 341 net yards for a season-high 56.83 average.[70] During Week 5 against theMiami Dolphins, Kern had a career-high 10 punts for a franchise-record 549 net yards and a 54.9 average.[71]
On December 19, 2017, Kern was named to his first Pro Bowl.[72] He finished the 2017 season with 75 punts for 3,728 net yards for a franchise-record 49.71 average.[73] Kern was named second-team All-Pro.[74]
The Titans finished the 2017 season with a 9–7 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #5 seed.[75][76] In the Wild Card Round against theKansas City Chiefs, Kern made his playoff debut. In the narrow 22–21 road victory, he had three punts for 131 net yards for a 43.7 average.[77] In the Divisional Round against theNew England Patriots, Kern had seven punts for 316 net yards for a 45.14 average.[78]
On December 18, 2018, Kern was named to his secondPro Bowl.[79] Kern finished the season punting 74 times with 39 being inside the 20.[80]
On March 7, 2019, Kern signed a four-year, $12.55 million contract extension with the Titans.[81]
On December 17, 2019, Kern was selected to his third consecutivePro Bowl.[82] He led the league in punts placed inside the 20-yard line with 37 and was named First-team All-Pro.[83]
The Titans finished the 2019 season with a 9–7 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #6 seed.[84][85] In the Wild Card Round against theNew England Patriots, Kern had six punts for 275 net yards for a 45.8 average.[86] In the Divisional Round against theBaltimore Ravens, he had six punts for 315 net yards for a 52.5 average.[87] In the AFC Championship Game against theKansas City Chiefs, Kern punted thrice for 139 net yards for a 46.3 average and threw a 28-yard completion to safetyAmani Hooker on a trick play during the fourth quarter.[88]
On November 7, 2020, Kern was placed on injured reserve after suffering a wrist injury in Week 8 against theCincinnati Bengals.[89] He was activated on November 28, 2020.[90] Kern was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Titans on December 29, 2020,[91] and activated on January 2, 2021.[92]
The Titans finished the 2020 season atop theAFC South with an 11–5 record and qualified for the playoffs.[93][94] In the Wild Card Round against theBaltimore Ravens, Kern had five punts for 228 net yards for a 45.6 average.[95]
On October 12, 2021, Kern was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Titans.[96] He had missed the two previous games with a groin injury. Kern was activated on October 22, 2021.[97]
The Titans finished the 2021 season atop theAFC South with a 12–5 record and qualified for the playoffs as the #1 seed, earning a first-round bye.[98] In the Divisional Round against theCincinnati Bengals, he had four punts for 166 yards for a 41.5 average.[99]
On December 13, 2022, Kern signed with thePhiladelphia Eagles' practice squad following an injury to their starting punterArryn Siposs during a Week 14 game against theNew York Giants.[101] Kern was signed to the active roster on January 7, 2023.[102] He appeared in four regular season games and two of the Eagles' postseason games.[103]
Kern is the son ofCal Kern, who owned the amateurNiagara Power baseball team.[107] The team switched names in 2023 to the Niagara Falls Americans. Kern is married to Tiffany Kern and they have three kids: Bryce Jeremiah, Anelle Naomi, and Quinn Eliana. Kern is aChristian.[108]
Kern is an avid golfer that sports a +1 handicap. He picked the game up late in his high school years and caddied in college for three summers at the Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio. In 2011, Kern competed in The Vinny, a local golf fundraising tournament hosted by singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant, and finished fourth in the event.[109]
^Jones, Lindsay H. (August 31, 2008)."Kern survives punters' war".Denver Post.Archived from the original on September 2, 2008. RetrievedSeptember 2, 2008.
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