Eagles’ Braden Mann Hits NFL’s Longest Punt in 25 Years

Braden Mann kicked an 86-yard punt against the New York Giants on Sunday, the longest by an NFL player since 2001, according to the Eagles’ game log. It was the second-longest punt in Philadelphia history, five yards short of Randall Cunningham’s team record.

Mann took the snap on fourth-and-4 from the Philadelphia 8 with 26 seconds left in the first half at Lincoln Financial Field. He kicked from his end zone and sent the ball over Giants returner Charlie Jones. It rolled out at the New York 6 without a return. Philadelphia led 8–6 at halftime.

Moments earlier, Giants punter Jordan Stout had pinned Philadelphia at its 2 with a 52-yarder. Mann had already had a punt deflected in the second quarter. It traveled 17 yards. His kick before halftime went 69 yards farther and beat his previous season long of 65 against Carolina, according to his official game logs.

The Eagles’ record book lists Cunningham’s 91-yarder against the Giants on Dec. 3, 1989, as the franchise record. Joe Muha had held second place with an 82-yard punt in 1948, also against New York. Rodney Williams of the Giants had the last NFL punt longer than Mann’s, a 90-yarder at Denver on Sept. 10, 2001, the Giants’ record book shows.

Cunningham was playing quarterback when he called to coach Buddy Ryan, “Let me kick it,” he recalled in an Eagles interview. He also punted from his own end zone, in the fourth quarter of a 17–17 game at Giants Stadium.

The Eagles agreed to a four-year deal with Mann in March. Sunday’s punt came in Joe Milton III’s first NFL start. Saquon Barkley scored Philadelphia’s first-half touchdown on a 3-yard run, and Milton ran in the two-point conversion. The Eagles posted video of Mann’s punt.