Matt Turk facts for kids
Turk in 2010
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| Position: | Punter | ||||||
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| Born: | June 16, 1968 Greenfield, Wisconsin, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 251 lb (114 kg) | ||||||
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| High school: | Greenfield | ||||||
| College: | UW–Whitewater (1988–1990) | ||||||
| Undrafted: | 1993 | ||||||
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Matthew Edward Turk (born June 16, 1968) is a former American football player. He was a punter in the National Football League (NFL). Matt Turk was first signed by the Green Bay Packers in 1993. He played college football at the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. He was chosen for the Pro Bowl three times during his career. Turk also played for teams like the Washington Redskins, Miami Dolphins, and Houston Texans. He is one of the tallest punters in NFL history.
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Matt Turk's Early Life and College Football
Matt Turk grew up in Greenfield, Wisconsin. He finished high school at Greenfield High School in 1986.
He then went to the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater. There, he played college football for the Wisconsin–Whitewater Warhawks. He studied elementary education and graduated in 1993. During his time in college, Turk averaged 36.3 yards per punt. His team, the Warhawks, won the Wisconsin State University Conference Championship in 1990. Matt Turk also played as a tight end for his college team.
Matt Turk's Professional Football Journey
Before joining the NFL, Matt Turk played for the Racine Raiders. He tried out for the Green Bay Packers in 1993 and the Los Angeles Rams in 1994. However, he did not make the main team roster for either of those teams at first.
Playing for the Washington Redskins
On April 5, 1995, the Washington Redskins signed Matt Turk. This was his first time making an NFL team's main roster. In 1996, he was named a First Team All-Pro player. This is a big honor for a football player. He stayed with the Redskins until March 9, 2000. At that time, he was traded to the Miami Dolphins.
Time with the Miami Dolphins
Matt Turk played for the Dolphins for two seasons, in 2000 and 2001.
Joining the New York Jets
On April 23, 2002, Turk signed with the New York Jets. He played for them for one season. He was released by the Jets on March 7, 2003.
Returning to the Miami Dolphins
After some time away, Matt Turk rejoined the Dolphins on September 29, 2003. He signed with them again on March 23, 2004. He was later released by the team on October 12, 2005.
Second Time with the St. Louis Rams
On April 4, 2006, Matt Turk signed a one-year deal with the St. Louis Rams. This was 12 years after he first signed with the team but did not make the roster.
Years with the Houston Texans
The Houston Texans signed Matt Turk in 2007. He competed for the punter job and won it. He was very good at placing punts inside the 20-yard line. Because of his good performance, he signed a new contract with the Texans on March 19, 2008. He signed another one-year contract to stay with the Texans on March 9, 2010. He did not sign with them again in 2011.
Short Time with the Jacksonville Jaguars
On July 28, 2011, Turk signed a contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was released on October 11, 2011, after a difficult game.
Final Return to the Houston Texans
Later in 2011, Matt Turk returned to the Texans. He said it was like a "dream come true" to be back with the team.
Matt Turk's Family Life
Matt Turk lives in Houston, Texas with his wife, Stephanie, and their three daughters.
Matt is the youngest of six brothers. One of his brothers, Dan Turk, also played in the NFL as a center for 15 seasons. Sadly, Dan passed away on December 24, 2000. In his last season, Dan was the long snapper for one of Matt's punts. This was a special moment, as they were the first brothers to do this in an NFL game.
Matt's nephew, Ben Turk, was the main punter for the University of Notre Dame from 2010 to 2012. Another nephew, Michael Turk, also played as a punter for Arizona State and Oklahoma. In April 2023, Michael Turk signed with the Miami Dolphins, one of his uncle's former teams, before being released.
Images for kids
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Turk in 2010
