Who is Tory Taylor? Australian punter selected by Chicago Bears in 2024 NFL draft

Australia has proved to be a hotbed of punting talent for the NFL over the last number of years, and this trend has continued in the 2024 draft, with the Chicago Bears selecting Melbourne-born Tory Taylor. 

Taylor, a punter out of Iowa University, was selected by the Bears with the No. 122 pick, making him the first special teams player taken in this year's draft. 

Despite assurances from his new team's quarterback that his services won't be needed often, Taylor will be a standout for Chicago, as he becomes the second-highest drafted punter since 2012. 

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Who is Tory Taylor? 

Taylor, 26, is a punter drafted by the Chicago Bears, after spending four years playing for the University of Iowa. 

Tory Taylor, YOU are a Chicago Bear 🫵 pic.twitter.com/8qzjZMsnlC

— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 28, 2024

Born in Melbourne, he attended Haileybury High School, before committing to play college football for the Hawkeyes. 

Taken with pick No. 122, Taylor not only became the first Australian drafted in 2024, but also the first punter, and first special teams player, showing just how valued his services are. 

Tory Taylor NCAA punting record

Across his seasons at Iowa, Taylor produced a historic resume, including breaking the all-time punt yards record in 2023 with 4,479 yards, a mark that stood for 85 years before this.

Bears new Punter Tory Taylor is superstar.

Taylor is now the second highest drafted punter since 2012. He's that good. pic.twitter.com/OurguLVSFL

— Dave (@dave_bfr) April 27, 2024

He also averaged 46.3 yards per punt during his career, which is another all-time record held by the Aussie. 

How many Australians have won the Ray Guy award?

As a result of his efforts in 2023, Taylor was awarded the Ray Guy award in his final year, given to the best punter of each season, and was also named as a Unanimous All-American. 

Taylor became the eighth Australian to win the Ray Guy Award, and the second straight following Rutgers punter Adam Korsak. 

Australian Ray Guy award winners

Tory Taylor contract

After being drafted in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft, Tory Taylor is set to sign a four-year contract with the Chicago Bulls. 

Taylor's deal will be worth a reported US$4,780,061, as well as a US$760,061 signing bonus, according to Spotrac.

Who is the highest drafted punter in NFL history?

While Taylor was a taken incredibly early in the draft due to his tremendous ability and potential, he was not able to crack the list of highest drafted punters, which features several second and third round selections - all before the turn of the millennium. 

He did outperform predictions from The Sporting News, who had him listed as the 167th best player in the draft, and mock drafted him at pick No. 195 to the Pittsburgh Steelers, both of which he blew past.

Here's a look at the highest-drafted punters since 1970:

*Russell Erxleben came out of college as a kicker and punter