On fourth-and-12 in the second quarter, just outside their own goal line, the Lions elected to punt down 13-6 to the Buccaneers, as virtually every NFL team would.
However, when the ball was snapped, punter Jack Fox didn't motion to boot it. Instead, he floated a pass over the middle to Sione Vaki for a 17-yard gain and a first down.
Jack Fox...moving the chains#TBvsDET | 📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/WblVd1oqil
— Detroit Lions (@Lions) September 15, 2024
This isn't the first time Fox has facilitated a fake punt for the Lions. He did it against the Rams and Falcons 2021 and against the Seahawks in 2022, proving his proficiency at successfully completing the risky play.
Though his efforts on Sunday against Tampa Bay only led to an actual punt to end the drive, the Lions remained in the contest only down 13-6 at the end of the first half. Here's everything to know about the Detroit punter known for converting fake punts
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Who is Jack Fox?
Fox is a fifth-year punter who was signed by the Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in May 2019 after spending four years at Rice. There, he became the Owls punter going into his sophomore season after being recruited for kicking duties as well.
His senior year, Fox was named first-team All-conference and the Conference Special Teams Player of the Year as well as a finalist for the Ray Guy Award. That season, he punted 80 times for 3,636 yards with 23 extra points attempted and five field goals made.
He was released by Kansas City in November 2019 and signed to the Lions practice squad a month later. Fox was named the opening day punter at the end of training camp ahead of the following season and made his NFL debut on Sept. 13, 2020. After performing well in his first month as a starter, he was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September.
Fox signed a one-year contract with the team in April 2021 before inking a three-year, $11.325 million extension with the team in October 2022, making him the highest-paid punter in the year at the time.
He has remained the team's starter ever since, punting for 108 yards in the Lions 2023 NFC Championship game against the 49ers.
