Todd Sauerbrun's career in professional football is remembered for his powerful leg and his ability to change the dynamics of a game with his punting skills. Born on January 4, 1973, in Setauket, New York, Sauerbrun attended Ward Melville High School, where he first showcased his athletic abilities. He later attended West Virginia University, where he excelled as a punter, earning consensus All-American honors in 1994.
Sauerbrun entered the NFL when the Chicago Bears selected him in the second round of the 1995 NFL Draft. His tenure with the Bears lasted until 1998, during which he demonstrated his potential as a punter. However, his time in Chicago was marked by inconsistency, and he was released by the team.
In 1999, Sauerbrun joined the Kansas City Chiefs, where he played for one season. His performance with the Chiefs was solid, but it was his subsequent move to the Carolina Panthers in 2001 that truly defined his career. During his time with the Panthers, Sauerbrun became one of the league's top punters. He was selected to the Pro Bowl three consecutive times from 2001 to 2003 and was named a First-team All-Pro in each of those years. His powerful punts and ability to pin opponents deep in their own territory were invaluable assets for the Panthers.
Sauerbrun's career, however, was not without controversy. In 2004, he was involved in a steroid scandal, which led to a suspension. Despite this setback, he continued to play in the NFL, joining the Denver Broncos in 2005. His tenure with the Broncos was marked by both strong performances and further controversies, including a suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
In 2006, Sauerbrun briefly joined the New England Patriots but was released before the start of the regular season. He returned to the Broncos later that year and continued to play for them until 2007. His final stint in the NFL was with the Patriots in 2007, where he played in a few games before being released.
Throughout his career, Sauerbrun was known for his powerful leg and his ability to execute long punts. He finished his NFL career with a total of 1,043 punts and an average of 44.0 yards per punt. Despite the controversies that surrounded him, Sauerbrun's punting abilities were respected by teammates and opponents alike.
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