Edward Shane Lechler (; born August 7, 1976) is an American former professional football player who played as a punter for 18 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Texas A&M Aggies and was selected by the Oakland Raiders in the fifth round of the 2000 NFL draft. Lechler also played for the Houston Texans.
Regarded as one of the greatest punters in NFL history, Lechler was named an All-Pro nine times during his career, and made seven Pro Bowls. He led the league in punting average five times and was the NFL's all-time leader in career punting average for nearly two decades. Lechler was one of two punters named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team, along with Hall of Famer Ray Guy.
Lechler attended East Bernard High School in East Bernard, Texas, and was a standout in football, basketball, golf, and baseball. As a quarterback, punter, and placekicker, Lechler led East Bernard to the state quarterfinals during his senior year, completing 87 of 101 (86.1%) passes for 1,640 yards and 11 touchdowns. In his high school career, Lechler passed for nearly 5,000 yards and averaged 41.6 yards per punt. His longest punt in high school was 85 yards.
Lechler attended Texas A&M University and played for the Aggies football team from 1996 to 1999. A versatile player, he was not only the Aggies' punter but also kicked off, was the long field goal kicker, served as the holder for short field goals and PATs, and was the emergency quarterback. As a junior, he completed a 29-yard pass on a fake punt against Baylor and threw a touchdown pass to Dan Campbell on a fake field goal in a hard-fought 17–10 win against Texas Tech.
When injuries depleted the depth chart, Lechler served as the backup quarterback for the 1998 Big 12 championship game. At one point in the game, the Aggies' last healthy quarterback, Branndon Stewart, appeared shaken and a nervous-looking Lechler threw warmup passes on the sideline. Stewart was able to stay in the game, however, and led the Aggies to a 36–33 victory over Kansas State, earning the Aggies their only Big 12 Championship. Because of his contributions in so many facets of the game, coach R. C. Slocum called Lechler "the team's most valuable player."
Lechler started his career off strong at Texas A&M, earning Freshman All-America honors in 1996 with a punting average of 42.7 yards. After his sophomore season, Lechler was named to the All-Big 12 team after breaking the Aggie single-season record with an average of 47.0 yards per punt. He was named to The Sporting News All-America team as a junior in 1998, and was also an Associated Press first team All-American honors as a senior in 1999, a year where his 46.5 yards per punt is second in the record books only to his own sophomore record of 47.0. Lechler is the NCAA record holder for career punt average with a mark of 44.7 yards per punt.
Lechler had only one punt blocked, against Ohio State in the 1999 Sugar Bowl.
Lechler was selected in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2000 NFL draft. He was the only punter selected that year.
On September 3, 2000, in the season opener against the San Diego Chargers, Lechler made his NFL debut and had a season-high 10 punts for a season-high 424 yards (42.4 average) as the Raiders won 9–6. During a Week 10 49–31 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, he converted all seven extra-point attempts. Two weeks later against the New Orleans Saints, Lechler had four punts for 219 yards for a season-high 54.75 average in the 31–22 road victory.
Lechler finished his rookie year with 65 punts for 2,984 yards for a 45.91 average. The Raiders finished atop the AFC West with a 12–4 record and qualified for the playoffs. He was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team and earned First Team All-Pro honors. Lechler made his playoff debut in the Divisional Round against the Miami Dolphins and finished the 27–0 shutout victory with five punts for 234 yards (46.8 average). During the AFC Championship Game against the Baltimore Ravens, Lechler had seven punts for 315 yards (45.00 average) in the 16–3 loss.
During the season-opening 27–24 loss to the Chiefs, Lechler had four punts for 185 yards (46.25 average) in the 27–24 road victory. Two weeks later against the Dolphins, he recorded a season-high seven punts for a season-high 345 yards for a 49.29 average in the 18–15 road loss. Three weeks later against the Indianapolis Colts, Lechler had five punts for 262 yards for a season-high 52.4 average in the 23–18 road victory. He earned his first Pro Bowl nomination.
Lechler finished his second professional season with 73 punts for 3,375 yards for a 46.23 average. The Raiders finished atop the AFC West for the second consecutive season with a 10–6 record and made the playoffs, but their season ended in a 16–13 road loss to the New England Patriots during the Divisional Round.
Lechler's third professional season saw the Raiders have a lot of success. During a Week 4 52–25 victory over the Tennessee Titans, he punted thrice for 134 yards and a 44.67 average in his season debut. In the next game against the Buffalo Bills, Lechler had five punts for a season-high 250 yards for a 50.00 average during the 49–31 road victory. During a Week 16 28–16 victory over the Denver Broncos, he had a season-high six punts for 244 yards for a 40.67 average. Overall, in the regular season, Lechler totaled 53 punts for 2,251 yards for a 42.47 average.
The Raiders finished atop the AFC West for the third consecutive year with an 11–5 record and made the playoffs. After beating the New York Jets in the Divisional Round and the Titans in the AFC Championship Game, Lechler appeared in his first Super Bowl. During Super Bowl XXXVII against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he had five punts for 195 yards for a 39.00 average in the 48–21 loss.
During the season-opening 25–20 road loss to the Titans, Lechler recorded seven punts for 353 net yards for a 50.43 average. During a Week 5 24–21 road loss to the Chicago Bears, he punted thrice for 166 yards for a season-high 55.33 average. In the regular-season finale against the Chargers, he had a season-high nine punts for a season-high 424 yards for a 47.11 average as during the 21–14 road loss. Lechler recorded a 73-yard punt, which was the longest by any punter in the NFL for the 2003 season.
Lechler finished the 2003 season with 96 punts for 4,503 yards for a 46.91 average as the Raiders finished the season with a 4–12 record. He was named as a First Team All-Pro for the second time.
Lechler started his fifth professional season in the season-opening 24–21 road loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, punting thrice for 132 yards and a 44 average. During a Week 6 31–3 loss to the Broncos, Lechler had a season-high seven punts for a season-high 333 yards for a 47.57 average. Three weeks later against the Carolina Panthers, he punted thrice for 167 yards for a season-high 55.67 average in the 27–24 road victory.
Lechler finished the season with 73 punts for 3,409 yards for a 46.7 average as the Raiders finished with a 5–11 record. He earned a second Pro Bowl nomination and was named as a First Team All-Pro for the third time.