Braden Mann

Braden Mann's Biography

Braden Mann, born on November 24, 1997, is a renowned American professional football player, known for his striking career as a punter for the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football League (NFL). With his football journey kick-starting in Texas, Mann pursued his college tenure with the Texas A&M Aggies, setting a long list of records along the way.

At Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas, Mann served as both a kicker and punter under coach Ed Pustejovsky, a former Texas A&M football player. He proved himself significant to the team in his junior year with 7 field goals out of 10 attempts and an impressive achievement of 46 out of 48 extra points, earning a place in the 2014 Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston team. In his senior year, he demonstrated continued success, recording a perfect score in extra points (25 of 25) and maintained a 45-yard punting average across 41 punts.

Unfortunately, Mann’s hopes to play as a linebacker in high school and college were quashed due to his size and injury circumstances. However, this did not stop his imminent success in his preferred field. Focusing on his strengths in punting and kicking, he secured the second and fifth positions as a kicker in national ratings by Rivals.com and 247Sports.com, respectively.

Upon starting his college career at Texas A&M, Mann served as the primary kickoff specialist during his first two years. His statistics remained strong, averaging 63.9 yards across 76 kickoffs in the first season and averaging 62.4 yards across 73 kickoffs in his sophomore year.

The 2018 season marked a turning point for Mann as he took the place of the graduating punter Shane Tripucka. He made an immediate impact on the team, breaking records with a 60.8 punting average during a game against Alabama and recording an 82-yard punt during a contest against Kentucky. He grew in stature and success throughout the season, receiving first-team all-SEC honors and the SEC Special Teams Player of the Year among other accolades.

Braden Mann’s season punting average of 50.98 yards per punt lead him to break the former record set by Chad Kessler in 1997, which further solidified his position as an exceptional punter in the country.

Transforming his prowess to a professional level, Mann was chosen by the New York Jets in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL draft. His crowning glory with the Jets was likely during the game against the Los Angeles Rams, where his superb performance garnished praises, leading Jets to a 23-20 victory.

On September 14, 2021, Mann suffered a blow as he was placed on injured reserve, but he bounced back by November the same year. He became the AFC Special Teams Player of Week 2 in the 2022 season by recording two punts inside the 20 with a long of 50 yards coupled with a successful onside kick.

Moving forward, Mann was waived by the New York Jets and was claimed off waivers by the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, his time at Pittsburgh Steelers was short-lived as he was waived in August the same year. Undeterred, Mann signed in with Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad in September 2023 and was promoted to the active roster in October.

Mann continues to shine in his professional career, displaying exceptional skills and earning recognition. Notably, in a game with the Dallas Cowboys, he turned heads with his unexpectedly clever play where he faked a punt and threw a 28-yard completion. His contribution to the Eagles culminated in a two-year contract extension in March 2024.

Reflecting on his journey, Braden Mann has etched a dynamic career path, breaking new grounds and setting records. Inspite of challenges, his consistent progress from school level sport, through college, and into the professional realm has established him as a promising player within the NFL, ultimately positioning him as part of the Philadelphia Eagles’ success narrative.