Corliss Waitman

Corliss Waitman's Biography

Corliss Leendert Waitman is a Dutch-American professional football player, known for his successful career as a punter for some major teams in the National Football League (NFL). Born in the heat of summer on July 21, 1995, Waitman was destined for sports greatness. His mother’s family hailed from Suriname, but it was his father, José Waitman, who would pass down a love for professional sports. José was an accomplished professional basketball player, and at the time of Corliss’s birth he was prominently playing in Belgium.

Family ties took them from Belgium to the Netherlands, and that’s where Corliss spent his formative years. He was immersed in the world of soccer, the game preferred by most Europeans, until they transited to the United States when he was 15. Joining his father Stateside, Waitman made a pivotal switch from soccer to football in his high school years. This decision saw his career take a sharp turn, steering towards a life of American football.

Corliss, who comfortably speaks both Dutch and English, made his mark in American football while at the University of South Alabama. From 2014 to 2018, he demonstrated his skills on the football field for the university’s team, the South Alabama Jaguars. In February 2019, his collegiate career led him to transfer to Mississippi State University. However, the NCAA declined to grant him an extra year of eligibility, leaving him unable to play college football in 2019.

On April 28, 2020, Waitman entered the professional realm as the Pittsburgh Steelers signed him on as an undrafted free agent. After being waived and then re-signed to the practice squad, he finally secured a reserve/future contract with the Steelers in January 2021. Yet, his journey hit a bump as he was waived again in May 2021 but found a lifeline on July 26, 2021, when he was picked up by the Las Vegas Raiders. The ride came to another halt when he was let go in August 2021.

Luck changed for Waitman in late November 2021, when he signed onto the New England Patriots practice squad. This temporary shelter led to an exciting opportunity – the Pittsburgh Steelers, his former team, signed him on Christmas Day when they needed a replacement for Pressley Harvin III who took bereavement leave. The very next day, Waitman made his NFL debut in a game against the Kansas City Chiefs.

As the football season continued, Waitman was waived by the Steelers in January 2022, after which he was quickly claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos. More intrigue was added to his journey when he was drafted by the Edmonton Elks for the 2022 CFL Global Draft.

In a well-deserved turn of events, in August 2022, Waitman proved his worth, standing in as starting punter for the Broncos. This recognition saw him showcase his skills incredibly, punting 10 times with six of them within the 20-yard line, during a narrow win over the San Francisco 49ers.

His performance caught the eye of the Patriots, who signed him in March 2023. But some hurdles were yet to be overcome as he was released and re-signed to the practice squad later. His stay with the Patriots ended in October 2023, but another opportunity came knocking in January 2024 as he signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chicago Bears. Despite being waived in August, he found his way back to the Steelers after an injury to Cameron Johnston.

Waitman’s journey is a testament to not only his incredible skills as a football punter but also his perseverance and determination. Despite the unpredictable twists and turns in his career, his passion for the game shines through. Each chapter of his bio demonstrates his resilience, his tenacity, and his love for the most American of sports – football.