Jamie Gillan

BIOGRAPHY

Jamie Gillan, affectionately referred to as the “Scottish Hammer,” is a noted figure in the arena of American Football. Born in Forres, Morayshire, Scotland, on July 4, 1997, Gillan started his athletic journey in his homeland, initially showing his knack for sports while playing for the Highland Rugby Club. Being a part of the Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh allowed him to continue refining his skills further in rugby.

In 2013, Gillan’s life and football trajectory moved onto a new path. His father, serving as a member of the Royal Air Force, was stationed in Leonardtown, Maryland in the United States. Hence, Gillan migrated across the Atlantic and found himself in an environment where American Football was a predominant sport. He couldn’t resist the lure and began playing American football during his high school years in Maryland.

Subsequently, Gillan received an opportunity that many athletes dream of – a chance to play at college level. He was invited to play college football at the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff through an unconventional method, a scholarship offer through a Facebook invitation. As a punter for his college team, he successfully punted a total of 9,024 yards on 214 punts, managing an average of 42.2 yards per punt over his four-year stint. Demonstrating his strength and skills, during a pre-draft workout session, he reportedly popped three regulation-size NFL footballs.

Although he went undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft, his resilience led him to sign with the Cleveland Browns. Gillan made his presence known during the team’s second 2019 preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, where he punted a staggering 74-yard. On August 31, 2019, he officially surpassed veteran Britton Colquitt to become the starting punter for the Browns.

Proof of Gillan’s skills and prowess unfolded in Week 2 of his NFL career, as he punted six times, with five of those landing inside the 20, earning him a spot as the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. His first month ended on a celebratory note as he was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in September after having 11 punts inside the 20 and allowing only 19 punt return yards. In Week 5, he set a career-best when he kicked a 71-yard punt. His successful rookie season contained a total of 63 punts for 2,913 yards (2,622 net yards), which included 28 punts that were downed inside the 20-yard line. This outstanding performance led to his selection to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team.

Gillan’s journey, however, had a temporary halt as he was placed in the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Browns on July 30, 2020. However, he was activated from the list just four days later. Despite a successful tenure with the Browns, Gillan was waived by the team on December 22, 2021. The Buffalo Bills seized the opportunity and signed him to their practice squad two days later.

On February 7, 2022, a new chapter in Gillan’s career began as he signed to the reserve/future contract with the New York Giants. He quickly became the team’s lead contender to be the Giants’ 2022 punter when the team released Riley Dixon in March. His superhero moment came in a preseason game against the Bengals when he stepped in to make several field goals following an injury to Graham Gano.

On March 13, 2023, he secured a two-year, $4 million contract extension with the Giants. Later on December 17, he stepped in again for wounded kicker Randy Bullock and skillfully executed a 40–yard field goal against the New Orleans Saints. In Week 18, he achieved another feat by punting five times with four inside the 20-yard line, helping to secure a 27-10 win over the Philadelphia Eagles and earning him the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Despite these successes, Gillan faced an unexpected bureaucratic hurdle in October 2022 when visa issues delayed his return to the United States after playing for the Giants in London. His visa, a NATO visa obtained originally due to his father, was never updated to a work visa when he joined the NFL. This minor hiccup required intervention from U.S. diplomats to update his visa.

Jamie Gillan, the Scottish Hammer, continues to hammer his way through the National Football League, creating ripples with his extraordinary punting skills. Along his journey, he has also exemplified resilience and an unwavering appetite for success, making him a respected figure in NFL.