Mitch Wishnowsky

Mitch Wishnowsky's Biography

Mitchell Wishnowsky is a prominent punter in the realm of professional American football. He was born on March 3, 1992, in Gosnells, a suburb of Perth, Western Australia, to New Zealand parents. Despite his Australian origins, he has made a name for himself in the American Football world, where he stands out as a sporting icon of the San Francisco 49ers from the National Football League (NFL).

Wishnowsky’s journey to the top was challenging but incredibly rewarding. He attended Lumen Christi College from 2005 to 2009 and dropped out of secondary school when he was 16 to become a glazier. After high school he was forced to abandon his football career due to recurrent shoulder injuries. Nevertheless, his passion for sports made him turn to the flag version of the sport. His hard work paid off since he was able to afford a house in his hometown with his best friend.

He followed a nontraditional path to international prominence, starting as an Australian rules football player but transitioning to American football through Prokick Australia. He quit his job and moved across the country to Melbourne in 2013 to train full time at Prokick, an institution renowned for transforming Australian rules football players into American football punters. Observing his talent, the University of Utah granted a scholarship to Wishnowsky, following the successful tenure of a previous Prokick graduate, Tom Hackett.

After spending a year training at Prokick, Wishnowsky moved to the USA and enrolled in Santa Barbara City College in 2014 to secure his NCAA eligibility, maintaining a focus on his academics. He redshirted in 2015 to finish his associate degree and preserve his NCAA eligibility.

During his sophomore year in 2016 at Utah, Wishnowsky’s talent became apparent, winning the prestigious Ray Guy Award and becoming a unanimous All-American. His superb performances continued into 2017, making him one of the top prospects for the 2019 NFL draft.

Following a successful college stint, Wishnowsky was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft, becoming one of only two punters selected that year. He successfully signed a four-year contract with 49ers shortly after. In his debut season, he showcased his skills with performances like the one against the Arizona Cardinals in the season’s ninth week, in which he landed five punts within the 20-yard line, earning him the title of National Football Conference (NFC) Special Teams Player of the Week. As a rookie, he also played in Super Bowl LIV, despite his team eventually losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.

As the 2021 season rolled in, Wishnowsky’s career continued to flourish. In the second week of the season, he performed exceptionally, earning the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time. Repeated moments of excellence on the field and his ability to adapt in extraordinary situations, such as when he filled the role of kicker due to an injury to his teammate Robbie Gould, pronounced him more than just a punter.

He made history by becoming the first Australian to score a point in an NFL game. His contract was extended by the 49ers in September 2022, for another four years and $13 million. Besides this, in week 5 of the 2024 season, Wishnowsky not only acted as a kicker but successfully launched a 26-yard field goal, outlining his versatility and tenacity.

The Australian-born punter has been making waves on and off the field, with significant life events including marriage to his wife Maddie and the birth of their daughter. Despite minor setbacks such as winding up on the active/non-football injury list on July 25, 2023, Wishnowsky continues to demonstrate his skills and make his mark on the American Football landscape.