Special Teams has been a sore spot for the Packers for quite some time.
The kicking team struggled and the kick returning team could get the Packers good field position.
Overall not a great performance, but it is not something we haven’t seen before.
While questions around the Packers kicking situation circle, there is one position that doesn’t need any adjustments.
In fact, he was the only bright spot on the Packers special teams.
Daniel Whalen had a fantastic season for the Packers and helped the Packers flip the field.
The third-year punter put his place in the Packers record books in 2025 with 49 total punts for 2,533 gross yards.
You may ask yourself why does that stat matter?
If you do the math, that is an average of 51.7 yards per punt!
That stands alone in the Packers record books.
Record Setter
Whalen though shattered the previous team record that was held by Corey Bojorquez.
In 2021, Bojorquez averaged 46.5 yards per punt, but Whalen beat that record by five yards.
His gross average ranked 1st in the NFL.
Furthermore, Whalens average it also ranks third all-time in NFL history by a qualifying punter.
But that is not the only record that Whalen set.
Whalen set the Packers record for net punting average with a net 43.9 yards.
Flipping the field
The biggest asset to Whalens punting game was his ability the help the Packers when they needed a shift in field position.
18 of Whalen’s punts ended up inside the 20 yard line, pinning opposing offenses in their own territory.
Whalen has earned some praise not only on the field but in the Locker room as well.
“He’s a great dude, great in the locker room, but he’s a real weapon out on the field in terms of being able to flip the field,” says Head Coach Matt LaFleur.
“I feel like anytime we’ve gotten in some of those critical moments where we really need a great kick, he’s come through for us.”
Fellow special teams teammate and long snapper Matt Orzech had similar words when describing Whalen’s performance.
“From the day he showed up, it was immediately obvious that his leg explosion was pretty impressive.”
For Whalen though, it’s just another record/ goal that he wants to work for.
“I’m definitely proud of myself,” said Whalen.
He went on to say, “Obviously, a lot of work went into it, but the work doesn’t stop. Got to beat it next year and so on and so on.”
Special Weapon
Green Bay isn’t the easiest place to punt.
Seasons change, the temperature gets colder, the winds pick up and who knows about the precipitation!
But Whalen has been everything the Packers had hoped for since becoming the Packers punter in 2023.
For the first time since ,possibly, Craig Hentrich in the 90’s, the Packers have a legit punter.
Special teams has been a sore spot for the Packers but Daniel Whalen is definitely not the issue.
An All-Pro selection or Pro Bowl wasn’t in the books for Whalen this season unfortunately.
But if Whalen keeps this performance up, there will be one in the near future.
