As I’ve mentioned before, there are a number of questions on the Packers roster coming into 2026.
Who’s going to step up and secure the pass rush opposite Micah Parsons?
Who’s going to emerge as CB1?
Will the Offensive Line find a starting 5 to keep Jordan safe?
The annual shake up on Special Teams this year is the largest overhaul in recent memory. Despite all that, one question that needs no answering is who will be punting the ball.
That job is locked down by Packers elite Punter, Daniel Whelan.
Daniel Whelan’s Road To The Packers
Born in Enniskerry, Ireland, Daniel Whelan grew up playing soccer and rugby. He moved to California with his mother at 13 years old, where he was introduced to American football.
After high school, Whelan would go on to play at UC Davis, and over 5 seasons, he established himself as one of the greatest punters in school history.
THE STATS
151 punts
6,523 punting yards
44.0-yard career average (UC Davis school record)
Long punt: 74 yards
2021 (Fall): 46.25-yard average (school single-season record among qualifying seasons)
2021 Spring (COVID season): 17 punts, 815 yards, 47.9-yard average, which led the Big Sky Conference, though it did not qualify for the official record book because of the shortened season.
THE ACCOLADES
First-Team All-American (Spring 2021)
Second-Team All-American (Fall 2021)
First-Team All-Big Sky (Spring 2021)
All-Big Sky (Fall 2021)
Third-Team All-Big Sky (2019)
Honorable Mention All-Big Sky (2018)
Finalist for the FCS Punter of the Year Award (Spring 2021)
NFL TO XFL AND BACK AGAIN
The Irish-born specialist went undrafted after college and briefly spent time with the New Orleans Saints before reviving his professional career with the XFL’s DC Defenders. His massive leg and consistency caught Green Bay’s attention in 2023.
Whelan came to Titletown and quickly took the reins from veteran Pat O’Donnell in training camp for the starting job. Since then, Whelan has quietly become one of the league’s premier field flippers, proving that the Packers unearthed another hidden gem through patience, development, and a willingness to bet on talent over pedigree.
Packers Franchise Record Holder
Daniel Whelan may very well be the Packers most underappreciated player.The numbers back up just how valuable Whelan has become. During the 2025 season, he led the NFL with a staggering 51.7 yard punting average, setting a new Packers franchise record while posting the 3rd best single season average in league history.
He also established a team record 43.9 yard net average, showing that his production wasn’t simply built on a powerful leg, but on limiting return opportunities and technical ball placement as well. Whelan launched 32 punts of at least 50 yards, including 12 that went 60 yards or more. He averaged nearly 8 yards more per punt than Green Bay’s previous franchise record. Every booming kick consistently tilted field position in the Packers favor. Whelan has an ability to create hidden yardage that rarely shows up in the box score, but often determines close games.
Giving Consistency Amidst Special Teams Shake Up
As the Packers enter the 2026 season with changes throughout their special teams unit, Whelan remains the steady constant. Continuity matters for specialists, and Green Bay knows exactly what it has in a punter who has improved every season while earning the trust of coaches and teammates alike. Whelan provides reliability every time he steps onto the field. His combination of elite leg strength, refined ball placement, and calm demeanor gives the Packers a weapon capable of winning the field position battle every week.
Packer Nation is hoping to see some life jolted into the Special Teams with the addition of Cam Achord’s leadership, Skyy Moore’s returning, and Trey Smack’s kicking ability. One can only hope that this overhaul will complement a Punter that dominates the league.
The Packers will undoubtedly need to lean on their unsung hero again as one of the most dependable players on their roster heading into 2026.
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