Latest news with #MichaelDickson

News.com.au
2 hours ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Australian punter Michael Dickson has signed a mammoth new contract with the Seattle Seahawks
His coach described him as a 'weapon' and NFL punter Michael Dickson has elevated himself among Australia's highest-earning sportspeople after signing a monster $25m contract extension with the 29-year-old declaring he's 'only half way' into his career. Dickson, already the highest paid punter in the NFL, cemented that position with a new four-year-deal which is worth $25m, including nearly $16m guaranteed. Seven years into his career, Dickson, who eyed-off an AFL career before taking up punting, is adamant there's much more to come. 'It's crazy, because I still feel like I just came through the doors here the other day,' he said. 'But when you think back and think about every season and every different teammate you've had and all the memories you've created along the way, it has been quite a long time. But I don't even feel like I'm halfway yet; it's going to be a long career.' Dickson, had a year left on his previous deal and is now signed through the 2029 season, earning huge plaudits from Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald. 'Dicko is a premier punter in the league, so hopefully we showed that with the numbers involved,' said. 'But he's a weapon for us. The stats show it. The film shows it. He's got a great attitude about him, great personality. Guys love him. Yeah, really excited to have him here for the long haul.' Dickson earned first-team All-Pro and Pro-Bowl honours as a rookie, and has established himself as one of the league's best punters over the past seven seasons. His deal is a tad short of fellow Aussie Jordan Mailata's $100m contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, but puts Dickson in rare air for punters. 'It's meant a lot,' Dickson said after signing Tuesday morning. 'You see a lot of people come through the building, and I've just been super grateful since my first year here just to wear this logo and to play in the NFL. So I've really made it a point of mine to give it everything I can in every aspect of my life, whether it's food, sleep, hydration, training, looking after my body, trying to do everything I can to make sure my mind is on point for this game, the next game and for as long as I can go. ' I really want to get the most out of my ability and my time here, and I never want to take it for granted at all.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
From Aussie Rules booter to Seahawks mainstay, Michael Dickson re-signs on 4-year deal
More than a decade ago, Michael Dickson had never seen an entire football game. Not an American one. Dickson was a teenager in Australia. He was an Aussie Rules Football player, and a good one. He could direct the oblong balls he kicked like it was attached to a joystick. An acquaintance suggested he send films of his kicking electronically to the United States — specifically, to the University of Texas football coaches. That led to a college scholarship to play football, American style. 'I was part of a kicking program and they had contacts in American college football. I just was just punting at a local field, no helmet or pads,' Dickson said last week. 'And they just took his (the scout's) word that that I had what it took to play at Texas. 'They invited me for my official visit and that's when they offered me.' A decade later, Dickson is 29. He's recently married, to his college sweetheart at Texas, Gianni Outram. He's been an All-Pro and Pro Bowl punter for Seattle. And he just signed his third NFL contract, one that will nearly double his career earnings. Dickson signed a four-year contract extension with the Seahawks Tuesday just before the team's mandatory offseason minicamp began. It's believed to be worth $16.2 million. He's earned $17 million in his first seven seasons, all with Seattle. The team traded up in the fifth round of the 2018 draft to get him. And the Seahawks still have him, signed now through 2028. Yeah, this American football thing worked out. 'I think that it was always the dream. My purpose in college was to play the best I could to play in the NFL. But, yeah, eight years? I don't know if I would have thought I'd be playing at a high level for that long,' Dickson said. 'But, each time I achieve a goal, the goal just gets higher. It'll be fun to look back one day.'


Washington Post
a day ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson signs 4-year contract extension
RENTON, Wash. — The Seattle Seahawks signed punter Michael Dickson to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2029 season, the team announced Tuesday. Dickson, 29, is heading into his eighth season with the Seahawks, and has been a standout special teams player since Seattle selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 draft. He was a first-team All-Pro as a rookie, and ranks third in NFL history with a 48.2 yards-per-punt average. Dickson is the Seahawks career leader in net average (42.9 yards) while trailing only Jon Ryan for punts downed inside the 20 with 212. ___ AP NFL:

Associated Press
a day ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Seahawks punter Michael Dickson signs 4-year contract extension
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — The Seattle Seahawks signed punter Michael Dickson to a four-year contract extension that runs through the 2029 season, the team announced Tuesday. Dickson, 29, is heading into his eighth season with the Seahawks, and has been a standout special teams player since Seattle selected him in the fifth round of the 2018 draft. He was a first-team All-Pro as a rookie, and ranks third in NFL history with a 48.2 yards-per-punt average. Dickson is the Seahawks career leader in net average (42.9 yards) while trailing only Jon Ryan for punts downed inside the 20 with 212. ___ AP NFL:


USA Today
a day ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Seahawks make Michael Dickson NFL's highest-paid punter with new extension
Seahawks make Michael Dickson NFL's highest-paid punter with new extension The Seattle Seahawks gave the 12th Man a pleasant bit of news on Tuesday morning, as the Seattle faithful woke up to news of an extension granted to punter Michael Dickson. As first reported by Mike Garafolo, the Seahawks have made Dickson the highest-paid punter in the league with a new four-year, $16.2 million extension. Dickson has been one of the best punters in the league ever since his rookie campaign in 2018, and now he is once again paid accordingly. General manager John Schneider and then-head coach Pete Carroll shocked the 12's during the 2018 NFL draft when the Seahawks actually moved up to select... a punter!? How could they!? After all, Seattle still had fan-favorite Jon Ryan on the roster. Well, it turned out that the offseason punter battle became one of the most-watched for the Seahawks, and the Texas Longhorn standout won the job over the Super Bowl XLVIII champion. From there, Dickson earned both First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season, and has been a Seattle-mainstay ever since. Dickson's booming kicks often tilt the field, which has bailed out a struggling Seahawks defense (and offense) more than a few times during his tenure in the Pacific Northwest. However, one of the gutsiest performances from Dickson actually came when he wasn't kicking. During Seattle's Week 13 game against the New York Jets, the Seahawks had to mount a comeback over Gang Green... but Dickson injured his back. It was unknown if he would return, however, he did fight through the pain to come out for a crucial field goal attempt to hold for kicker Jason Myers. Myers nailed his 43-yard attempt to make it a 21-19 game in the fourth quarter, which proved to be crucial points in the eventual 26-21 Seattle victory. It may not seem like much, but the Seahawks' special teams in 2024 (and that game in particular) were mostly disastrous. Keeping one of the few constants in place avoided further mishaps that could have doomed Seattle's comeback efforts.