Jeremy Crawshaw may be a rookie, but he’s already making noise in a position that rarely gets the spotlight. The Denver Broncos punter has earned PFWA All-Rookie honors - and if you’ve been watching Denver’s playoff run, you know that recognition is well deserved.
Crawshaw, the lone Bronco rookie to receive the honor this season, has been a quiet weapon in Denver’s push to the AFC Championship. His most recent highlight? A perfectly placed punt in overtime against the Buffalo Bills that pinned Josh Allen and company inside their own five-yard line - a field-position flip that helped set the tone for the Broncos’ eventual win.
Head coach Sean Payton didn’t mince words when describing the moment: “We’re punting… Probably [Crawshaw’s] punt of the year. 55 [yards], no return.” That’s not just a good punt - that’s a game-changer.
Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey echoed the sentiment, calling it a “Hall of Fame punt.” And he’s not exaggerating.
In today’s NFL, where offenses are built to strike quickly and special teams can often be overlooked, Crawshaw’s ability to pin an opponent deep is a massive advantage. “You’ve been seeing a lot of situational football this year where things go to a touchback or a kickoff and all of a sudden, you’re almost at midfield,” McGlinchey said.
“When it becomes sudden death for them to have to march 95 [yards] instead of 20 [yards] to get into field goal range, it was a monstrous play in that game and our defense came up big.”
Even Pat McAfee - former NFL punter and now one of the loudest voices in football media - gave Crawshaw his stamp of approval. That’s high praise from someone who knows the craft inside and out.
Crawshaw was taken in the sixth round of the 2025 NFL Draft, 216th overall. Not exactly headline-grabbing territory.
But he’s quickly turned that late-round selection into one of the Broncos’ most reliable assets. He finished the regular season ranked third in total punts, with a booming long of 76 yards - the second-longest in the league this year - and dropped 30 punts inside the opponent’s 20-yard line.
That’s elite-level production, especially for a rookie.
And now, with the Broncos headed to the AFC Championship to face the New England Patriots, Crawshaw’s role becomes even more critical. Field position is everything in playoff football, and if he can keep flipping the field like he did against Buffalo, Denver’s defense will have every opportunity to do what it does best.
Kickoff is set for 1:00 p.m. MT on CBS. Don’t be surprised if one of the biggest plays of the game comes off the foot of No. 10 in orange and blue.