Gregory Jerome Coleman (born September 9, 1954) is an American former football punter who played a 12-year career in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns, the Minnesota Vikings, and the Washington Redskins. He played college football for the Florida A&M Rattlers.[1] Coleman is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity

Greg Coleman
No. 9, 8, 15
Position:Punter
Personal information
Born: (1954-09-09) September 9, 1954 (age 69)
Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:185 lb (84 kg)
Career information
High school:William M. Raines
(Jacksonville, Florida)
College:Florida A&M
NFL draft:1976 / Round: 14 / Pick: 398
Career history
Career highlights and awards
  • Minnesota Vikings 25th Anniversary Team
  • Minnesota Vikings 40th Anniversary Team
Career NFL statistics
Punts:820
Punting yards:33,285
Punting average:40.6
Longest punt:73
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Coleman was the Vikings sideline reporter for KFAN, until the end of the 2021 season. He is the cousin of former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder Vince Coleman. Early in his career, he earned the nickname "Coffin Corner" because of his ability to aim his kicks near the corner of the playing field where the end zone and out-of-bounds lines meet. Due to his uncharacteristic speed (for a punter) defenses often lined up to guard against a fake punt because he was a threat to run for a first down.

He is known as being one of the few African American punters who played in the NFL, with Dave Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals being the first.[2] Coleman was enshrined in the Black College Football Hall of Fame in 2021. He was selected by the fans to be a member of the Viking 40th Anniversary team. He is a member of the Florida A&M Football Hall of Fame and is also a member of the State of Florida Track and Field Hall of Fame.

References edit

  1. ^ Greg Coleman. nfl.com
  2. ^ "Marquette King is the N.F.L.'s Only Black Punter. How Come?". The New Yorker. 5 February 2016.

External links edit