Brett Kern
A punter whose booming leg and pinpoint accuracy redefined his position's value, becoming a three-time Pro Bowl cornerstone for the Tennessee Titans.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American football player·Birthday: February 17·Millennials
Biography
Brett Kern's path to NFL stardom wasn't heralded by draft-day fanfare; he entered the league in 2008 as an undrafted free agent from the University of Toledo. After a brief stint with Denver, he found his home in Tennessee, where his powerful and consistent leg became a weapon. Kern mastered the art of the coffin-corner kick, routinely pinning opponents deep in their own territory and flipping field position in an instant. His technique—a smooth, efficient motion that generated remarkable hang time and distance—made him one of the most reliable specialists of his era. Kern's value was quantified not just in yards but in the hidden advantages he gave his defense, earning him multiple All-Pro honors and Pro Bowl selections. He retired as a Titan, leaving a legacy that elevated the punter from an afterthought to a recognized game-changer.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Brett was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Brett Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Brett's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected to the Pro Bowl three times (2017, 2019, 2020) during his tenure with the Tennessee Titans.
- Earned First-team All-Pro honors in 2019 after leading the NFL in net punting average.
- Holds the Tennessee Titans franchise record for career punting average (45.9 yards).
- Led the NFL in gross punting average in 2017 with 49.7 yards per punt.
Did You Know?
He was a multi-sport athlete in high school, also playing basketball and baseball.
Kern punted 1,111 times in his NFL career without ever having a single punt blocked.
He won the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month award twice, in October 2017 and December 2019.
“My job is to flip the field and pin them deep.”
