Dave Zastudil
A model of consistency and durability, his powerful leg delivered over a decade of reliable punts for three different NFL franchises.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American football player·Birthday: October 26·Generation X
Biography
Dave Zastudil carved out a solid, 11-year NFL career not with flashy plays, but with the quiet, essential skill of field position. A standout at Ohio University, he was a rare specialist drafted in the fourth round by the Baltimore Ravens in 2002. His game was defined by a strong, dependable leg and a knack for pinning opponents deep in their own territory. After four seasons in Baltimore, he brought his steady presence to the Cleveland Browns, where he played for five years and set a franchise record for punting average in a single season. He finished his career with the Arizona Cardinals, demonstrating remarkable longevity for a position known for its physical toll. Zastudil's legacy is that of a professional workhorse, the kind of player whose value was measured in hidden yards and crucial flips of the field.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Dave was born in 1978, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Dave Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Dave's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
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
1994Could drive
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 142 games over 11 seasons in the NFL for the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, and Arizona Cardinals.
- Set the Cleveland Browns single-season franchise record with a 46.5-yard gross punting average in 2012.
- Led the NFL in punts downed inside the 20-yard line during the 2012 season with 39.
- Averaged over 43 yards per punt for his entire career.
Did You Know?
He was a three-time All-Mid-American Conference selection at Ohio University.
In high school, he was also a standout soccer player and considered pursuing that sport collegiately.
He holds a degree in sports industry from Ohio University.
His son, Michael, followed in his footsteps as a punter and kicker in high school.
“My job was to pin the other team deep, every single punt.”
