Jon Ryan
A Canadian punter who carved out a decade-long NFL career with powerful legs and a memorable trick-play touchdown pass in the Super Bowl.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Canadian gridiron football player·Birthday: November 26·Millennials
Biography
Jon Ryan's journey from the Canadian prairie to the pinnacle of the NFL is a testament to specialized skill and surprising flair. The Regina native and University of Regina Rams star began professionally in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. His booming punts earned him a shot in the NFL, where he found a lasting home with the Seattle Seahawks for ten seasons. Ryan was a model of consistency, helping to anchor the Seahawks' famed 'Legion of Boom' defense with his field-flipping kicks. He secured a permanent place in football lore during Super Bowl XLVIII, not with his foot, but with his arm, executing a perfectly thrown touchdown pass on a fake field goal—the first by a punter in Super Bowl history.
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.
Jon was born in 1981, 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 Jon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
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
1994Became a teenager
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
1997Could drive
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played 10 seasons for the Seattle Seahawks, appearing in two Super Bowls and winning Super Bowl XLVIII.
- Threw a 19-yard touchdown pass in Super Bowl XLVIII, the first by a punter in Super Bowl history.
- Holds the Seattle Seahawks franchise record for most career punting yards.
- Began his professional career in the CFL after being drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 2004.
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished guitarist and has performed musically with teammates.
He once punted a ball 82 yards in a game for the Green Bay Packers.
He and his wife, comedian and actress Sarah Colonna, have a son named Leo.
“In Saskatchewan, you learn to kick a football into the wind.”
