Thomas Morstead
A punter who redefined his position's value with a single, gutsy onside kick that swung a Super Bowl and captured a city's spirit.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American football player·Birthday: March 8·Millennials
Biography
Thomas Morstead arrived in the NFL as a fifth-round pick from SMU, a detail that would foreshadow a career built on exceeding expectations. While his leg strength and consistency made him one of the league's most reliable punters for the New Orleans Saints, his legacy was cemented in a moment of audacious strategy. To open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV, the Saints called an onside kick—a high-risk, rarely seen play. Morstead executed it perfectly, a surprise that shifted momentum and propelled New Orleans to its first championship. Beyond the field, his character shone through. After a brutal playoff loss in 2018, he initiated a fundraising campaign for the opposing team's children's hospital, raising over a million dollars and demonstrating a sportsmanship that transcended rivalry. His career, spanning multiple teams, is a testament to the impact a specialist can have when precision meets profound heart.
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.
Thomas 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 Thomas Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Thomas'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
- Executed the successful 'Ambush' onside kick to open the second half of Super Bowl XLIV, a pivotal play in the New Orleans Saints' victory.
- Named to the Pro Bowl in 2012 as the NFC's punter.
- Holds the Saints franchise record for career punting average (47.3 yards) and net punting average (41.1 yards).
- Founded the 'What You Give Will Grow' foundation, focusing on cancer research and support for children.
Did You Know?
He holds a degree in civil engineering from Southern Methodist University.
His jersey number, 6, is a tribute to former Saints special teams standout Steve Gleason.
He was the first punter ever to score a two-point conversion in an NFL game, doing so for the New York Jets in 2021.
“I just wanted to do my job. I didn't know it was going to become such a big deal.”
