Ryan Matthew Stonehouse Bio
Ryan Matthew Stonehouse is an American professional football punter who currently plays in the National Football League. Born on May 11, 1999, in San Dimas, California, Stonehouse has established himself as one of the most dominant punters at both the collegiate and professional levels. He played college football for the Colorado State Rams from 2017 to 2021 before signing with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Stonehouse currently holds the NCAA FBS and Mountain West Conference records for highest career average yards per punt, and he set the NFL single-season record for average yards per punt during his rookie season.
Early Life and Background
Stonehouse was born on May 11, 1999, in San Dimas, California, to parents Natalie Banks and Paul Stonehouse. His family background is deeply rooted in football, particularly in the punting profession. His father, Paul Stonehouse, was a punter for Stanford University from 1989 to 1992. Two of his uncles also played as Division I punters: John Stonehouse punted for the University of Southern California from 1992 to 1995, and Jeff Banks punted for Washington State University from 1996 to 1997.
Stonehouse attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, where he quickly distinguished himself as an exceptional punter. In 2016, he helped lead his Mater Dei team to a impressive 13-1 record and a deep run in the CIF playoffs, though the team fell in the semi-finals to St. John Bosco. Stonehouse earned multiple accolades during his high school career, including being named a Blue and Grey All-American and earning a spot on the 2016 L.A. Times All-Star football team. He also participated in the Kohl’s Kicking 2016 Western Winter Showcase and was rated as a five-star punter.
Path to Professional Football
Stonehouse received 11 total offers from NCAA Division I schools before committing to Colorado State. He officially accepted his scholarship offer from Colorado State University on February 14, 2017, choosing the Rams over offers from Arizona, Cal, Cornell, Eastern Washington, Illinois, Tennessee, Toledo, Utah State, UTSA, and Wyoming. He was rated as a three-star recruit and the third best punter prospect in the class of 2017 by 247Sports.com.
During his five-year collegiate career at Colorado State from 2017 to 2021, Stonehouse developed into one of the most prolific punters in NCAA history. As a freshman in 2017, he was named to the Ray Guy Award watch list and received an All-Mountain West honorable mention. He punted 46 times in 13 games and ranked fifth in the country with a 45.9-yard punt average. His sophomore season in 2018 saw him finish second in the FBS with a 48.3-yard punt average, and he earned first-team All-Mountain West honors. He continued his dominance through his junior and senior years, earning first-team All-Mountain West selections in both 2019 and 2020. In his final season as a graduate student in 2021, Stonehouse recorded a career-best single-season punt average of 50.9 yards.
Ryan Matthew Stonehouse Career
Tennessee Titans (2022-2024)
Stonehouse signed with the Tennessee Titans as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2022. He performed exceptionally well throughout the preseason and won the punting job when the Titans released longtime punter Brett Kern on August 29, 2022. His rookie season was nothing short of historic. Stonehouse recorded an average of 53.1 yards per punt throughout the 2022 season, which set a new single-season NFL record. This record, previously held by Sammy Baugh with a 51.4-yard average dating back to 1940, stood for 82 seasons before Stonehouse surpassed it.
During his debut season, Stonehouse earned multiple accolades. He was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October after recording 20 punts for 1,033 yards and a 51.7 average. He also earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors following a Week 10 victory over the Denver Broncos, when he punted eight times for 432 yards, including three inside the 10-yard line with a long of 74 yards. Stonehouse finished the 2022 season as the league’s punting yards leader with 90 punts for 4,779 yards. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and earned second-team All-Pro honors.
Injury and 2023 Season
The 2023 season began with promise as Stonehouse continued his exceptional performance. During a Week 8 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, he had a season-high eight punts for 420 yards. During a Week 12 victory over the Carolina Panthers, he earned another AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor after punting seven times for 376 yards with a long of 71 yards. However, his season took a dramatic turn when he suffered a serious leg injury in the following game against the Indianapolis Colts. The injury was later revealed to be a torn ACL, MCL, and a broken bone, all in his non-kicking leg, which ended his season. Despite missing the remainder of the season, Stonehouse still led the league in yards per punt for the second consecutive year with his 53.1 average from 53 punts.
2024 Season and Departure
Stonehouse made a healthy return for the 2024 season. While the team’s punt protection problems resulted in a blocked punt in each of the first two games, he managed to punt all 17 games of the season. He recorded 73 punts for 3,691 yards with a 50.6 average, including a career-long 75-yard punt in Week 6 against the Indianapolis Colts. He finished third in the league in yards per punt and was named as an alternate to the 2025 Pro Bowl. On March 11, 2025, the Titans chose not to assign Stonehouse his restricted free agent tender, making him an unrestricted free agent.
Miami Dolphins (2025-Present)
On March 16, 2025, Stonehouse signed with the Miami Dolphins. He joined a Dolphins team looking to strengthen their special teams unit with one of the most talented punters in the league. Stonehouse brings his record-setting leg and consistency to Miami, where he will look to continue his dominance at the professional level. His ability to pin opponents deep in their territory and boot touchbacks when needed gives the Dolphins a significant field position advantage on every punt.
Driving Style and Strengths
Stonehouse is renowned for his exceptional leg strength, which has allowed him to set multiple records throughout his career. His ability to generate tremendous hang time gives coverage units extra seconds to get downfield, while his raw power produces consistently long punts that push opposing offenses far back to start their drives. His precision in placing punts inside the 20-yard line, combined with his elite distance, makes him a complete weapon for any special teams unit.
Notable Events and Milestones
Stonehouse’s career has been defined by record-setting performances. His 53.1-yard average during the 2022 NFL season broke a record that had stood for 82 years. He holds the NCAA FBS record for highest career average yards per punt at 47.8 yards, surpassing Florida’s Johnny Townsend who held the previous record of 46.2 yards. He also owns the Mountain West Conference record for highest career average yards per punt.
Ryan Matthew Stonehouse Career Wins
Throughout his professional career, Stonehouse has accumulated impressive statistics and accolades that highlight his dominance as a punter. His consistent ability to boom punts at elite levels has made him one of the most feared special teams players in the league.
NFL Highlights
Stonehouse’s professional career statistics through the 2024 season include 216 punts for 11,282 punting yards with a 52.2-yard career average. He has recorded 80 punts inside the 20-yard line and 26 touchbacks, with a career-long punt of 75 yards. His rookie season saw him set the NFL single-season record with a 53.1-yard average, and he led the league in punting yards in 2022 with 4,779 yards on 90 punts.
College Highlights
At Colorado State, Stonehouse punted 244 times for 11,656 yards over his five-year career, averaging 47.8 yards per punt. This average broke the NCAA FBS record and remains unmatched at the Division I level. He earned All-Mountain West first-team honors three consecutive years from 2018 to 2020 and was named an All-American in 2021.
| Competition Level | Punts | Yards | Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career | 216 | 11,282 | 52.2 |
| College (CSU) | 244 | 11,656 | 47.8 |
Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Stonehouse comes from an exceptionally athletic family with deep roots in football. His father, Paul Stonehouse, played as a punter at Stanford University from 1989 to 1992. His uncle John Stonehouse punted at the University of Southern California from 1992 to 1995, and his uncle Jeff Banks punted at Washington State University from 1996 to 1997. This family legacy of punters spans multiple generations of Division I football programs, making Ryan’s success a continuation of a family tradition.
Personal Life
Outside of football, Stonehouse enjoys DIY projects and has demonstrated his handyman skills by building various projects around his home, including a covered outdoor kitchen in his backyard. He also has a passion for working with animals and enjoys fostering shelter dogs in his spare time. Stonehouse’s cousin, Jack Stonehouse, was an all-ACC punter who played for the Syracuse Orange football team.
2025 Season Performance
Stonehouse enters the 2025 season with the Miami Dolphins following his departure from the Tennessee Titans. After four seasons with the Titans organization, including his historic rookie year and recovery from a significant leg injury in 2023, Stonehouse brings his record-setting abilities to a new team. His addition to the Dolphins gives Miami one of the most powerful legs in the NFL, and his consistency in averaging over 50 yards per punt throughout his career makes him a valuable asset for the team’s field position strategy. Stonehouse will look to stay healthy and continue his streak of leading the league in punting average while helping the Dolphins’ special teams unit reach its full potential.