Michael Albert Palardy Bio
Michael Albert Palardy (born July 6, 1992) is an American professional football punter who has played in the National Football League since 2014. He played college football for the University of Tennessee Volunteers, where he served as both placekicker and punter. After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Palardy signed with the Oakland Raiders and has since built a journeyman career with multiple NFL franchises. His career has spanned more than a decade, establishing him as a reliable option at the punter position across various teams.
Early Life and Background
Michael Albert Palardy was born on July 6, 1992, in Margate, Florida, USA. He attended St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where he played high school football. His performance at St. Thomas Aquinas earned him a three-star prospect rating from Rivals.com, indicating moderate collegiate interest from major football programs.
At St. Thomas Aquinas, Palardy developed the skills that would define his future career as a specialist. The high school has a strong football tradition and has produced numerous collegiate and professional athletes. His experience there provided a solid foundation for the next level of competition.
College Career at Tennessee
Palardy continued his football career at the University of Tennessee, where he played for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2010 to 2013. He played under head coaches Derek Dooley and Butch Jones during his collegiate years. At Tennessee, Palardy served dual roles as both the placekicker and punter for the Volunteers.
As a freshman in 2010, he converted 13 of 14 extra point attempts and 5 of 7 field goal attempts while also handling punting duties with four punts for 157 yards averaging 39.3 yards per punt. His sophomore season in 2011 saw him improve to 25 of 26 extra point attempts and 9 of 14 field goal attempts with 14 punts for 515 net yards.
His junior year in 2012 showed continued development with 37 of 40 extra point attempts and 9 of 12 field goal attempts along with 36 punts for 1,551 net yards at a 43.1 average. The highlight of his collegiate career came on October 19, 2013, when he hit a game-winning 19-yard field goal as time expired against the No. 11 South Carolina Gamecocks, giving the Volunteers their first win over a ranked opponent in several years.
As a senior in 2013, Palardy earned Second-team All-SEC honors after converting 34 of 35 extra point attempts and 14 of 17 field goal attempts. His consistent performance throughout his college career demonstrated his reliability as a special teams weapon.
Michael Albert Palardy Professional Career
Early Career (2014–2015)
After going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft, Palardy signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent on June 5, 2014. He was waived by the Raiders on August 7, 2014, but was later signed to their practice squad on December 24, 2014. This pattern of being signed and waived would become a recurring theme in his early professional career.
On January 6, 2015, Palardy was signed by the St. Louis Rams. He was waived by the Rams on September 1, 2015. Seeking opportunities, he signed with the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League on September 19, 2015. He played in one game for the Argonauts, punting six times and scoring one rouge. He was released by Toronto on March 30, 2016.
League Journeyman Years (2016)
The 2016 season became a remarkable chapter in Palardy’s career as he moved through multiple teams in rapid succession. On April 4, 2016, he was signed by the Carolina Panthers but was waived on June 7. He then joined the Baltimore Ravens on July 30, only to be released three days later on August 3.
Palardy signed with the Indianapolis Colts on August 6, 2016, and was waived on August 15. He then joined the Cleveland Browns on August 30, was waived on September 3, signed to their practice squad, and released again on September 22. Finally, he was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad on October 4, only to be waived on October 11. This series of transactions demonstrated the challenging nature of maintaining an NFL roster spot as a specialist.
Carolina Panthers Breakthrough (2016–2020)
Palardy’s persistence paid off when he was signed by the Carolina Panthers on November 14, 2016, after Andy Lee was placed on injured reserve. He made his NFL debut against the New Orleans Saints in Week 11, recording six punts for 280 net yards for a 46.67 average. Overall in the 2016 season, he finished with 36 punts for 1,531 net yards for a 42.53 average.
In 2017, Palardy won the Panthers’ punting job after the team released Andy Lee during final roster cuts. He had 71 punts for 3,268 net yards for a 46.03 average that season. On April 16, 2018, he signed his exclusive rights tender to stay with the Panthers. On October 2, 2018, Palardy signed a three-year contract extension through the 2021 season. His 2018 season included 61 punts with a 45.23 average, and his 2019 season saw 75 punts with a 46.03 average.
On July 28, 2020, Palardy was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list after suffering a torn ACL in the offseason. He was also placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on December 7, 2020. He was released by the Panthers on February 19, 2021, ending his four-year tenure with the organization.
Later NFL Stints (2021–Present)
Palardy signed with the Miami Dolphins on March 15, 2021. In Week 13 of the 2021 season, he had six punts with a long of 65 yards, including three landing inside the 20-yard line in a 20-9 win over the New York Giants. This performance earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. Overall in 2021, he had 78 punts with a 44.73 average.
On October 27, 2022, Palardy worked out for the New England Patriots following a poor performance from Jake Bailey. He signed to the Patriots’ practice squad on November 1, 2022, and was promoted to the active roster on November 19 after Bailey was injured. He appeared in eight games for the Patriots in the 2022 season, having 42 punts with a 42.40 average.
On August 20, 2023, Palardy signed with the Washington Commanders but was released three days later. On December 11, 2024, he signed with the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. On December 18, 2024, he was signed to the Cardinals’ active roster, marking his return to an NFL active roster.
Playing Style and Strengths
Palardy has established himself as a consistent punter with particular strength in pinning opponents inside the 20-yard line. His career statistics show 128 punts landing inside the 20, demonstrating his ability to execute directional punting and help his teams’ field position battles. His longest recorded punt is 65 yards, showing he has the leg strength to flip the field when needed.
Michael Albert Palardy Career Statistics
Throughout his NFL career spanning multiple teams, Palardy has accumulated impressive statistics as a punter. His career totals reflect his reliability and consistency at the specialist position across nine seasons.
As of the 2023 NFL season, Palardy has recorded 363 career punts for 16,281 punting yards with a 44.9-yard average. His longest punt traveled 65 yards, and he has 128 punts that landed inside the 20-yard line. These numbers highlight his dual ability to boom punts for distance while also demonstrating the finesse to place kicks strategically.
NFL Career Highlights
His most notable performance came during the 2021 season with the Miami Dolphins when he earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. His career with the Carolina Panthers from 2017 to 2020 represented his most sustained NFL success, including a three-year contract extension. The 2017 season was particularly significant as he won the starting punter job outright during training camp.
| Season | Team | Punts | Yards | Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Carolina Panthers | 36 | 1,531 | 42.5 |
| 2017 | Carolina Panthers | 71 | 3,268 | 46.0 |
| 2018 | Carolina Panthers | 61 | 2,759 | 45.2 |
| 2019 | Carolina Panthers | 75 | 3,452 | 46.0 |
| 2021 | Miami Dolphins | 78 | 3,489 | 44.7 |
| 2022 | New England Patriots | 42 | 1,781 | 42.4 |
Michael Albert Palardy Family
Family Background
While Palardy was teammates with fellow kicker Justin Palardy during his time with the Toronto Argonauts, the two are not related despite sharing the same surname. His family background remains largely private, with limited public information available about his parents or extended family.
Personal Life
Palardy maintains an active presence on social media, with an Instagram account at @michaelpalardy5. He signed with Athletes Untapped as a private football coach on April 18, 2024, indicating his commitment to mentoring other players. Information regarding his marital status, spouse, or children has not been made publicly available.
2025 Season Outlook
Michael Albert Palardy enters the 2025 season with the Arizona Cardinals after joining their organization in December 2024. At 32 years old, he brings over a decade of professional experience to a Cardinals special teams unit. His career has demonstrated remarkable resilience, having played for 12 different NFL teams before joining Arizona.
The Cardinals signed Palardy to their active roster in late 2024, suggesting they view him as a viable option for their punting duties. His track record of being able to step in and perform immediately after joining teams could prove valuable for a franchise looking to stabilize its special teams play. His career average of 44.9 yards per punt remains competitive in the league.
Looking ahead, Palardy’s ability to continue his NFL career will depend on his performance with the Cardinals during the 2025 season. His experience as both a punter and placekicker in college gives him versatility that could appeal to teams seeking special teams flexibility. The 2025 season represents another opportunity for the veteran specialist to extend his professional career and contribute to an NFL roster.