Corliss Leendert Waitman Bio
Corliss Leendert Waitman is a Belgian-American professional football punter who currently plays for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). Born in Ghent, Belgium, on 21 July 1995, Waitman grew up in the Netherlands before moving to the United States at age 15. He played college football for the South Alabama Jaguars from 2014 to 2018 and earned First-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2017. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, Waitman signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers and has since become one of the more traveled punters in the league, also playing for the Las Vegas Raiders, New England Patriots, Denver Broncos, and Chicago Bears before joining the 49ers in 2026. Throughout his NFL career, Waitman has demonstrated consistency as a punter, accumulating over 10,000 punting yards and averaging 46.4 yards per punt.
Early Life and Background
Waitman was born in Ghent, Belgium, to José Waitman, a professional basketball player who was playing in Belgium at the time of his son’s birth. His mother’s family hails from Suriname. The family relocated to the Netherlands, where Waitman spent his formative childhood years. At age 15, Waitman moved to the United States to join his father, settling in Milton, Florida. The transition from European soccer to American football occurred during his high school years, a common path for athletes from international backgrounds.
Waitman attended Milton High School in Milton, Florida, where he made the switch from soccer to football. The change required significant adjustment, as the techniques and skills needed for punting differ substantially from soccer. However, his athletic background provided a strong foundation. During his high school career, Waitman developed into a notable punter, attracting attention from college programs. He is fluent in both Dutch and English, reflecting his multicultural upbringing across Belgium, the Netherlands, and the United States.
Path to Professional Football
Waitman’s journey to the NFL began at the University of South Alabama, where he played for the South Alabama Jaguars from 2014 to 2018. His performance as a punter during his college career caught the attention of NFL scouts, particularly his consistency and leg strength. In 2017, Waitman achieved the notable distinction of being named First-team All-Sun Belt, recognizing him as one of the top punters in the conference.
Following his graduation from South Alabama, Waitman transferred to Mississippi State University in February 2019. However, the NCAA denied his request for an additional year of eligibility, preventing him from playing college football during the 2019 season. This setback led Waitman to enter the 2020 NFL Draft, where he went undrafted despite generating interest from several teams. His path to the NFL would come through the undrafted free agent route, a common trajectory for specialists seeking roster spots.
Corliss Leendert Waitman Career
Early Career (2020)
Waitman signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent on 28 April 2020, earning an opportunity to compete for a roster spot. His tenure with the Steelers began with a brief stint during the 2020 season. He was waived on 5 September 2020 but was re-signed to the practice squad, demonstrating the challenging nature of making an NFL roster as an undrafted rookie. The experience of navigating roster fluctuations early in his career would prove valuable for his future in the league.
Waitman signed a reserve/future contract with the Steelers on 14 January 2021, signaling the team’s interest in retaining him for the following season. However, he was waived on 3 May 2021, continuing the pattern of roster uncertainty that characterized his early professional career. This period tested his resilience and adaptability, qualities that would define his journeyman path through the NFL.
League Journey (2021–2023)
On 26 July 2021, Waitman signed with the Las Vegas Raiders, providing him with an opportunity to compete for a spot on their roster. Unfortunately, his time with the Raiders proved brief, as he was waived on 23 August 2021 before the regular season began. The early release underscored the competitive nature of NFL rosters and the challenges faced by specialists in earning consistent opportunities.
Waitman joined the New England Patriots on 23 November 2021, signing to their practice squad. His stint with the Patriots was short-lived, as he was signed by the Steelers off the Patriots practice squad on 25 December 2021. This move came when Steelers punter Pressley Harvin III took bereavement leave, creating an opening. Waitman made his NFL debut in the team’s Week 16 loss against the Kansas City Chiefs on 26 December 2021, marking a significant milestone in his professional career. He was waived by the Steelers on 15 January 2022.
Denver Broncos Breakthrough (2022)
On 17 January 2022, Waitman was claimed off waivers by the Denver Broncos, providing him with a fresh opportunity. He also received recognition internationally when he was drafted by the Edmonton Elks in the third round (20th overall) of the 2022 CFL Global Draft, though he never played in the Canadian Football League. On 29 August 2022, Waitman was named the Broncos’ starting punter after veteran punter Sam Martin was released, giving him his first real opportunity as a team’s primary punter.
His breakout performance came in Week 3 of the 2022 season against the San Francisco 49ers. Waitman punted 10 times, with six of those punts landing inside the 20-yard line, in an 11–10 victory. This exceptional performance earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, validating his abilities at the highest level of professional football. The game showcased his precision and ability to flip the field, skills that had been developing throughout his college and early professional career.
Continued Journeyman Years (2023–2024)
On 23 March 2023, Waitman signed with the New England Patriots, returning to the franchise for a second stint. The signing came after the Patriots released Jake Bailey, creating an opportunity. However, Waitman was released on 28 August 2023 and re-signed to the practice squad before being released again on 4 October 2023. The roster instability continued for Waitman, who had yet to establish himself as a long-term solution at punter for any team.
On 9 January 2024, Waitman signed a reserve/futures contract with the Chicago Bears, joining another franchise. He was waived on 27 August 2024, continuing the pattern of short tenures. However, his fortunes changed when he signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on 9 September 2024 following a season-ending injury to Cameron Johnston. This marked his third stint with the Steelers, a testament to the team’s confidence in his abilities when called upon.
Pittsburgh Steelers Return (2024–2025)
Waitman’s return to Pittsburgh in September 2024 marked a significant chapter in his career. During the 2024 season, he punted 65 times and averaged 46.4 yards per punt, consistent with his career norms. Notably, he placed 27 punts inside the 20-yard line, demonstrating his ability to pin opposing offenses deep in their territory. His longest punt of the season came against division rivals the Baltimore Ravens, a 71-yard kick in a game the Steelers narrowly won 18–16.
The 2024 season culminated in Waitman’s postseason debut during the Steelers’ 28–14 loss to the Ravens on 11 January 2025. In that playoff game, he punted five times for a combined 257 yards, averaging 51.4 yards per punt. The performance showed his capability in high-pressure situations. Moving into 2025, Waitman returned to the Steelers to compete with Johnston for the punter position during training camp and the team’s preseason games. When Johnston was released on 25 August 2025, Waitman officially became the Steelers’ starting punter for the second consecutive season, solidifying his place on the roster.
Driving Style and Strengths
Waitman’s punting style emphasizes consistency and placement. His ability to pin opposing teams inside their own 20-yard line has become a hallmark of his game. With a career punting average of 46.4 yards and 84 career punts placed inside the 20-yard line, he has proven to be a reliable option for teams seeking field position advantages. His leg strength allows him to boot punts for distance when needed, while his accuracy enables strategic placement for coverage teams.
Notable Events and Milestones
Waitman’s career has been defined by resilience and adaptability. His journey from undrafted free agent to playoff performer spans multiple teams and represents the perseverance required to maintain an NFL career. His AFC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition in 2022 with the Broncos stands as his most notable individual achievement. The 71-yard punt against the Ravens in 2024 showcased his ability to dominate in key divisional matchups.
Corliss Leendert Waitman Career Wins
Throughout his NFL career, Waitman has established himself as a productive punter across multiple franchises. His career statistics include 230 punts for 10,673 yards, averaging 46.4 yards per punt with a long of 71 yards. He has placed 84 punts inside the 20-yard line while recording 15 touchbacks throughout his career.
NFL Highlights
Waitman’s most significant career moment came during his tenure with the Denver Broncos in 2022, when he earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after a 10-punt performance with six inside the 20-yard line against the San Francisco 49ers. This recognition validated his abilities as a starting NFL punter. His consistency has been evident season after season, maintaining averages above 45 yards per punt while consistently placing punts strategically for his coverage teams.
In 2024, Waitman made his postseason debut with the Steelers, performing admirably in a playoff loss to the Ravens with five punts averaging 51.4 yards. The 2025 season saw him earn the starting role with Pittsburgh outright after competing in training camp, marking the first time he entered a season as an unquestioned number-one punter on a roster.
Other Notable Performances
Waitman’s career has featured numerous strong performances across his seven teams. His versatility to adapt to different systems and special teams philosophies has enabled him to remain employed in the NFL despite the inherent instability at the punter position. His ability to perform in various weather conditions and stadium environments has been tested through his travels across the league.
| Season | Team | Punts | Yards | Average | Long | Inside 20 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Career | Multiple | 230 | 10,673 | 46.4 | 71 | 84 |
Corliss Leendert Waitman Family
Family Background and Heritage
Waitman’s family background is notably international and athletic. His father, José Waitman, was a professional basketball player who played in Belgium during Corliss’s early years. This athletic lineage provided Corliss with natural athletic ability and competitive instincts from a young age. The family’s basketball connections in Europe, combined with their Surinamese heritage through his mother’s side, created a diverse multicultural foundation for Waitman’s upbringing.
Personal Life
Waitman grew up speaking Dutch at home and later became fluent in English after moving to the United States at age 15. His international upbringing in Belgium and the Netherlands, combined with his American football career, reflects his adaptability and willingness to embrace new environments. He maintains a presence on Instagram under the handle @cormill, where he shares aspects of his professional and personal life with fans. Details regarding his marital status and children are not publicly available.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season represented a milestone for Waitman as he entered the year as the Pittsburgh Steelers’ unquestioned starting punter. After years of roster volatility and competition for spots, Waitman secured the position outright following Cameron Johnston’s release during final roster cuts in August. The confidence the Steelers organization showed in him validated his persistence throughout a challenging professional journey.
Throughout the 2025 season, Waitman continued his consistent punting performance, maintaining his career averages while demonstrating improved ball placement. His experience from playing with multiple teams provided him with valuable perspective on different special teams philosophies and coaching styles. The rapport he developed with the Steelers’ coverage units contributed to the team’s overall special teams effectiveness.