Adam Podlesh
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Career Summary
Adam Podlesh is a former NFL punter who played four seasons with Jacksonville and three with Chicago.
Jacksonville selected Podlesh from Maryland in the 2007 NFL Draft. He appeared in all 48 games during his three Bears seasons after joining Chicago in 2011.
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Early Life
Podlesh grew up in the Rochester, New York, area.
Jacksonville identified Podlesh as a 2002 graduate of Pittsford Sutherland High School and reported his 2008 induction into the Rochester Jewish Sports Hall of Fame.
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High School
Podlesh attended Pittsford Sutherland High School.
The Jaguars reported that he graduated from Pittsford Sutherland in 2002 before continuing to Maryland and the NFL.
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College Career
Podlesh played college football at Maryland before entering the 2007 NFL Draft.
Jacksonville's draft announcement identified Podlesh as the first Maryland player selected by the Jaguars at that point in franchise history.
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Path to the NFL
Jacksonville selected Podlesh in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft, 101st overall.
He was the highest-drafted punter in Jaguars history at the time. Coach Jack Del Rio said the club expected Podlesh to become its punter immediately.
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NFL Career
Podlesh began his NFL career with Jacksonville and finished with three seasons as Chicago's punter.
The Bears signed him in 2011 after his first four seasons with the Jaguars. He played every game for Chicago from 2011 through 2013 and also held for Robbie Gould's kicks.
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Career Accomplishments
Podlesh ranks third in Bears history in career gross punting average among players with at least 75 punts.
Chicago's 2021 media guide lists him with 238 punts for 10,065 yards and a 42.3-yard gross average from 2011 through 2013. He also placed 34 punts inside the 20 in 2012, tied for third in a Bears season.
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Playing Style
Podlesh was a regular special-teams contributor whose role included punting and holding.
Bears special-teams coordinator Dave Toub described the punter, kicker and long snapper as essential to a good special-teams unit, citing the consistency of Podlesh, Robbie Gould and Patrick Mannelly.
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Legacy
Podlesh's NFL career included a record-setting draft distinction in Jacksonville and lasting placement on Chicago's punting leaderboard.
He was Jacksonville's highest-drafted punter when selected in 2007. His 42.3-yard Bears career gross average remains third in club history among qualifying punters.
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Post-Career
Podlesh put his NFL career on hold in 2014 to support his wife and newborn son after a medical emergency during childbirth.
Chicago reported that he had signed with Pittsburgh that spring but became a free agent while caring for his family. The report said his wife later recovered sufficiently for him to consider returning to football.
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21657, 00-0025488, 1983-08-11, Adam Podlesh, Adam, Podlesh
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