Jamie Gillan
![]() Gillan in 2019 | |||||||||
No. 8 – Buffalo Bills | |||||||||
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Position: | Punter | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Inverness, Scotland | 4 July 1997||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 207 lb (94 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Leonardtown High School (Leonardtown, Maryland) | ||||||||
College: | Arkansas–Pine Bluff | ||||||||
Undrafted: | 2019 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
Roster status: | Practice squad | ||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
Career NFL statistics as of Week 12, 2021 | |||||||||
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Player stats at NFL.com |
Jamie Gillan (born 4 July 1997), nicknamed the Scottish Hammer, is a Scottish professional American football punter for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He has played in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns.
Early years[]
Originally from Inverness, Gillan first played for Highland Rugby Club, before attending and playing rugby for Merchiston Castle School in Edinburgh. In 2013, he moved to Leonardtown, Maryland, where his father was stationed as a member of the Royal Air Force, and Gillan began playing American football in high school there.[1] He then went on to play college football at Arkansas–Pine Bluff,[2] receiving the scholarship offer through a Facebook invitation.[3] Across his four years at Arkansas–Pine Bluff, Gillan had a total of 9,024 yards on 214 punts and average of 42.2 yards per punt.[4] During a pre-draft workout, he reportedly popped three regulation-size NFL footballs.[5]
Professional career[]
Cleveland Browns[]
After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft, Gillan signed with the Cleveland Browns.[6] In the team's second 2019 preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts, Gillan blasted a 74-yard punt.[7] On August 31, 2019, he was named the starting punter for the Cleveland Browns over veteran Britton Colquitt.
In Week 2, Gillan punted six times, five landing inside the 20 with a long of 47 in a 23–3 win over the New York Jets, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. After having 11 punts inside the 20 and only allowing 19 punt return yards Gillan was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in September.[8] In Week 5, Jamie Gillan punted 7 times for 397 yards including a 71-yard punt that set a career long for Gillan. Gillan ended his rookie season with 63 punts for 2913 yards (2622 net yards) with 28 punts downed inside the 20 yard line which earned him a spot on the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team.
Gillan was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the Browns on July 30, 2020,[9] and activated from the list four days later.[10]
Gillan was waived by the Browns on December 22, 2021.[11]
Buffalo Bills[]
On December 24, 2021, Gillan was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad.[12]
Personal life[]
Gillan is nicknamed "The Scottish Hammer."[13]
References[]
- ^ D'Andrea, Christian (6 May 2019). "'Scottish Hammer' tells us all about his wild journey to the NFL". SBNation.com. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "Jamie Gillan – Football". UA Pine Bluff Athletics. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ Grossi, Tony (4 May 2019). "The legend of the Scottish Hammer precedes punting prospect Jamie Gillan to Browns rookie camp". ESPN.com. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ Forbes, Greg (22 February 2019). "Path To The Draft: An Interview With The "Scottish Hammer" Jamie Gillan". Ninety-Nine Yards: American Football for UK fans. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ Withers, Tom. "Great scot: Browns rookie punter has Scottish heritage". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "#NFLGOLDENLION: Jamie Gillan Signs with Cleveland Browns as Undrafted Free Agent". UA Pine Bluff Athletics. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "Gillan Drills 74-Yard Punt In Browns' Preseason Win". UA Pine Bluff Athletics. 17 August 2019. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
- ^ "Patrick Mahomes, Russell Wilson among Players of the Week". NFL.com. 18 September 2019. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- ^ "Browns place P Jamie Gillan on Reserve/COVID-19 list". ClevelandBrowns.com. 30 July 2020. Retrieved 30 July 2020.
- ^ "Browns make roster moves". ClevelandBrowns.com. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 3 August 2020.
- ^ "Browns activate TE Austin Hooper, LB Jacob Phillips and make other roster moves". ClevelandBrowns.com. 22 December 2021.
- ^ "Bills elevate WR Isaiah Hodgins and OL Bobby Hart for Bills at Patriots | Week 16". BuffaloBills.com. 24 December 2021.
- ^ Stubbs, Roman (22 September 2019). "The Scottish Hammer: How Jamie Gillan went from Scotland to an HBCU to Browns rookie standout". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
- Living people
- American football punters
- Cleveland Browns players
- Sportspeople from Inverness
- Scottish athletes
- Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions football players
- 1997 births
- Scottish players of American football
- Buffalo Bills players
- Scottish sportspeople stubs
- American football punter stubs