Sean Edward Landeta (born January 6, 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland) is a former American football punter who played in both the United States Football League and the National Football League. Landeta was named to the 1990s All-Decade Team, as chosen by the Hall of Fame Selection Committee members.[1]
Landeta played almost half of his career for the New York Giants, where he won two championship rings in Super Bowl XXI and Super Bowl XXV. Landeta led the NFL with a 37.8 net average in 1989, and led the league with 24 punts inside the 20 in 1990. Before his pro career, he played college football at Towson University.
Landeta was the last active NFL player who played in the United States Football League of the 1980s, punting for the Philadelphia Stars in all three USFL seasons. Landeta was also the last active player who appeared in the popular 1988 NES video game Tecmo Bowl and the last active player of the New York Giants 1986 and 1990 Super Bowl teams.
By the end of the 2005 season, Landeta had amassed 1,401 punts for 60,707 yards (43.3 yards per punt average), with 381 punts in the 20 and 166 touchbacks and a 35.3 net yard average. His punts, punting yards, and punts landing inside the 20 are all among the NFL's top five leaders in each category.
On December 2, 2006, the New York Giants signed Landeta as an insurance policy when punter Jeff Feagles developed a sore right knee.[2] Landeta was assigned jersey number 5—the same number he wore during his first tenure with the Giants. He appeared on the sidelines against the Dallas Cowboys on December 3, as Feagles appeared in his 300th NFL game, but Landeta remained inactive, and was released on December 6.
On March 6, 2008, the 25th anniversary of the first USFL game, Landeta officially announced his retirement from football. He became the last USFL player to retire from professional football.
Landeta still does a lot of work with the Eagles and Giants organization's appearing at many pre-season and regular season functions as an alumnus of both NFL teams.
[edit] High school career
Landeta grew up in Maryland. At Loch Raven High School in Towson, Maryland, Landeta was an All-City and All-Metro punter in his only season (1978). He first began playing organized football as a high school senior.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
