HOUSTON – The Houston Texans have signed P Shane Lechler to a contract extension. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
In 2017, Lechler punted 92 times for 4,507 yards (49.0 avg., 41.3 net) while pinning 32 punts inside of the 20-yard line. Lechler led the NFL in punting yards (4,507), finished second in both net punting yards (3,799) and punting average (49.0) and ranked tied for third in total punts (92). He also tied for second in the NFL by producing six games with a punting average of 50.0-or-more yards per punt. Since joining the Texans in 2013, Lechler has totaled 430 punts for 20,463 yards (47.6 avg., 39.8 net), pinning 147 punts inside the 20-yard line. He holds franchise records for punting average in a career (47.6), single season (49.0 in 2017) and single game (58.9 on 11/10/13 and 58.5 on 9/24/17).
Lechler is an 18-year NFL veteran having spent the first 13 years of his career with the Oakland Raiders after being selected in the fifth round (142nd overall) of the 2000 NFL Draft. He is a six-time Associated Press First Team All-Pro selection (2000, 2003, 2004, 2008–2010), three-time Second Team All-Pro selection (2001, 2007, 2011) and seven-time Pro Bowl selection (2001, 2004, 2007–2011). In 286 career games played, Lechler ranks first in NFL history in career punting average (47.6), second in punting yards (68,678), second in punts inside the 20 (469), second in net punting yards (56,685) and second in punts (1,444).
