Rick Tuten, a Pro Bowl punter who spent seven seasons with the Seahawks, passed away this week at the age of 52.
Known during his playing days as "Bootin' Tuten," Tuten enjoyed a 10-year career in the NFL, including seven years in Seattle from 1991 through 1997. Tuten led the NFL with a 45.0 yard-per-punt average in 1995, and twice led the league in total punting yards. He earned Pro-Bowl honors in 1994, and Tuten later earned a Super Bowl ring with the St. Louis Rams in his final season in the NFL.
Tuten finished his career as the Seahawks leader in total punts (607), highest punting average (43.8) and punts inside the 20 (147), marks that have since all been topped by current punter Jon Ryan. Tuten was the Seahawks' Man of the Year in 1997, and was named the punter on the Seahawks' 35th Anniversary team in 2011.
"It's a good thing I could punt, because you could have timed me (in the 40-yard dash) with a calendar," Tuten once said. "I was born to punt, because I sure wasn't born to run."
Tuten is survived by his wife, Jennifer, son Chase and daughters Kinley and Ryan.
The Seahawks remember Rick Tuten, the former Pro Bowl punter for Seattle who passed away this week.
Seattle Seahawks punter Rick Tuten (14) is seen in action during an NFL game against the New England Patriots Sept. 19, 1993, in Foxborough, Mass. (Allen Kee via AP)
Seattle Seahawks punter Rick Tuten (14) punts the ball during the NFL Pro Bowl, a 41-13 AFC victory on February 5, 1995, at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. (AP Photo/NFL Photos)
