Americans left stunned by Aussie NFL punter Michael Dickson’s torpedo kick

American NFL fans are baffled by Australian punter Michael Dickson’s unorthodox kicking style.

The 28-year-old Seattle Seahawks star has been wowing the league for years with his unorthodox – and effective – punting skills, stemming from a failed Aussie Rules career; and this weekend he did it again.

During Seattle’s loss to the Packers, Dickson unleashed an almighty torpedo kick that punt returner Jayden Reed had trouble holding on to.

“That was a hard wobbler to catch,” the commentary team noted.

“That was one of those…Australian kicks, right. You swing that kick across your body and it has a wild spin that you don’t see very often.”

Dickson, who grew up in Sydney, has been one of the best punters in the NFL over the past seven seasons.

Teammate Leonard Williams recently commented on the huge impact the Aussie has on games.

“It was an unexpected surprise,” the Seahawks defensive team told the team Seattle Times.

“I don’t think I’ve ever paid too much attention to that position, but because he’s so good at it, it makes you pay more attention to his work.

‘You also notice how much impact he has on the game, which I haven’t noticed before.’

Dickson was a member of the Swans talent academy as a youngster and spent time playing in the club’s reserve team as he looked set to be picked up in the AFL draft.

Fortunately, despite the AFL door closing, an even more exciting window opened.

Dickson and his prodigious right leg were recruited by Pro Kick Australia, with the ex-Sydneysider starring at the University of Texas where he met partner Gianni Outram, a cheerleader.

That was the skill he showed so early, he was drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft, unusually high for gamblers, by Seattle… and the rest was history.

The Australian wanted to make it to the AFL as a youngster, but instead made it big in the NFL with his thunderous kicks

Dickson, pictured with girlfriend Gianni Outram, was drafted in 2018

He made an immediate impact at the NFL level, signing a $21.9 million deal in 2021 to make him the highest-paid punter in the league.

He’s so good that he provided one of the most viral moments of the 2021 season when he put his Aussie Rules background to full use during the iconic ‘Double Punt’ play.

While playing against eventual Super Bowl champions the LA Rams, one of Dickson’s kicks was blocked while deep in his team’s territory.

Instead of just diving for the loose ball to prevent the opponent from taking possession, Dickson drew on his Aussie Rules background, picked it up with one hand and kicked again – something many experts were unsure was legal was – and sent the ball almost 70 meters downhill. the field.

It sent the entire football world wild and has since become an iconic moment; so much so that there are now t-shirts and caps emblazoned with it.