Thomas Edward Skladany (born June 29, 1955) is an American former professional football player who was a punter in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Detroit Lions. He played college football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. A three-time first-team All-American, he is widely considered to be, along with Ray Guy, one of the two greatest punters in college history. He was the first special teams player to receive a Big-10 scholarship when he went to play for Woody Hayes’ Ohio State Buckeyes in 1973. He made sports history a second time when he held out the 1977 season with the Cleveland Browns after being drafted in the second round.
Collected via trade July 22, 2024
Teams Played for
- Ohio State Buckeyes
- Detroit Lions
- Philadelphia Eagles
Stats
- Games: 61
- Punts: 295
- Yards: 12,425
- Return Yards: 1,443
- Net Yards: 10,482
- Touch Backs: 25
- Career Long: Tom Skladany kicked a career-long 74-yard punt during the Detroit Lions 16-0 win hosting the Oakland Raiders on September 27, 1981 at the Silverdome in Pontiac Michigan.
Transactions
- May 3, 1977
- Drafted in the second-round as the #46 overall draft pick by the Cleveland Browns. Skladany would set out the entire 1977 season in.a contract dispute.
- April 25, 1978
- Browns attempt to trade Skladany to the Los Angeles Rams, but trade was voided when Skladany would not sign with Rams.)
- April 27, 1978
- Traded by Cleveland Browns to Detroit Lions
- Browns received a 1978 3rd Round pick (67th overall used on Larry Collins) and a 1979 7th round pick (175th overall used on Jack Matia)
- Traded by Cleveland Browns to Detroit Lions
- September 16, 1983
- Released by the Lions.
- Subsequently signed by Philadelphia Eagles.
- October 25, 1983
- Released by the Eagles after sustaining a back injury. 1
Awards and Honors
- First-team All-American (1974, ’75, & ’76)
- First-team All-Big Ten (1975 & ’76)
- Second Round Draft Pick (1977)
- First-Team All-Pro (1978 & ’81)
- PFWA All-Rookie Team (1978)
- Pro Bowl (1981)
- Ohio State Athletics Hall of Fame (1991)
- President of the NFL Alumni Association of Ohio (1989-2013)