Tommy Townsend becomes the first KC Chiefs punter to garner this notable NFL award

Chiefs punter Tommy Townsend turned his November performances into an NFL award.

The NFL on Thursday announced that Townsend is the AFC special teams player of the month.

The Chiefs’ second-year pro amassed 10 punts last month, averaging a healthy 54.9 yards (50.7 net) per attempt. Six of the 10 punts, including a long of 68 yards, were placed an opponent’s 20-yard line to help flip field position in the Chiefs’ favor.

“Really, really great news this morning hearing that,” Chiefs special teams coordinator Dave Toub said Thursday. “Well-deserved.

“I mean, when you go back and look at the month he had, it’s by far the best performance by a punter that I’ve ever had as a coach.”

Townsend previously garnered AFC special teams player of the week for his effort against the Green Bay Packers in Week 9. In that game, Townsend landed five of six punts inside Green Bay’s 20-yard line to help the Chiefs secure a 13-7 win.

Thursday’s announcement marked Townsend’s first special teams player of the month award. He is the first Chiefs punter to collect the honor and the first former Tennessee punter to win the award.

Through 11 games this season, Townsend has totaled 26 punts for 1,263 yards, averaging 48.6 yards per attempt.