{{Short description|American football player (born 1990)}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | image = Colton Schmidt.JPG | caption = Schmidt with the Buffalo Bills in 2014 | number = 6 | position = Punter | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|10|27}} | birth_place = Bakersfield, California, U.S. | height_ft = 5 | height_in = 11 | weight_lbs = 218 | high_school = Liberty (Bakersfield) | college = UC Davis | undraftedyear = 2013 | pastteams = * San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2013}})* * Cleveland Browns ({{NFL year|2013}})* * San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|2014}})* * Buffalo Bills ({{NFL Year|2014}}–{{NFL Year|2018}}) * Birmingham Iron ({{AAF Year|2019}}) * Los Angeles Wildcats ({{XFL Year|2020}}) | status = | statlabel1 = Punts | statvalue1 = 338 | statlabel2 = Punt yards | statvalue2 = 14,882 | statlabel3 = Punt average | statvalue3 = 44.0 | statlabel4 = Longest punt | statvalue4 = 67 | statlabel5 = Inside 20 | statvalue5 = 105 | pfr = SchmCo00 }}
'''Colton Schmidt''' (born October 27, 1990) is an American former professional football player who was a punter for five seasons with the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL) from 2014 to 2018. He played college football for the UC Davis Aggies before signing with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent in 2013.
Schmidt was cut by the 49ers during the 2013 preseason and was soon signed by the Cleveland Browns, but was cut again before the start of the regular season. He had another offseason stint with the 49ers in 2014 before signing with the Bills prior to the start of the regular season. After being released by the Bills in 2018, Schmidt spent the next two years with the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football (AAF) and the Los Angeles Wildcats of the XFL, respectively.
==Professional career==
===San Francisco 49ers (first stint)=== Schmidt signed with the San Francisco 49ers as an undrafted free agent, following the 2013 NFL draft, on July 15, 2013.<ref name="49ers 2013">{{cite web|work=49ers.com|url=http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Sign-Schmidt-Waive-Martin/8d85c439-08b2-40f3-8338-8ff0e6b92d5d|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160126082820/http://www.49ers.com/news/article-2/49ers-Sign-Schmidt-Waive-Martin/8d85c439-08b2-40f3-8338-8ff0e6b92d5d|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 26, 2016|title=49ers Sign Schmidt, Waive Martin|date= August 6, 2013|accessdate=January 9, 2016}}</ref> He was waived on August 2, but re-signed with the team on a three-year contract four days later.<ref name= "49ers 2013"/> He was cut by the team after the third preseason game of 2013.<ref name="sbnation">{{cite web|url=http://www.ninersnation.com/2013/8/26/4661176/nfl-roster-cuts-49ers-roster-cuts-al-netter-joe-holland-dj-harper|title=NFL Roster cuts: 49ers begin roster cuts|date=August 26, 2013 |publisher=SBnation|accessdate=August 31, 2014}}</ref>
===Cleveland Browns=== Schmidt was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns.<ref>{{cite web|title=Browns Claim P Colton Schmidt, OLB Paul Hazel Off Waivers|date=August 27, 2013 |url=http://www.dawgsbynature.com/2013/8/27/4665580/browns-claim-p-colton-schmidt-olb-paul-hazel-off-waivers|publisher=SBnation.com|accessdate=August 31, 2014}}</ref> He did not make the roster and was waived by the team during final roster cuts. thumb|left|Schmidt with the Bills in 2015
===San Francisco 49ers (second stint)=== Schmidt was signed by the 49ers for the second time on January 7, 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ninercaphell.com/2014/01/07/49ers-reportedly-sign-ss-d-j-campbell-and-p-colton-schmidt-to-reservefuture-deals/|title=49ERS REPORTEDLY SIGN SS D.J. CAMPBELL, AND P COLTON SCHMIDT TO RESERVE/FUTURE DEALS|accessdate=August 31, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190114100509/http://ninercaphell.com/2014/01/07/49ers-reportedly-sign-ss-d-j-campbell-and-p-colton-schmidt-to-reservefuture-deals/|archive-date=January 14, 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was released by the team on August 26, 2014.<ref name="foxsports">{{cite web|url=http://fox40.com/2014/08/26/49ers-cut-roster-to-75-trimmed-to-53-by-saturday/|title=49ers Cut Roster to 75|publisher=fox40.com|accessdate=August 31, 2014}}</ref>
===Buffalo Bills=== On August 30, 2014, Schmidt was signed by the Buffalo Bills.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bills sign P Colton Schmidt|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-sign-P-Colton-Schmidt/2c20c6c0-7aa9-4416-85c7-ff8ef0114fda|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161126132412/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-sign-P-Colton-Schmidt/2c20c6c0-7aa9-4416-85c7-ff8ef0114fda|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 26, 2016|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=August 30, 2014|accessdate=November 25, 2016}}</ref> Schmidt was signed to handle punting duties, while Jordan Gay was signed as a kickoff specialist.
On January 4, 2016, the Bills signed Schmidt to a contract extension.<ref>{{cite news|work=NBCSports.com|url=http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2016/01/04/bills-extend-four-sign-seven-to-futures-contracts/|title=Bills extend four, sign seven to futures contracts|first=Zac|last=Jackson |date=January 4, 2016|accessdate=January 9, 2016}}</ref>
After initially not being tendered an offer as a restricted free agent after the 2016 season, on March 8, 2017, Schmidt re-signed with the Bills.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bills agree to terms with Colton Schmidt|url=http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-agree-to-terms-with-Colton-Schmidt-/dbd9bc96-defe-4b2e-a9f4-a866e3fa715a|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713193339/http://www.buffalobills.com/news/article-1/Bills-agree-to-terms-with-Colton-Schmidt-/dbd9bc96-defe-4b2e-a9f4-a866e3fa715a|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 13, 2017|author=Brown, Chris|website=BuffaloBills.com|date=March 8, 2017}}</ref>
On September 2, 2018, Schmidt was released by the Bills after the team claimed Corey Bojorquez off waivers.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Chris |date=September 2, 2018 |title=Bills awarded claim for CB Ryan Lewis and P Corey Bojorquez |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-awarded-claim-for-cb-ryan-lewis-and-p-corey-bojorquez |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=BuffaloBills.com}}</ref> He was re-signed by the Bills on October 31 after Bojorquez was placed on injured reserve.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Chris |date=October 31, 2018 |title=Bills sign QB Matt Barkley, re-sign P Colton Schmidt |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-qb-matt-barkley-re-sign-p-colton-schmidt |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=BuffaloBills.com}}</ref> On November 27, 2018, the Bills released Schmidt again to sign Matt Darr.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Chris |date=November 27, 2018 |title=Bills sign punter Matt Darr |url=https://www.buffalobills.com/news/bills-sign-punter-matt-darr |access-date=2025-07-22 |website=BuffaloBills.com}}</ref>
===Birmingham Iron=== Schmidt signed with the Birmingham Iron of the Alliance of American Football on January 9, 2019.<ref>{{cite news |title=Birmingham Iron Daily Report |url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/birmingham-iron-daily-report/n-5436498 |website=oursportscentral.com |date=January 10, 2019 |accessdate=2019-02-12}}</ref> After a week 3 game against the Atlanta Legends where he averaged 49.2 gross yards on 5 punts, Schmidt was named the AAF special teams player of the week.<ref>{{cite web|title=San Diego RB Ja'Quan Gardner, San Diego LB A.J. Tarpley and Birmingham P Colton Schmidt Earn Week Three Honors|url=https://www.oursportscentral.com/services/releases/san-diego-rb-jaquan-gardner-san-diego-lb-a-j-tarpley-and-birmingham-p-colton-schmidt-earn-week-three-honors/n-5452386|date=February 26, 2019|accessdate=February 26, 2019|website=oursportscentral.com}}</ref> The league ceased operations in April 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Rothstein |first1=Michael |last2=Wickersham |first2=Seth |date=June 13, 2019 |title=Inside the short, unhappy life of the Alliance of American Football |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/26957796/inside-short-unhappy-life-alliance-american-football |access-date=January 9, 2024 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref>
===Los Angeles Wildcats=== In October 2019, Schmidt was selected by the Los Angeles Wildcats in the 2020 XFL draft's open phase.<ref>{{cite web|last=Talbot|first=Damond|url=https://www.nfldraftdiamonds.com/2019/10/xfl-draft-8/|title=XFL Draft Phase 5: The Final Rounds of the Draft, Find out who was selected|publisher=NFL Draft Diamonds|date=October 16, 2019|accessdate=October 22, 2019}}</ref> He was placed on injured reserve before the start of the regular season on February 6, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=XFL Injured Reserve |url=https://www.xfl.com/en-US/xfl-injured-reserve |website=XFL.com |accessdate=February 7, 2020}}</ref> He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.<ref>{{cite news |author=Condotta, Bob |title=XFL suspends operations, terminates all employees, but Jim Zorn says he has hopes league will continue |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/xfl-suspends-operations-terminates-all-employees/ |website=SeattleTimes.com |date=April 10, 2020 |accessdate=July 17, 2020}}</ref>
==NFL career statistics== {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible mw-collapsed" ! colspan="2"| Legend |- | '''Bold''' | Career high |}
=== Regular season === {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="10"| Punting |- ! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! Punts !! {{abbr|Yds|Yards}} !! {{Nowrap|Net Yds}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest punt}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Average}} !! {{Nowrap|Net Avg}} !! {{abbr|Blk|Blocked punts}} !! {{abbr|Ins20|Inside 20 yard line}} !! {{abbr|TB|Touchbacks}} |- ! 2014 !! BUF | '''16''' || '''86''' || 3,692 || 3,326 || '''67''' || 42.9 || 38.7 || 0 || '''31''' || '''6''' |- ! 2015 !! BUF | '''16''' || 82 || '''3,802''' || '''3,384''' || 65 || '''46.4''' || '''41.3''' || 0 || 22 || 3 |- ! 2016 !! BUF | '''16''' || 75 || 3,183 || 2,861 || 58 || 42.4 || 38.1 || 0 || 20 || 3 |- ! 2017 !! BUF | '''16''' || 79 || 3,529 || 3,199 || 60 || 44.7 || 40.5 || 0 || 28 || '''6''' |- ! 2018 !! BUF | 3 || 16 || 676 || 540 || 55 || 42.3 || 33.8 || 0 || 4 || 2 |- ! colspan="2"| Career !! 67 !! 338 !! 14,882 !! 13,310 !! 67 !! 44.0 !! 39.4 !! 0 !! 105 !! 20 |}
=== Playoffs === {| class=wikitable style="text-align:center;" |- ! rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Team ! colspan="10"| Punting |- ! {{abbr|GP|Games played}} !! Punts !! {{abbr|Yds|Yards}} !! {{Nowrap|Net Yds}} !! {{abbr|Lng|Longest punt}} !! {{abbr|Avg|Average}} !! {{Nowrap|Net Avg}} !! {{abbr|Blk|Blocked punts}} !! {{abbr|Ins20|Inside 20 yard line}} !! {{abbr|TB|Touchbacks}} |- ! 2017 !! BUF | '''1''' || '''8''' || '''347''' || '''325''' || '''55''' || '''43.4''' || '''40.6''' || 0 || '''5''' || 0 |- ! colspan="2"| Career !! 1 !! 8 !! 347 !! 325 !! 55 !! 43.4 !! 40.6 !! 0 !! 5 !! 0 |}
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schmidt, Colton}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Bakersfield, California Category:American football punters Category:UC Davis Aggies football players Category:San Francisco 49ers players Category:Cleveland Browns players Category:Buffalo Bills players Category:Birmingham Iron players Category:Los Angeles Wildcats (XFL) players Category:Liberty High School (Bakersfield, California) alumni