| Current team | Indianapolis Colts |
|---|---|
| Number | 8 |
| Position | Punter / Kickoff specialist |
| Birth date | September 8, 1994 (age 32) |
| Birth place | Chico, California, U.S. |
| Height | 6 ft |
| Height in | 0 |
| Weight lbs | 195 |
| High school | Hamilton Union (Hamilton City, California) |
| College | Butte (2012–2013) Hawaii (2015–2016) |
| Undraftedyear | 2017 |
| Pastteams |
|
| Status | Active |
| Highlights | |
| Statseason | 2025 |
| Statlabel 1 | Punts |
| Statvalue 1 | 481 |
| Statlabel 2 | Punting yards |
| Statvalue 2 | 22,388 |
| Statlabel 3 | Punting average |
| Statlabel 4 | Longest punt |
| Statvalue 4 | 79 |
| Statlabel 5 | Inside 20 |
| Statvalue 5 | 186 |
| Statlabel 6 | Touchbacks |
| Statvalue 6 | 265 |
| Statlabel 7 | Pass attempts |
| Statvalue 7 | 1 |
| Statlabel 8 | Pass completions |
| Statvalue 8 | 1 |
| Statlabel 9 | Passing yards |
| Statvalue 9 | 16 |
| Statlabel 10 | Passer rating |
| Statvalue 10 | 118.8 |
| Pfr | SancRi00 |
Rigoberto Jovany Sanchez (born September 8, 1994) is an American professional football punter and kickoff specialist for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and was signed by the Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2017.
Early life
Sanchez attended and played high school football at Hamilton Union High School in Hamilton City, California.[1]
College career
Sanchez initially played football for Butte College in Oroville, California, located roughly 30 miles southeast of Hamilton City before transferring to the University of Hawaii. While at Hawaii, Sanchez played on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors for the 2015 and 2016 seasons.[2] During the 2015 season, he punted 74 times for 3,335 net yards for a 45.1 average. He handled placekicking duties and converted 23 of 24 extra point attempts and 8 of 11 field goal attempts.[3] In 2016, he punted 70 times for 3,122 net yards for a 44.6 average. He converted 49 of 50 extra point attempts and all 13 field goal attempts.[4]
College statistics
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Punts | Yds | Avg | XPM | XPA | XP% | FGM | FGA | FG% | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Hawaii | MWC | JR | K | 12 | 74 | 3,335 | 45.1 | 23 | 24 | 95.8 | 8 | 11 | 72.7 | 47 |
| 2016 | Hawaii | MWC | SR | PK | 14 | 70 | 3,122 | 44.6 | 49 | 50 | 98.0 | 13 | 13 | 100.0 | 88 |
| Career[2] | Hawaii | 26 | 144 | 6,457 | 44.8 | 72 | 74 | 97.3 | 21 | 24 | 87.5 | 135 |
Professional career
Sanchez was signed by the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2017.[5] He won the Colts' starting punter job as a rookie after beating out veteran Jeff Locke.[6]
On September 10, 2017, Sanchez made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Los Angeles Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. During the 46–9 loss, he punted six times for 302 total yards for a 50.3 average.[7] Sanchez finished his rookie year with 84 punts for 3,764 net yards for a 44.81 average.[8] He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[9]
In the 2018 season, Sanchez had 57 punts for 2,629 net yards for a 46.12 average.[10]
On June 4, 2019, Sanchez signed a four-year, $11.6 million contract extension with the Colts through the 2023 season.[11] In the 2019 season, he had 59 punts with a 44.39 average.[12]
In the 2020 season, Sanchez had 42 punts for a 46.19 average.[13]
In Week 4 of the 2021 season, Sanchez averaged 50 yards per punt on four punts, including two inside the 20, in a 27–17 victory over the Miami Dolphins, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.[14] Three weeks later, Sanchez kicked the longest punt of his career, and in franchise history, 79 yards, in a 30–18 road victory over the San Francisco 49ers. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.[15] Sanchez had 59 punts for a 44.53 average in the 2021 season.[16]
On August 31, 2022, Sanchez was placed on season-ending injured reserve after suffering a torn Achilles.[17]
In the 2023 season, Sanchez punted 68 times for 3,281 total yards for a 48.25 average.[18]
On March 12, 2024, the Colts signed Sanchez to a three-year contract extension.[19] During Week 6, Sanchez punted five times, three inside the 20-yard line and two inside the 10-yard line in a 20–17 win over the Titans, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.[20] He finished the 2024 season with 68 punts for 3,382 yards for a 49.7 average.[21] He finished the 2025 season with 44 punts for 2,146 yards for a 48.8 average.[22]
Career statistics
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
| Year | Team | GP | Punting | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punts | Yds | Lng | Avg | RetY | Net Avg | Blk | Ins20 | |||||||||||||
| 2017 | IND | 16 | 84 | 3,764 | 61 | 44.8 | 80 | 42.6 | 1 | 28 | ||||||||||
| 2018 | IND | 16 | 57 | 2,629 | 63 | 46.1 | 93 | 42.7 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||
| 2019 | IND | 16 | 59 | 2,619 | 60 | 44.4 | 166 | 41.2 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||
| 2020 | IND | 14 | 42 | 1,940 | 60 | 46.2 | 141 | 40.0 | 1 | 18 | ||||||||||
| 2021 | IND | 17 | 59 | 2,627 | 79 | 44.5 | 267 | 39.7 | 0 | 24 | ||||||||||
| 2022 | IND | 0 | Did not play due to injury | |||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | IND | 17 | 68 | 3,281 | 69 | 48.3 | 360 | 43.0 | 0 | 21 | ||||||||||
| 2024 | IND | 17 | 68 | 3,382 | 65 | 49.7 | 406 | 42.6 | 0 | 27 | ||||||||||
| 2025 | IND | 17 | 44 | 2,146 | 59 | 48.8 | 120 | 44.7 | 0 | 22 | ||||||||||
| Career | 130 | 481 | 22,388 | 79 | 46.5 | 1,633 | 42.1 | 2 | 186 | |||||||||||
Postseason
| Year | Team | GP | Punting | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Punts | Yds | Lng | Avg | Blk | Ins20 | |||
| 2018 | IND | 2 | 11 | 486 | 57 | 44.2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | IND | 1 | 2 | 73 | 37 | 36.5 | 0 | 0 |
| Career | 3 | 13 | 559 | 57 | 49.6 | 0 | 0 | |
Colts franchise records
- Longest punt in a game: 79 yards (Week 7, 2021, vs. San Fransisco 49ers)[23]
Personal life
Sanchez grew up playing soccer before joining his high school's football team.[24] He’s of Mexican descent.[25]
Rigoberto met his wife, Cynthia, when they attended junior college together. She grew up in the nearby community of Corning, CA. After receiving blessings from her family, Sanchez proposed to Cynthia at the Circle of Lights at Monument Circle in downtown Indianapolis on December 26, 2017.[26] They got married the following spring.[27]
On November 30, 2020, it was announced Sanchez would undergo surgery the next day to have a cancerous tumor removed.[28] The surgery was reported as successful and he returned to practice two weeks later.[29]
References
- ^ "Every NFL player from 2019 that played high school football in California". MaxPreps.com. January 30, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez College Stats". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2015 Game Log". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2016 Game Log". Sports Reference. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
- ^ Bowen, Kevin (May 4, 2017). "Who Are The Colts 18 Undrafted Free Agents In 2017?". Colts.com. Archived from the original on November 11, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
- ^ Walker, Andrew (August 28, 2017). "Rookie Rigoberto Sanchez Wins Colts' Punter Competition". Indianapolis Colts. Archived from the original on November 9, 2017.
- ^ "Indianapolis Colts at Los Angeles Rams - September 10th, 2017". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 7, 2017.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2017 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
- ^ "2017 NFL All-Rookie Team". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 2024-07-29.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2018 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ Hickey, Kevin (June 5, 2019). "Colts' Rigoberto Sanchez gets $11.6M in new extension". Colts Wire. USA Today. Retrieved October 2, 2020.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2019 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2020 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ Gordon, Grant (October 6, 2021). "Bengals QB Joe Burrow, Giants QB Daniel Jones lead Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "2021 NFL Week 7 Leaders & Scores". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2021 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Colts Announce Final 2022 Roster Cuts". Colts.com. August 30, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Erickson, Joel A. (March 12, 2024). "Colts avoid roster hole by keeping punter Rigoberto Sanchez". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved March 12, 2024.
- ^ Gordon, Grant (October 16, 2024). "Ravens RB Derrick Henry, Buccaneers RB Sean Tucker highlight Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved March 19, 2026.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2024 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ "Rigoberto Sanchez 2025 Game Log". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 2026-03-22.
- ^ "2021 NFL Week 7 Leaders & Scores". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- ^ Holder, Stephen (September 30, 2017). "Colts Q&A: Rigoberto Sanchez, the accidental punter". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ Salgado, Gabe (November 10, 2017). "These Five Latino NFL Players Are Making Their Marks This Season". NBC News. Retrieved November 21, 2017.
- ^ Lloyd, Heather (December 28, 2017). "Rigoberto Sanchez Gets Engaged At The Circle Of Lights". Colts.com. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Lloyd, Heather (July 30, 2019). "Rigoberto Sanchez Has A Secret Weapon: His Wife". Colts.com. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
- ^ Wells, Mike (November 30, 2020). "Indianapolis Colts punter Rigoberto Sanchez to have cancerous tumor removed". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Shook, Nick (December 16, 2020). "Colts P Rigoberto Sanchez rejoins team after cancer surgery". NFL.com. Retrieved March 3, 2021.