NFL CAREER – After a stellar career at the University of Miami (Fla.), the Mandurah, Australia native signed with New Orleans as a free agent after the 2024 NFL Draft. Hedley turned heads in the preseason, earning the punter job in his rookie season. Hedley handled the punting and holding duties in all 17 games, punting 75 times for 3,224 yards (39.5 gross, 43.0 net) with a long of 62 yards and 31 total punts downed inside the 20-yard-line, tied for fifth in the NFL and the second-highest total in franchise history. Hedley's efforts helped New Orleans become one of the top punting units in the NFL, finishing the season first in opponent punt return average (5.6). Hedley's 31 punts downed inside the twenty-yard line give him sole possession of second place in franchise history. The second-year pro will look to continue to fortify the punting game for the Black and Gold in 2024.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with Saints, 4/30/23.
2023 – Vs. Tennessee, Sept. 10, punted five times for 241 yards (48.2 avg., 40.2 net) with a long of 52 yards and one downed inside the 20-yard line…At Carolina, Sept. 18, punted five times for 210 yards (42.0 avg., 35.0 net) and two downed inside-the-20…At Green Bay, Sept. 24, punted seven times for 293 yards (41.9 avg., 41.2 net) and two downed inside-the-20…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, punted four times for 162 yards (40.5 avg., 38.8 net) with three downed inside-the-20 and a long of 52…At New England, Oct. 8, punted seven times for 307 yards (43.9 gross, 40.9 net), three downed inside-the-20 and had a long of 55…At Houston, Oct. 15, punted three times for 126 yards (42.0 gross/net) with a long of 43…Vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 19, punted four times for 169 yards (42.3 gross, 42.0 net) with a career-long of 62, with two downed inside-the-20…At Indianapolis, Oct. 29, punted four times for 158 yards (39.5 gross, 37.8 net) and a season-best four downed inside-the-20…Vs. Chicago, Nov. 5, punted four times for 164 yards (41.0 avg. gross/net) and three punts downed inside-the-20…At Minnesota, Nov. 12, punted six times for 279 yards (46.5 gross, 41.2 net) with one downed inside-the-20…At Atlanta, Nov. 26, punted once for 46 yards (37.2 net)…Vs. Detroit, Dec. 3, punted four times for 180 yards (45.0 gross, 36.8 net)…Vs. Carolina, Dec. 10, punted five times for 200 yards (40.0 gross, 39.8 net) and three downed inside-the-20…Vs. N.Y. Giants, Dec. 17, punted four times for 167 yards (41.8 gross, 38.0 net) and two downed inside-the-20…At L.A. Rams, Dec. 21, Punted twice for 71 yards (35.5 gross/net) and one downed inside-the-20…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 31, punted six times for 268 yards (44.7 gross, 41.2 net) with a long of 51 and three downed inside-the-20…Vs. Atlanta, 1/7/24, punted four times for 183 yards (45.8 gross, 42.8 net) with a long of 50 and one punt downed inside-the-20. Hedley's 31 punts downed inside the 20-yard line give him sole possession of second place in franchise history.
COLLEGE – Played in 47 games for the University of Miami (Fla.) from 2019-22 and punted 206 times for 9,315 yards with a 45.2 gross punting average and 77 inside the 20-yard line…Played in 12 games in 2022 and punted 46 times for 2,084 yards with 23 inside-the-20. In 13-12 win at Virginia, Oct. 29, dropped five punts inside-the-20…Earned All-ACC second-team honors in 2021 and selected semifinalist for Ray Guy Award honoring nation's top punter. Averaged 44.9 yards per punt on 47 punts with a long of 62. Totaled 11 punts of 50 yards or more. Dropped 19 punts inside opponents' 20-yard line. Had season-long punt of 62 yards against Virginia, Sept. 30…Delivered one of finest seasons ever by a Hurricanes punter in 2020. Named finalist for Ray Guy Award…Recognized with AP second-team All-America and second-team All-ACC. Named ACC Specialist of the Week twice. Ranked No. 2 in FBS in regular season in punting (47.3 yards per punt). Led Miami to FBS-leading net punting average during regular season. Saw action in all ten games and averaged 47.3 yards per punt and a long of 60. Had 19 punts of 50-or-more yards. Had only two touchbacks and landed 13 punts inside opponents' 20-yard line. Had 24 of his 46 punts fair caught. Connected on season-long 60-yard punt in home win over Pittsburgh, Oct. 17. Named ACC Specialist of the Week after performance against Panthers. Had best single-game punting average of season in win over Hokies (52.4), earning ACC Specialist of the Week. Landed three punts inside Hokies' 20-yard line…In 2019, averaged 43.9 yards per punt on 64 punts. Ranked No. 26 in FBS in punting. Had career-long 67-yard punt against Georgia Tech, Oct. 19. Punted seven times, including 67-yard punt, in win at Pittsburgh, Oct. 26. Punted five times for average of 45.8 in win at Florida State, Nov. 2, including 65-yard punt. Totaled career-high 11 punts in regular season finale at Duke, Nov. 30. Averaged 41.2 yards on nine punts in Walk-On's Independence Bowl against Louisiana Tech, Dec. 26…Redshirted in 2018 to preserve eligibility…Averaged 38.6 yards per punt on the season with long punt of 59 yards in 2017 at City College of San Francisco. Had eight punts downed inside-the-20 and seven punts fair caught over 10 games in 2017. Ran three times on fake punts for 75 yards, including long of 56 yards.
PERSONAL – Former semi-pro Australian Rules Football player from Mandurah, Australia, also working as a scaffolder in the Australian desert to support himself. On Martin Luther King Jr. Day, partnered with AmeriHealth Caritas Louisiana to distribute fresh produce to community members at Dillard University… In March, joined teammates Blake Grupe and Nick Saldiveri at Houma Junior High School for the grand opening of the school's new Fit Zone, which was donated by the team in partnership with United Healthcare.
