Rick Tuten, the only Seahawks punter to make the Pro Bowl, died this week unexpectedly in Costa Rica, according to the Ocala Star Banner in his hometown of Forest, FL. The cause of death for Tuten, 52, who was with the Seahawks from 1991-97, was unknown.
Tuten had an 11-year NFL career that gave him one of the most apt nicknames in sports — Bootin’ Tuten. He finished with a career average of 43.4 yards, and is second in most career punting numbers to current Seahawks punter Jon Ryan.
Tuten, who played in college at Florida State and Miami, played a year each Philadelphia and Buffalo before arriving in Seattle, and finished with two seasons in St. Louis. He made the Pro Bowl in 1994.
“He was physical guy,” longtime Florida radio personality Buddy Martin told the papers. “He would make tackles. He was quite a kicker. He was full of life. He was funny, he loved to play pranks.”
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer, son Chase and daughters Kinley and Ryan.
