Aussie punter axed … but trio of new faces have NFL dreams realised

He went to two Super Bowls, but after suffering a back injury, an Aussie punter in the NFL has felt the axe.

An ever-growing Australian contingent in the NFL has been reduced by one after the San Francisco 49ers axed punter Mitch Wishnowsky.

But his departure has been off-set by a trio of rookie signings that have swelled the punting ranks to seven.

Get all the latest NFL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!

Taken in the fourth round of the 2109 NFL draft, at pick 110, Wishnowsky, from Perth, played in 92 games for the 49ers, including 12 playoff games and two losing Super Bowls in 2019 and 2024.

He started the 2025 season in good form before a back injury sidelined him for the final eight games last season.

Wishnowsky was replaced by 39-year-old Thomas Morstead, who spent the past two seasons at the New York Jets after spending most of his career with the New Orleans Saints.

Wishnowsky has been axed by the 49ers. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Joneleit

Wishnowsky in action for the San Francisco 49ers. Picture: Robin Alam/ISI Photos/Getty Images

His exit comes after the contingent of Australian punters in the NFL actually expanded. Jeremy Crenshaw was drafted by the Denver Broncos, while James Burnip was taken as an undrafted free agent by the Saints and Oscar Chapman added to the Minnesota Vikings roster.

They join established punters Michael Dickson at Seattle, Tory Taylor at the Chicago Bears and Cameron Johnston at the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Super Bowl winning Philadelphia Eagles star Jordan Mailata leads a big number of Australians involved in the NFL, with former Wallabies star Jordan Petaia signing with the LA Chargers and Queensland club rugby player Laki Tasi earning a deal with the LA Raiders.

Both were signed out of the NFL’s international player pathway program.

Originally published as Aussie punter axed … but trio of new faces have NFL dreams realised