Adam Podlesh

Adam Podlesh (born August 11, 1983) is an American football punter for the Chicago Bears.

Early life
Podlesh, who is Jewish, is a graduate of Pittsford Sutherland High School, and is a three-time letterman in football. Podlesh also played defense and offense, recording 92 tackles, 5 sacks, 638 rushing yards and 9 touchdowns. He also participated in track, and posted the fastest 200- and 400-meter times in the state in his junior year.

College career
He played college football for the Maryland Terrapins. He spent his freshman year on the scout team. He is the only player in school history to be on the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team for four years. In Podlesh's 48 games played at Maryland, he punted 216 times for 9,314 yards, which ranks fourth in school history (behind Dan DeArmas, Dale Castro, Russ Edwards and Darryl Wright). His punting average of 43.1 yards ranks behind Brooks Barnard in school history. He had 83 of his attempts land inside the red zone, with 35 of them landing inside the 10-yard line. Podlesh set the school record for a punter in the spring with a 4.44 time in the 40-yard dash in 2006 spring training, which earned him the Iron Terp Award. He was named to the Jewish Sports Review’s 2005 College Football All-America Team.

Jacksonville Jaguars
On June 2, 2008, he was elected to the Rochester Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. He was participating in the Jaguars OTA workouts, so his grandmother, Betty Podlesh, accepted the honor for him.

In 2010 Podlesh was diagnosed with cancer of the salivary gland, but following successful surgery he was told that radiation therapy and chemotherapy would not be required, and he returned to the field after six weeks, not missing any playing time.

Chicago Bears
On July 29, 2011 Podlesh signed with the Chicago Bears after receiving a lucrative contract from the team, who lost Brad Maynard.

Podlesh recorded a 40.4 yard net average in 2011, the best by a Bear since 1966, despite injuries to special teamers Patrick Mannelly, Brian Iwuh, Kyle Adams and Anthony Walters, as well as Chris Conte, Major Wright, and Kahlil Bell becoming starters, and Sam Hurd getting released. His 43.9 yard gross average was the best of his career, and was the third highest in team history, behind Todd Sauerbrun's 44.8 in 1996 and Brad Maynard's 44.2 in 2006.

In the second game of the 2012 preseason, Podlesh left the game with a left hip flexor that he sustained while attempting to tackle Washington Redskins returner Brandon Banks, who eventually returned the punt 91 yards for a touchdown. Podlesh was replaced by Ryan Quigley for the third game against the New York Giants. Though he is listed as "Probable", he punted against the Indianapolis Colts. In Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings, Podlesh faked the extra point, and ran in for two points.