Long snapper gets contract extension

Beau Brinkley has served in that role for every placekick and punt for the past seven seasons

Mark J. Rebilas/USA Today Sports

Beau Brinkley has said repeatedly throughout his NFL career that the best thing he can do is remain anonymous. Typically, the only time people talk about long snappers, he is quick to recognize, is when something goes wrong.

It is apparent now that his name came up recently among the Tennessee Titans’ personnel department – in a positive way.

Friday, he signed it at the bottom of a contract extension, which the team announced following the day’s workout. Brinkley has been the Titans long-snapper since 2012 and has delivered the ball to the holder or the punter on every field goal attempt, extra point attempt and punt for the past seven seasons (112 games).

The 29-year-old was set to become a free agent following the 2019 season, which begins Sunday at Cleveland. The five-year pact he signed in 2015 has paid him an average of $1.15 million per season, which ranks third among long snappers. He will earn $1.25 million this season.

The extension will allow him to become easily the longest-tenured player to serve in the specialized role during the franchise’s Titans era (1999-present).

Undrafted out of the University of Missouri, Brinkley succeeded Ken Amato, who was the Titans’ long-snapper for nine seasons (2003-11) and appeared in 125 games. Aaron Graham served in that role in 2002 and before that Bruce Matthews, a perennial Pro Bowl offensive lineman, doubled as the snapper.

“It seems like just yesterday when I came in,” Brinkley told the Titans’ website last year when he played his 100game. “… But it’s been great. And I thank the good Lord for every time I get the opportunity to play this game. We all know that on any given play something could happen and it could all be over. So I try and take advantage of every game I get.”

He is going to get plenty more.