Michael Dickson Set for Super Bowl LX, Eyeing Historic Win for Australian Punters
Australian punter Michael Dickson is preparing to participate in Super Bowl LX with the Seattle Seahawks, marking a significant milestone in a career that began after he was not selected in the Australian rules football draft.
His journey includes foundational development with Prokick Australia, a distinguished collegiate career at the University of Texas, and establishing himself as a prominent NFL punter recognized for his versatile kicking style.
Early Career and Transition to American Football
Michael Dickson, a Sydney native, was a member of the Sydney Swans Academy. He was not selected in the 2014 AFL national draft, with reported factors including skepticism regarding talent from New South Wales and his role playing undersized at full-back and centre half-back.
Recognizing limited opportunities in Australian rules football, Dickson joined Prokick Australia in 2015. Prokick Australia, founded in 2007 by Nathan Chapman, specializes in training Australian athletes for American football kicking and punting roles. After moving to Melbourne for the program, Dickson secured a scholarship to the University of Texas, quickly adapting despite limited prior knowledge of American football or punting. He also adjusted to the smaller American football compared to the larger Australian rules ball.
Collegiate Achievements
During his time at the University of Texas, Dickson earned significant recognition. He was a two-time All-American in both 2016 and 2017. In 2017, he won the Ray Guy Award, which honors the best college punter, and was also recognized as college special teams player of the year twice. In his final collegiate game, the Texas Bowl, he was named Most Valuable Player after downing 10 of 11 punts inside the 20-yard line.
NFL Career with the Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks drafted Dickson in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, having traded up to select him, and he is currently the longest-serving player on the Seahawks' roster.
In June, Dickson signed a four-year contract extension. While some sources reported the value at $16.2 million, making him one of the highest-paid punters in the league, another source stated the extension was for $23.25 million.
During his rookie season in 2018, Dickson was named to the All-Rookie team, earned All-Pro honors, and was selected for the Pro Bowl. He has since been recognized as a two-time All-Pro (2018 and the most recent year prior to the articles). He has been voted among the Seahawks' top 50 players ever and ranks tied for third in NFL history in yards-per-punt average. His high-hanging sky balls consistently average 48 yards (44 meters).
Dickson is recognized for a versatile punting repertoire, which includes various punts, drop-kicks, spirals, banana-ball kicks, long kicks, short kicks, and cross-field kicks, often disrupting opposing teams.
Seattle Seahawks special teams coordinator Jay Harbaugh defers punting decisions to Dickson on the field, citing his experience and skills. Nathan Chapman of Prokick Australia has highlighted Dickson's consistent dedication, professionalism, and advanced approach to punting, noting his variety of kicks and continuous experimentation.
Notable plays during his career include an "Aussie sweep" fake punt in 2018. He also famously re-punted a blocked snap from behind the line of scrimmage in 2021, an action so rare it led to a subsequent rule clarification regarding illegal kicks.
Super Bowl Outlook
Dickson is preparing to play in Super Bowl LX against the New England Patriots, which is scheduled to take place at Levi's Stadium in California. He plans to maintain a focused, low-key approach, utilizing mental preparation and established routines.
He is the fourth Australian punter to participate in a Super Bowl, following Ben Graham (Arizona, 2009), Mitch Wishnowsky (San Francisco, 2020), and Arryn Siposs (Philadelphia, 2023), all of whom played in losing efforts. Should the Seahawks win, Dickson would become the first Australian punter to secure a Super Bowl victory. Offensive tackle Jordan Mailata is currently the only Australian to have won a Super Bowl, and Jesse Williams received a Super Bowl ring in 2014 with Seattle but did not play due to injury.
Personal Context
Dickson's father, Anthony Dickson, will not attend Super Bowl LX as he is on parole. Anthony Dickson, a former Ernst & Young executive, was sentenced to 11 years in jail in 2015 (later increased to 14 years on appeal) for his involvement in a corporate tax fraud scheme that involved $450 million in falsely created overseas losses.
Prokick Australia's Influence
Prokick Australia, the program Dickson attended, has developed a significant number of athletes for American football. The academy currently has six alumni playing in the NFL and between 80 to 85 in US college programs, with over 400 alumni having received US college scholarships overall. Prokick Australia graduates have frequently won the Ray Guy Award. Nathan Chapman has noted Dickson's success as part of a growing trend of Australian punters in American college and professional football.