Former Spartan All-American Greg Montgomery Passes Away
9/4/2020 3:09:00 PM | Football
EAST LANSING, Mich. – Former Michigan State All-American punter Greg Montgomery Jr. passed away on Aug. 23, 2020. He was 55 (1964-2020).
A two-time first-team All-American (1986-87) and three-time All-Big Ten First Team selection (1985-87), Montgomery ranks first in Spartan history in punting average (45.2 ypp), which also ranks second in the history of the Big Ten Conference.
Montgomery earned first-team all-league honors as a sophomore in 1985 after leading the Big Ten in punting in both overall games (44.1 avg.) and conference games (45.1 avg.). As a junior in 1986, Montgomery set a Big Ten record that still stands today, averaging 49.7 yards per punt in conference games. His overall average of 47.8 yards set a school single-season record at the time and still ranks second best in the record book.
During his senior year in 1987, Montgomery garnered first-team All-America plaudits for the second year in a row and first-team All-Big Ten accolades for the third consecutive season as the Spartans won the Big Ten Championship and defeated USC in the Rose Bowl. Montgomery averaged 45.0 yards per punt, which ranked third best in an MSU season at the time and still ranks tied for fifth best.
Montgomery kicked three of the six longest punts in MSU history, including a school-record long 86-yarder at Michigan in 1986. He also had an 80-yarder vs. Indiana in 1985 and a 75-yarder vs. Michigan in 1985. During his career, he registered at least one punt of 50 yards or more in 33 of 35 outings.
A native of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, Montgomery was selected in the third round (No. 72 overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. He spent nine years in the NFL (Houston, 1988-93; Detroit, 1994; Baltimore, 1996-97) and was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 1993 after leading the NFL in punting (45.6 avg.). Montgomery led the NFL in punting three times (45.0 avg. in 1990, 46.9 avg. in 1992, 45.6 avg. in 1993) and finished his career with a 43.6-yard average in 142 career games.
In 1996, Montgomery was named to the MSU Centennial Super Squad.
Montgomery's father, Greg Sr., played quarterback at Michigan State in 1957-58 under Duffy Daugherty, while his brother, Steve, was a three-year letterwinner (1987-89) as a fullback under George Perles.
For memorial donation information, please click here.
A two-time first-team All-American (1986-87) and three-time All-Big Ten First Team selection (1985-87), Montgomery ranks first in Spartan history in punting average (45.2 ypp), which also ranks second in the history of the Big Ten Conference.
Montgomery earned first-team all-league honors as a sophomore in 1985 after leading the Big Ten in punting in both overall games (44.1 avg.) and conference games (45.1 avg.). As a junior in 1986, Montgomery set a Big Ten record that still stands today, averaging 49.7 yards per punt in conference games. His overall average of 47.8 yards set a school single-season record at the time and still ranks second best in the record book.
During his senior year in 1987, Montgomery garnered first-team All-America plaudits for the second year in a row and first-team All-Big Ten accolades for the third consecutive season as the Spartans won the Big Ten Championship and defeated USC in the Rose Bowl. Montgomery averaged 45.0 yards per punt, which ranked third best in an MSU season at the time and still ranks tied for fifth best.
Montgomery kicked three of the six longest punts in MSU history, including a school-record long 86-yarder at Michigan in 1986. He also had an 80-yarder vs. Indiana in 1985 and a 75-yarder vs. Michigan in 1985. During his career, he registered at least one punt of 50 yards or more in 33 of 35 outings.
A native of Shrewsbury, New Jersey, Montgomery was selected in the third round (No. 72 overall) of the 1988 NFL Draft by the Houston Oilers. He spent nine years in the NFL (Houston, 1988-93; Detroit, 1994; Baltimore, 1996-97) and was a first-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler in 1993 after leading the NFL in punting (45.6 avg.). Montgomery led the NFL in punting three times (45.0 avg. in 1990, 46.9 avg. in 1992, 45.6 avg. in 1993) and finished his career with a 43.6-yard average in 142 career games.
In 1996, Montgomery was named to the MSU Centennial Super Squad.
Montgomery's father, Greg Sr., played quarterback at Michigan State in 1957-58 under Duffy Daugherty, while his brother, Steve, was a three-year letterwinner (1987-89) as a fullback under George Perles.
For memorial donation information, please click here.
A New Era | Pat Fitzgerald's First Day in East Lansing
Wednesday, December 03
Pat Fitzgerald | Football Press Conference | Dec. 2nd, 2025
Tuesday, December 02
Jonathan Smith Postgame Comments | Maryland
Saturday, November 29
Jonathan Smith | Football Press Conference | Nov. 24 2025
Monday, November 24