Donnie Gibbs
Donnie Gibbs, full name Donald Ray Gibbs, was an American football punter who played at Texas Christian University (TCU) and in the NFL for the New Orleans Saints. He was born on December 31, 1945, in Tyler, Texas, and died on February 21, 2006, in Pennsylvania at age 60.
In high school at Robert E. Lee, Gibbs punted and played quarterback, helping the team achieve its first winning season in 1963. He received the 1965 Troy V. Post Award as the Young Texan of the Year. At TCU, Gibbs was both the punter and the holder for placekicker Bruce Alford. Alford praised Gibbs for his reliable snap and hands. In 1966, Gibbs earned a spot on the Fort Worth Star-Telegram All-Southwest Conference Team after averaging 43.1 yards per punt over nine games.
After college, Gibbs played quarterback and punter for the Fort Worth Braves of the Texas Football League from 1968 to 1971. He joined the New Orleans Saints in 1974, after trying out at age 29 and beating out Steve O’Neal for the punting job. He had spent the previous two years selling women’s clothing. In his first game against the San Francisco 49ers, he delivered two coffin-corner punts but later muffed a perfect snap, allowing the late winning score for the 49ers. He was waived before the next game and replaced by Tom Blanchard.
Gibbs left professional football after that season and was survived by three daughters and a son.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 11:51 (CET).