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Michael Dickson, who transformed his dreams from Australian rules football to American football, has now etched his name in NFL history. As the Seattle Seahawks’ punter, Dickson has celebrated Super Bowl success, marking a significant milestone in his unique athletic journey.
Originating from Sydney, Dickson’s path took a decisive turn when the 2014 AFL draft did not go in his favor at the age of 18. This setback became the catalyst for his pursuit of a different form of football, ultimately leading him to the United States.
On a triumphant Monday in California, the Seahawks overcame the New England Patriots with a 29-13 victory in Super Bowl 60. This win not only brought glory to the team but also added a remarkable chapter to Dickson’s career.
With this accomplishment, Dickson joins an elite group of Australians who have experienced Super Bowl victory. He is the second Australian to play in and win a Super Bowl, and the third Australian to secure a Super Bowl ring overall.
The legacy of Australian success in the NFL includes Jordan Mailata, who claimed victory with the Philadelphia Eagles the previous year, and Jesse Williams, who made history in 2014 by becoming the first Australian to win a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks.
Williams did not play in the game because of injury but was still awarded the winner’s ring.
In 2015, Dickson moved from Sydney to Melbourne to trial a program called Prokick, where Australians receive coaching to launch into American football. He was soon scouted as a punter by the University of Texas.
The punter position in football receives the snapped ball directly from the line of scrimmage, and then kicks the football to the opposing team.
Outstanding performances for the University of Texas Longhorns team led to him being drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in 2018.
When did Dickson make his NFL debut?
Dickson made his debut during the season opener against the Denver Broncos. By week 8, he made an unconventional game-winning move against the Detroit Lions, when he ran the ball, an unusual move for a punter. Dickson’s bold move was labelled “the Aussie sweep.”
Although Dickson had defied his instructions, then-coach Pete Caroll said: “That’s going to be my favourite play for a while.”
In 2021, Dickson punted the ball 83 times for 3,895 yards during the 2021 season, an average of 46.9 yards per punt — a career high. That same year, he made 40 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, the most in the league that season, and the 10th most in a single season in NFL history.
Last year, Dickson signed a four-year contract extension with the Seahawks for US$16.2 million ($23.1 million) — making him the highest-paid punter in the NFL’s history.
The 2026 Super Bowl marked a career high for Dickson, playing in it for the first time.
The Super Bowl is America’s most-viewed television broadcast. A record 127.7 million Americans tuned in to watch the 2025 game, eclipsing the estimated 123 million viewership a year earlier.
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