The Washington Commanders have re-signed Pro Bowl punter Tress Way to a one-year contract extension
The Washington Commanders have a long list of questions to answer this offseason across the roster, whether offense or defense, but arguably the easiest answer to address one position materialized on Tuesday evening after agreeing to terms to bring back a Pro Bowler and the franchise's longest-tenured player.
Punter Tress Way has agreed to a contract extension, the Commanders announced, with full terms of the deal not disclosed though multiple reports point to it as a one-year deal.
Way has been with the team since Washington claimed him off waivers from the Chicago Bears during the 2014 preseason, becoming one of the NFL's best punters ever since.
"I think you said it best with the word 'want'. I think when you play a position and whenever you have something to offer up to the team, it's just the coolest compliment for a professional athlete - or I love how [Dan Quinn] says it, professional competitor - that they want you," Way said following the news.
The veteran is coming off his third Pro Bowl selection over his career after averaging 43.9 net yards per punt, his best since 2020, while pinning over half of his attempts inside the 20 yard line to lead the NFL. Way also led the league in opponent punt return average, opponent punt return yards and opponent average starting field position after punts.
He’s currently tied for fifth on the team’s all-time games played list. Way holds career franchise records in punt yards (39,031), average (46.9) and punts inside the 20-yard line (325) with a chance to add to that for at least one more season.
In 2024, Way also passed Mike Bragg for the franchise record for most punt yards in a season that featured just 50 points, his fewest since his third season with the organization.
Way is one of several free agents for Washington this offseason, but after stabilizing the room for so long while Quinn revealed that assistant Wes Welker stepped in to assist the special teams unit in 2025, the veteran proved as the most obvious re-sign candidate for general manager Adam Peters ahead of the offseason.
JP Finlay of 106.7 and NBC noted that Way could move to third all-time in franchise history in game's played if he plays all 17 games, trailing only Darrell Green and Monte Coleman.
Way has not missed a game since the 2021 season, cementing himself as one of the franchise's best in the process.