Darren Bennett Madden Career 1996-2006 - Peak 99 OVR
Undrafted Aussie rules forward who punted 836 times in the NFL
Darren Bennett was born on January 9, 1965, in Sydney and grew up in Perth, where he played Australian rules football for East Fremantle, West Coast and Melbourne, kicking 208 goals in 74 games for the Demons. He never played college football and entered the NFL undrafted, asking the San Diego Chargers for a tryout on a honeymoon trip in November 1993.
He spent 1994 on the practice squad and the spring of 1995 with the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, then took over as the Chargers' punter that fall. He made the Pro Bowl and was first-team All-Pro for 1995, a season for which Madden NFL 96 put him at a calculated 89. Madden NFL 98 gave him a calculated 99 for 1997.
He led the league at 46.2 yards per punt in 2000 and made a second Pro Bowl, and Madden NFL 2001 rated him 88 for that year. He was named the punter on the NFL 1990s All-Decade Team. Madden NFL 04 rated him 91 for 2003, his last of nine seasons in San Diego. He punted for Minnesota in 2004, was cut in September 2005 and was recalled that December when Chris Kluwe was injured. He entered the Chargers Hall of Fame in 2012 and finished with 836 punts for 36,316 yards.
Darren Bennett Madden Career Milestones
- Peak rating: 99 OVR (calculated) in Madden NFL 1998
- Appeared in 9 Madden releases (Madden NFL 1996 through Madden NFL 2006)
- Entered at 89 OVR in Madden NFL 1996, climbed 10 points to his peak
- Biggest single-year rise: 60 points into Madden NFL 1998
- Played for 2 franchises: Chargers, Vikings
- Listed as a special-teams player in every Madden release
- Final Madden appearance: Madden NFL 2006 at 80 OVR
Darren Bennett Madden Career Ratings
| Madden | Team | Pos | OVR | Speed | ACC | AGI | STR | JMP | STA | INJ | TGH | AWR | THP | TAS | TAM | TAD | CAR | CTH | RBK | PBK | TAK | KPW | KAC | KRN |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1996 * 1995 NFL season
|
|
P | 89* | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 99 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 79 | 59 | - |
|
1997 1996 NFL season
|
|
P | 39 | 44 | 47 | 44 | - | 96 | 37 | - | - | 35 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 97 | 96 | - |
|
1998 * 1997 NFL season
|
|
P | 99* | 46 | - | 46 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 46 | 99 | 99 | - |
|
1999 1998 NFL season
|
|
P | 61* | 44 | 14 | 44 | 39 | - | - | 0 | - | 78 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 92 | 85 | - |
|
2000 1999 NFL season
|
|
P | 63* | 38 | 39 | 46 | 39 | - | - | 80 | - | 80 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 91 | 85 | - |
|
2003 2002 NFL season
|
|
P | 95 | 37 | 36 | 30 | 23 | 40 | 67 | 73 | 65 | - | 26 | - | - | - | 28 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 22 | 95 | 90 | - |
|
2004 2003 NFL season
|
|
P | 91 | 37 | 36 | 30 | 40 | 40 | 86 | 73 | 65 | 81 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 22 | 96 | 84 | 0 |
|
2005 2004 NFL season
|
|
P | 85 | 49 | 50 | 47 | 40 | 40 | 86 | 73 | 65 | 81 | 26 | - | - | - | 28 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 22 | 94 | 82 | - |
|
2006 2005 NFL season
|
|
P | 80 | 54 | 60 | 47 | 40 | 40 | 86 | 73 | - | 80 | 36 | 38 | 38 | 38 | 28 | 32 | 33 | 33 | 22 | 91 | 82 | 0 |
Era Special Teams who played alongside Darren Bennett
Darren Bennett Madden Ratings by Year
Darren Bennett Madden NFL 1996 rating: 89 OVR (1995 NFL season, SD). Darren Bennett Madden NFL 1997 rating: 39 OVR (1996 NFL season, SD). Darren Bennett Madden NFL 1998 rating: 99 OVR (1997 NFL season, SD). Darren Bennett Madden NFL 1999 rating: 61 OVR (1998 NFL season, SD). Darren Bennett Madden NFL 2000 rating: 63 OVR (1999 NFL season, SD). Darren Bennett Madden NFL 2003 rating: 95 OVR (2002 NFL season, SD). Darren Bennett Madden NFL 2004 rating: 91 OVR (2003 NFL season, SD). Darren Bennett Madden NFL 2005 rating: 85 OVR (2004 NFL season, MIN). Darren Bennett Madden NFL 2006 rating: 80 OVR (2005 NFL season, MIN).