The Scottish Hammer has new hardware to add to his trophy case.
Cleveland Browns rookie punter Jamie Gillan has earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September, the National Football League announced Thursday.
Gillian tied for second in the AFC with 11 punts inside the 20-yard line and helped the Browns limit opponents to just 19 punt return yards in the month. His 11 punts inside the 20 were the second-most ever by a Browns player in the month of September and tied for the fourth-most in any month. Earlier this season, Gillan was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 2 after landing five punts inside the 20 during a win at the New York Jets on Sept. 16.
Check out the best photos from the Cleveland Browns win over the Baltimore Ravens yesterday by team photographer Matt Starkey
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens on September 29, 2019 at M&T Bank Stadium.
He helped the Browns to a 2-2 record in September, their best start to a season since 2014. The Browns also started the season 2-0 on the road for the first time since 1994.
Gillan joined the Browns as an undrafted free agent in the spring. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer had his eye on Gillan, sending him footballs to practice after the punter notoriously popped three of the four footballs he had during pre-draft work.
Gillan introduced himself to the NFL during the preseason with a long punt of 74 yards during the Browns' Preseason Week 2 win over the Indianapolis Colts, and has since proven an ability to kick for a variety of distances depending on the situation. Gillan has excelled at limiting returners, allowing just 19 total return yards gained by opposing returners on just four returns in four games. He's forced 10 fair catches in that same span of time.
When Gillan beat out veteran punter Britton Colquitt for the job at the end of the preseason, Priefer told reporters "it would have been very difficult to let a guy like Jamie out of the building."
He's proving the Browns correct through his first month in the NFL, as evidenced by the honor he earned in Cleveland's first four games.
Gillan is the first Browns player to win an AFC Player of the Month award since LB D'Qwell Jackson was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month in September 2011 and the first Browns player to be named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month since Joshua Cribbs in December 2009.
