What started out as a side gig for Christian Kuntz in college has now turned into full-time job – and a lucrative one at that. After a four-year journey of tryouts, the former Chartiers Valley and Duquesne standout is officially an NFL long-snapper – and better yet – the long-snapper for his hometown Pittsburgh Steelers.
Kuntz was a decorated linebacker at Duquesne – a second team FCS All-America in 2015 and 2016 - but started snapping just in case. "We needed somebody to be the back-up," he said, which came in handy when it became apparent he wasn't going to be an NFL linebacker.
"When I got released by New England and worked out in Green Bay they knew I had (snapped) for 3 games at Duquesne," Kuntz explained. "They asked me to snap and said 'this is what you need to work on the next year, two years, whatever you need to do and you'll be in the league.'"
He kept at it and came close to making the Steelers in 2019, failing to beat out Kam Canaday, but he kept at it and he got another hometown shot this year. "I definitely feel like I progressed as a long snapper since the last time they saw me," Kuntz said. "When I got released, going to the XFL, they told me to take (certain) steps and they brought me back. They've worked with me since then."
Although Kuntz was hopeful that this time he'd finally make a strong enough impression, he had no idea whether or not he'd make the team. "No one knows what they're thinking in the front office," he said, "just go to work every day and do your job so I let the cards play out."
Kuntz finally dealt himself a winning hand, and won the job over Canaday, but it was really due to years of work. "You have to be consistent," Kuntz explained. "It's got to be there every time, the same ball.
The second you start trying to do something different that's when things get shaky.
Just consistency throughout; the snap, the blocking, everything."
Kuntz had no idea snapping was in his future when was a teenager in 2008 and Greg Warren was hurt against the Giants. With the Steelers clinging to a two-point fourth-quarter lead, James Harrison came on and airmailed a snap over punter Mitch Berger's head for a safety which tied the game and led to a short field and New York's game-winning touchdown. "I do remember when he snapped the ball over the punter's head," Kuntz smiled. "I never really thought about the long snapper position until I started doing it.
It's a job; it's a hard job."
So while Kuntz is certainly happy to have won the job he realizes that there is no guarantee he will hang onto it unless he works even harder. "It hasn't really hit me yet, honestly," Kuntz said. "My family's like, 'you don't seem excited,' obviously I'm excited but just as quickly as I got on the 53 (man roster) I could be off the 53 so I'm just doing what I can do every day to get better at my craft."
That involves extra work with another rookie, punter Pressley Harvin III. "Just getting reps," Kuntz explained, "like today grabbing Pressley on the side, working the holds, working the snaps, him seeing my rhythm, may motion, the ball flight, the rotation, everything. Just reps; reps after reps."
Then there's the money. As long as Kuntz can hang around he will also start depositing some pretty hefty checks. The 2021 minimum salary is $610,000 which still makes Kuntz only the second highest paid pro athlete from Char Valley. His HS basketball teammate TJ McConnell will earn 8.75 million per season over the next four years with the Indiana Pacers.
"Teej just signed a nice contract," Kuntz smiled. "We're going to lunch on Tuesday and he's paying."
