The Washington Commanders decided to add some competition at long snapper by signing veteran Tyler Ott. Here are five things to know about the new special teams contributor for the Burgundy & Gold.
1. He was a three-sport athlete in high school.
Ott is known for doing one job in the NFL, but his athletic roots go deeper than just snapping a football better than most people.
Ott was a talented athlete at Jenks High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and operated as a leader for the football, basketball and track and field teams. He served as a three-year captain for the football team, earning all-state and all-district recognition as a tight end. Jenks went to three state championships during Ott’s time with the team, winning one in 2007.
Ott was a member of Jenks’ basketball team in the last two seasons of his high school career and was named a senior captain. The Trojans went 27-2 during his junior year and 15-13 during his senior year before being eliminated by Putnam City in the playoffs in both seasons.
Ott also showed exceptional talent as a member of the track and field team, specializing in the discus and shot put. He finished his career with personal bests of 50-feet-2 inches in shot put and 148-feet-9 inches in discus.
2. He has previous experience working with Larry Izzo.
The 2024 season is not the first time Ott and Commanders special teams coordinator Larry Izzo have been on the same time. They spent four seasons together with the Seattle Seahawks, and Izzo left quite an impression on the long snapper.
“The energy he played with, he brings that coaching,” Ott said. “He’s gonna get the rest of these guys and myself to play really hard for him.”
Izzo’s special teams units as a coach are often recognized as some of the best in football. His unit played a key role in helping the New York Giants reach the Super Bowl, and in his last three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, the team had top 10 DVOA special teams rankings, finishing eighth in 2023.
For people like Ott, who played for the Seahawks from 2018-21, Izzo’s influence is easy to spot.
“You see that on the tape from the time we were in Seattle,” Ott said. “And I think you’re gonna see it on the tape moving forward, just with guys running around and hitting, having a good time on special teams and I think bringing pride to the special teams unit and hopefully making a difference in games.”
