The United Football League (UFL) announced on Wednesday that Louisville Kings kicker Tanner Brown was named the 2026 UFL Special Teams Player of the Year presented by Dynasty Financial Partners.
The award was selected by a panel of media members, broadcast partners, and coaches and team football personnel from all eight teams. Voting was based on player performance throughout the recently completed 10-game regular season.
Tanner Brown is six foot and weighs 177 pounds. The 26-year-old from Santa Clarita, California, was drafted by the Louisville Kings in the 2026 UFL Draft. In 2026, Brown made 25 of 28 field goals (89.3%), including two four-point field goals against the D.C. Defenders on May 16th (60 yards) and the St. Louis Battlehawks in the UFL Semi-Finals on June 7th (63 yards). He also had 62 kickoffs for 3,865 yards (62.3 AVG) and made 23 extra points in 10 games.
The Los Angeles Rams signed Brown as an undrafted free agent on May 1, 2023. In 2023, he made 2 of 4 field goals (50%) with a long of 39 yards, made 4 of 4 extra points, and six kickoffs for 389 yards (64.8%) in three preseason games. In 2024, he had one kickoff for 73 yards in one preseason game. The Rams released him on October 1, 2024. The Atlanta Falcons signed Brown on December 16, 2024, but released him two days later.
Collegiately, Brown spent two seasons at the College of the Canyons (2018-19). He made 28 of 38 field goals (73.6%) with a long of 50 yards, made 100 of 102 extra points, 71 punts for 2,558 yards (36.0 AVG) with a long of 64 yards, 26 from inside the 20-yard line, 18 fair catches, and four tackles (4 solos) in 23 games for the Cougars.
Next, he transferred to UNLV in 2020 with 24 kickoffs for 1,365 yards (56.9 AVG), 12 punts for 546 yards (45.5 AVG), with a long of 55 yards, one touchback, two fair catches, one from inside the 20-yard line, four from 50-plus yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in six games for the Rebels.
Then, he transferred to Oklahoma State University (2021-22). He made 39 of 44 field goals (88.6%) with a long of 52 yards, made 78 of 78 extra points, 102 kickoffs for 6,464 yards (63.4 AVG), and 43 touchbacks.
Brown will be honored at the UFL Awards presented by Dynasty Financial Partners on June 12, 2026, leading to the United Bowl, which will be played on June 13, 2026, from Audi Field in Washington, D.C.
