Former NFL punter Arryn Siposs has joined Hawthorn’s football department in a development coach role.
Siposs most recently played in this year’s Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles but decided to move back home to Australia after being waived following 32 NFL games.
Siposs, who originally played 28 games for St Kilda from 2011 to 2015 before following the punting path, had already signed on in a coaching role with VFL club Williamstown but will now call Waverley Park home.
AFL Media’s Josh Gabelich says Siposs originally connected with Hawthorn through his relationship with head of development Andy Collins.
“On the back of a bit of a soft cap bump I've seen plenty of plenty of changes,” Gabelich said on SEN Sportsday.
“One that arrived today (Thursday) at Hawthorn that I found really interesting was Arryn Siposs, who at the start of this year was playing in the Super Bowl for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Today he was signed by Hawthorn as a development coach.
“It’s pretty amazing to think about his sporting journey, given his time at St Kilda, his time at Auburn University and his three years in the NFL.
“Since he was let go by the Eagles, he'd been looking to come back to the AFL and getting into coaching.
“He’s actually signed with Williamstown as an assistant coach there and he's now at Hawthorn.
“It’s on the back of his relationship with Andy Collins, who's head of development at Hawthorn. He coached him at Williamstown before he started his punting journey.
“It’s a really interesting name that's been added by the Hawks.”
While Siposs has experience at the elite level in multiple sports, Gabelich says he’s long been aiming to follow the coaching path.
He explained the background that Siposs will bring to the role as he dives into the next phase of his professional career.
“He's got an exercise science and a teaching background,” Gabelich said.
“He was coaching at Brighton Grammar before he departed, so I think this has been in his long-term planning for some time.
“But I dare say his experiences even at Auburn University really set him up for this path.
“But he's only 31, I thought he might have another crack at making it as a punter, if not this season, next season, or in years to come.
“I was surprised that he made the decision to come home but not surprised by the coaching aspect because I know that for some time this has been part of his next phase.”
Following Siposs’ arrival, the Hawks finalised their 2024 coaching structure.
Brett Ratten returns to the club in a head of coaching role to support Sam Mitchell. Kade Simpson, David Hale and Adrian Hickmott will serve as assistants while Zane Littlejohn will coach Box Hill and work in development alongside Collins and the ex-NFL punter.