If there is one player on the Chicago Bears roster who's eager for the start of the offseason workout program, it might be Drew Butler.

The punter and son of former Bears kicker Kevin Butler was out of the NFL last year after the Pittsburgh Steelers released him on the Monday of the first week of the 2013 season and he’s been pining for the chance to kick for a job again.

Butler, who spent the entire 2012 season punting for the Steelers, and Tress Way, who was with the Bears as a camp leg last summer, are the only two punters on the roster. Adam Podlesh was released before free agency opened. With a 90-man offseason roster, it is possible the Bears will add a third punter to the mix at some point but chances are the team will only take two to training camp because practice reps become scarce.

“It’s a great opportunity in Chicago,” Butler said. “It was on the top of my list of where I really wanted to get placed, especially after having worked out for them in October.”

Butler was raised in the area for 10 years before moving to Georgia. He’s been a Bears fan his entire life and so the chance to follow in the path of his father and join the team is enticing. Butler was part of the tryout the team held in October when Podlesh was struggling. He also had a tryout for the Bengals and otherwise has been working to fine-tune his game.

He beat out former Bills Pro Bowl punter Brian Moorman in training camp and preseason to win the job in Pittsburgh last summer, but the Steelers brought in ex-Patriots punter Zoltan Mesko for a tryout and chose him over Butler before the season opener. Mesko lasted seven games and then the Steelers turned to Mat McBriar.

“A lot of people asked me what happened,” Butler said. “I just told them I didn’t think the Steelers wanted me. I felt I had made the strides to prove I was worthy of getting that second year with the Steelers.”

Butler had a 43.8-yard gross average in 2012 and a net of 37.8. He landed 26 punts inside the 20-yard line and forced 20 fair catches. The Bears ranked sixth in the NFL covering punts last season but Podlesh was last in gross punting at 40.6 yards and 28th in net at 37.9.

The chance to work with Robbie Gould as he closes in on some of Kevin Butler’s franchise records is also appealing to Butler. Gould trails Kevin Butler in a few categories. Gould is 92 points shy of the record for points scored. He needs 10 more field goals to be tops in that category and is tied at 16 for field goals from 50-plus yards.

“It’s awesome. It is really exciting,” Butler said. “I was fortunate enough to be at the University of Georgia with Blair Walsh when he kind of ripped through my dad’s records there. It is cool guys work really hard to achieve the goals they want. Records are made to be broken. Robbie deserves everything. I am looking forward to seeing him write his own record books with the Bears and achieve all of the things he wants to.”

Way, an undrafted free agent from Oklahoma last year, showed a big leg in training camp but wasn’t always consistent. He averaged 38.2 yards on six punts in preseason with Podlesh getting the bulk of the work.

The competition begins April 22 when the Bears open their offseason program.

“Now with the opportunity right in front of me I am looking to taking full advantage of it,” Butler said. “I can’t wait to get up there and get to work. I am looking forward to learning a lot from Coach (Joe) DeCamillis and doing what the Bears ask me to do.”

bmbiggs@tribune.com

Twitter @BradBiggs