He played college football for the Pittsburgh Panthers, and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL draft.

[2] At West-Oak High School, Lee was a 3-sport star athlete, lettering in football, baseball, and basketball.

He was selected twice to All-Conference honors in basketball and helped lead the baseball team to a district championship and the state playoffs.

As a pitcher, he went 5–0 as a junior and 8–2 as a senior, with a selection to the North-South Baseball All-Star Game and a Golden and Silver Arm Award.

[5] Lee was the All-Big East Conference first-team choice and Co-Special Teams Player of the Year.

[6] Following a successful collegiate career, Lee was selected in the sixth round of the NFL Draft with the 188th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers.

Even when he went on to become a standout punter on the collegiate level at the University of Pittsburgh, he was still a stranger to live NFL action.

Lee was awarded game ball for his efforts in the 20–14 victory vs. Seattle (11–19) when he landed two punts inside the 20-yard line to help the 49ers win the battle of field position.

Lee earned Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2007 after setting numerous records on 105 punts (47.3 avg.)

His 41.0 net average ranks second all-time in NFL history, trailing only Shane Lechler of Oakland (41.1 in 2007).

The punt helped set up 49ers winning touchdown on DT Ronald Fields sack and forced fumble in the end zone that was recovered by linebacker Tully Banta-Cain for game-winning score.

After earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in 2007, Lee once again put up outstanding numbers, in 2008, as he set a career-high and team record with his 47.8 gross average.

[13] In the 2009 season, Lee returned to his 2007 form, having a superb year and earning his second Pro Bowl selection.

[14] Lee followed up his Pro Bowl season in 2009 with another stellar year for the 49ers, playing in all 16 games and averaging 46.2 yards per punt.

[31][32] In Week 10 of the 2019 season, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lee converted on a 25-yard pass to Pharoh Cooper on a fake punt.

[34] On December 20, 2020, in Week 15, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Lee converted on a 26-yard pass to linebacker Ezekiel Turner on a fake punt.