who's the oldest field goal kicker in the nfl
Adam Vinatieri


points scored (238), most field goals made (582), and most overtime field goals made (12). He is the only player ever to score 1,000 points with two teams. As of 2019, Vinatieri, 46, is the oldest active player in the NFL and 4th oldest of all time. Due to his numerous accolades and records, Vinatieri is considered to be the greatest kicker in NFL history. Noted for his kicking accuracy and success under pressure, Vinatieri has converted several of the most crucial field
4946175
Field goal range


the limit of their field goal range. Weather conditions, particularly wind, also have a significant impact on field goal range; kicking with the wind at the kicker's back significantly increases field goal range, while kicking against the wind or with a stiff crosswind will greatly reduce the kicker's effective range, while generally there is no advantage beyond assured targeting of a kick if a game is being played indoors. Altitude also affects kicking range; both the longest punt in NFL history and three of the longest field goals in NFL
20025202
Mike Vanderjagt


most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history of all kickers, with at least 100 field goal attempts at 86.5%, which is currently the sixth-highest completion percentage of all-time. During his CFL career, Vanderjagt won two Grey Cups and received the Dick Suderman Trophy in 1996. His most successful NFL season was in 2003 when he became the first kicker to convert every field goal and point after touchdown during the regular season and playoffs, earning Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors in the process. He is
4724098
2007 Tennessee Titans season


. With Bironas' 29-yard field goal, he became the 5th kicker in NFL history to get 7 field goals in one game. However, the Texans managed to retake the lead with Rosenfels completing a 7-yard TD pass to TE Jeb Putzier and a 53-yard TD pass to WR André Davis. The Titans managed to get a historic last-second field goal. With his 29-yard field goal, not only did it seal the win for Tennessee, but it made Rob Bironas the first kicker in NFL history to make 8 field goals
15575015
Robbie Gould


the 2005 season with a 77% field goal percentage and hitting all but one of his 20 PAT attempts. Gould kicked 26 consecutive field goals during the 2006 NFL season, breaking former Bears’ kicker Kevin Butler’s record of most consecutive field goals and winning NFL Special Teams Player of the Month for October 2006 in the process. In addition, NFL fans across the nation voted Gould the NFC’s kicker for the 2007 Pro Bowl. He was also named to the 2006 All-Pro team by the Associated Press. His
5282994
Randy Bullock


NFL kickers in terms of field goal percentage making 4 of 5 attempts. The lone 2015 field goal miss was a 43-yard attempt that hit the right upright in the Texans' Week 3 win over Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Bullock had 10 touchbacks on 13 kickoff attempts (77%) with the Houston Texans in 2015, keeping him in the Top 7 of NFL kickers by touchback percentage after Week 3. Nearly 20% of his field goal attempts as a member of the Texans were 50+ yards, well above the NFL average
11148820
Field goal range


. The longest field goal in recorded football history was 69 yards, set by collegiate kicker Ove Johansson, who was born in Sweden, in a 1976 Abilene Christian University football game against East Texas State University (now Texas A&M Commerce) at Shotwell Stadium in Abilene. The longest successful field goal in the NFL was 64 yards and was completed by Matt Prater in 2013. The NCAA record is 67 yards held by 3 kickers, Russell Erxleben of Texas, Steve Little of Arkansas and Joe Williams of Wichita State University. All
20025206
Jason Sanders


overall, of the 2018 NFL Draft. He was one of two kickers to be drafted that year. He was named the Dolphins starting kicker following the release of undrafted rookie Greg Joseph. He made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans. He converted all three field goal attempts and both extra point attempts in the 27–20 victory. In Week 6, against the Chicago Bears, he converted the game-winning field goal in overtime. In 16 games, Sanders made 18 of 20 field goals on the
11724018
2008 San Diego Chargers season


kicker Nate Kaeding made a 22-yard field goal. However, Pittsburgh got the lead as Reed nailed a 32-yard field goal. With the loss, the Chargers fell to 4–6. This marked the first time in NFL history that an NFL game ended with a final score of 11–10. Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Steelers, the Chargers went home for a Week 12 Sunday Night game with the Indianapolis Colts. In the first quarter, San Diego trailed early as Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri made a 23-yard field goal.
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Jim Martin (American football)


the first player in NFL history to kick two field goals longer than 50 yards in one game. He was selected for the Pro Bowl, the NFL's annual all-star game, in 1961 after leading the team in scoring with 15 field goals and 25 extra points. Martin, who had become the Lions' all-time leading field goal kicker in 1961, left the team the following February to take a job as an assistant coach with the Denver Broncos, a team in the American Football League. He returned
1174332
History of Monday Night Football


on to become the second kicker in NFL history not to miss either a field goal or extra point in a single season after Gary Anderson, who accomplished the feat in the 1998 season as a member of the Minnesota Vikings. Vanderjagt did not miss a kick in the playoffs either, making him the first kicker to accomplish that feat (Anderson missed a field goal in the 1998-99 NFC Championship Game). On December 22, 2003, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre put on one of the most defining moments of
13767346
Heinz Field


9, which was also their first home opener loss since Heinz Field opened. The longest NFL field goal ever kicked in Heinz Field is 53 yards. Dallas Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey first set the record in 2016. That record was tied on November 26, 2017 by Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell in a game-winning effort over the Green Bay Packers with 4 seconds remaining in the game, resulting in a 31-28 win. In collegiate play, University of Pittsburgh kicker Alex Kessman kicked a 55-yard field goal against the
1114879
Jerry Kramer


the first two Super Bowls. He was also the team's placekicker in 1962, 1963, and part of 1968. As a kicker, he made 29 field goals, 90 extra points, for a total of 177 points. He also scored ten points, on three field goals and an extra point, in the Packers 16−7 victory over the New York Giants in the 1962 NFL Championship Game at frigid Yankee Stadium. In 1963, he was jovially described as "the best knuckleball kicker in the NFL." In college
3845153
2010 Green Bay Packers season


wide receiver Shawn Gore, safety Anthony Levine and nose tackle Aleric Mullins after they attended a minicamp on a tryout basis. Notes: The Packers began their season at Lincoln Financial Field against the Philadelphia Eagles, who were wearing throwback uniforms commemorating the 50th anniversary of the teams' victory over the Packers in the 1960 NFL Championship Game. Green Bay trailed in the first quarter as Eagles kicker David Akers made a 45-yard field goal. The Packers would then take control in the second quarter as kicker Mason Crosby nailed a 49-yard field goal
283845
Joaquin Zendejas


He was the first of the Zendejas family to reach the NFL. He made his only field goal attempt (a 49-yarder) during the preseason. He was waived on August 24, after not being able to pass Rolf Benirschke on the depth chart. On December 6, 1983, he was signed as a free agent by the New England Patriots, to replace kicker Fred Steinfort, who had missed 6 of his last 8 field goal attempts. He appeared in the last 2 games and became the first kicker in Patriots history
6600204
Jason Elam


of 34 field-goal attempts (.853) with a long of 52 yards for the Broncos. He accounted for 129 of Denver 381 points in 2004 (87 points on field goals, 42 on PATs) for his 12th consecutive 100-point season. Also in 2004, he notched in 300th career field goal against the Carolina Panthers, becoming the fastest kicker in NFL history to reach that mark and one of only 16 kickers with 300 or more field goals. He helped Denver overcome a stingy defense vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers by
21158161
Field goal


was nearly universal by the late 1970s; the last straight-on kicker in the NFL was Mark Moseley, who retired in 1986. If there is any time left in the half, the method of resuming play after a successful field goal varies between leagues. A missed field goal is said to be "no good" if the kicked ball does not cross between the uprights and over the crossbar of the goal posts. If it misses to the posts' left it may be called "wide left" and "wide
9362673
Steve Crosby


, kicker Nate Kaeding (2-times) and long snapper David Binn. Additionally, punter Mike Scifres was a Pro Bowl first-alternate four times, and kick returner Darren Sproles was a first-alternate once and a second alternate twice. Kaeding, who started his NFL career under Crosby, was the NFL’s most accurate kicker of all-time as of the end of the 2010 season, converting 86.5% of his field goals attempts. The "San Diego Union-Tribune" wrote that Crosby's special teams unit in
14050870
Super Bowl XLIV


-out. The Colts offense took the field for the first time, with the ball spotted at their own 27-yard line. The Colts put together a drive that went 53 yards and resulted in a 38-yard field goal by kicker Matt Stover. At 42 years old, Stover became the oldest person in NFL history to play in a Super Bowl. Following the game's first score, Courtney Roby returned the ensuing kickoff to the New Orleans 26-yard line. Approaching the 25-yard line, Roby swooped into a dive and appeared to fumble
220787
Justin Tucker


win against the Detroit Lions in a Monday Night Football game at Ford Field in Detroit on December 16, including a personal (and franchise) record 61-yard field goal in the last minute to seal the victory. During the game, Tucker became the first kicker in NFL history to kick a field goal in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and 60s in the same game. Tucker's 61-yard field goal also set the NFL record for longest field goal in a domed stadium. Tucker was elected to his first Pro
20278863
Steve Addazio


in the 4th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the New York Giants. Addazio also had the luxury of coaching one of the best place-kickers in the nation that season, Nate Freese, who, despite owning a 100% kicking percentage, was not a Lou Groza Award finalist. Freese made 20/20 field goals, including a game-winning 53-yard field goal against the Maryland Terrapins. Freese was drafted in the 7th round of the 2014 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions. Other standout players include senior linebacker Kevin Pierre
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Nate Kaeding


Nathaniel James Kaeding (born March 26, 1982) is a former American football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played the majority of his career with the San Diego Chargers and retired after the 2012 season as the second-most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, having made 86.2 percent of his career attempts. Playing college football for the Iowa Hawkeyes, Kaeding earned All-American honors and won the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the top collegiate kicker
2975986
Field goal


the NFL) or at the line of scrimmage (in the NCAA). In American high school rules and Canadian football, where a missed field goal is treated the same as a punt, most teams still opt not to attempt field goals from very long range since field goal formations are not conducive to covering kick returns. Even under ideal conditions, the best professional kickers historically had difficulty making kicks longer than 50 yards consistently (the NFL record is 64 yards and the CFL record, 62 yards). If a team
9362665
Bob Timberlake (American football)


new system that would emphasize rushing quarterbacks. Timberlake did not get the quarterback spot with the Giants and was assigned as kickoff specialist; he was also used as a kicker on long field goals for the 1965 NFL season. In a nationally televised game on October 3, 1965, at Pittsburgh, Timberlake hit a 43-yard field goal in a 23–13 win. Timberlake’s kick against the Pittsburgh Steelers was the last field goal by any Giants kicker that season. Early in an October 24 game against the Cleveland Browns, the Giants'
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Mason Crosby


NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (the first rookie kicker to receive this honor on opening weekend). Crosby was awarded the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November 2007. He led all NFL kickers with 54 points and tied for the lead with 12 field goals as the Packers posted a 4-1 mark. Crosby converted 12 of 15 field goals during November and was a perfect 18-for-18 on PATs. He had at least one field goal in every game, including four in the Week 9 win at Kansas
2942989
2008 Atlanta Falcons season


the win. With the win, Atlanta improved to 3–2. Coming off their road win over the Packers, the Falcons went home for a Week 6 duel with the Chicago Bears. In the first quarter, Atlanta took flight as kicker Jason Elam got a 29-yard and a 48-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Falcons increased their lead as Elam kicked a 32-yard field goal. The Bears responded with kicker Robbie Gould getting a 36-yard field goal. Entering Sunday game with the Bears, the Falcons led the NFL in
6656951
Dave Rayner


the first Lions kicker to accomplish this feat. The win ended the Lions NFL-record 26 game road losing streak. On January 2, 2011 against the Minnesota Vikings, Rayner kicked a career-long 55-yard field goal. Only Jason Hanson had kicked a longer field goal as Lions kicker. On August 29, 2011, Rayner was released by the Lions. On August 30, 2011, Rayner signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, becoming one of four kickers in training camp along with Dan Bailey, David
13677343
Robbie Gould


field goal attempts including two more overtime game-winners, becoming the fourth kicker of overtime game-winning field goals in back-to-back games in NFL history. He converted 26 of 29 field-goal attempts (89.7 percent) in 2008, breaking his own franchise single-season record for accuracy. Going into the 2009 season, he had converted 84.8 of his career field goal attempts. He has missed three extra point attempts in his NFL career. On May 12, 2008, he signed a five-
5282996
2006 Seattle Seahawks season


still kicked a 54-yard field goal to win the game, 30–28. Brown's kick was tied for the second longest game-winning field goal in NFL history, behind Tom Dempsey's 63-yard effort in 1970. (It would be supplanted a week later by Tampa Bay kicker Matt Bryant's 62-yard field goal in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.) Brown also became the first player in NFL history to make 3 field goals of 49 yards or longer in the same quarter. In the third quarter, Brown achieved the equally
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Dan Bailey (American football)


after the team decided to keep Canadian Football League journeyman Brett Maher who although had a solid preseason (including a 57-yard field goal), had never kicked in an NFL regular-season game. Bailey had made his only attempt in the preseason (a 35-yard field goal). The team saved $3.4 million against the salary cap with the move. He left the Cowboys as the second most accurate kicker in NFL history (88.2%). Bailey also holds the Cowboys record for most consecutive extra points made (275)
14226907
Justin Yoon


set the record for the longest made field goal in Under Armour All-America Game's history. On February 4, 2015, National Signing Day, Yoon signed to play college football at Notre Dame. As incumbent starting kicker Kyle Brindza had graduated and left for the NFL the previous spring, Yoon immediately became the starting kicker for the Fighting Irish. Notre Dame sophomore Tyler Newsome handled the punting and kickoff duties, while Yoon handled field goals and point after attempts. After beginning the season 3 of 5 on field goal attempts
13034130
2011–12 NFL playoffs


Giants quarterback Eli Manning. The Giants received the opening kickoff, and scored on the opening drive with a 31-yard field goal by kicker Lawrence Tynes. The Packers responded with a game-tying field goal on their opening drive, when their kicker Mason Crosby hit a 47-yard field goal. New York scored again on the following drive as Manning threw a 66-yard touchdown pass to receiver Hakeem Nicks. Once again, the Packers responded on the following drive when Aaron Rodgers threw a touchdown pass to fullback John Kuhn on the first play of
17080884
2010 Baltimore Ravens season


12-yard TD run. The Ravens got the lead back after kicker Billy Cundiff made a 26 and a 39-yard field goal. The Dolphins narrowed the lead with kicker Dan Carpenter nailing a 19-yard field goal. The Ravens took control after Flacco found WR Derrick Mason on a 12-yard TD pass. This was followed in the 4th quarter by Cundiff hitting a 20 and a 24-yard field goal. The Ravens in this game were the 3rd team in NFL history to have a game without a turnover or have to punt. With the win,
1949941
2008–09 NFL playoffs


up Rackers' fourth field goal. Carolina managed to respond with an 8-yard touchdown pass from Delhomme to Steve Smith, but by then there were only 53 seconds left in the game. In what would turn out to be the final playoff game ever played at Giants Stadium, the Eagles defense forced three turnovers and only allowed the Giants to score three field goals despite five drives inside the Philadelphia 20-yard line. Meanwhile, Eagles kicker David Akers' three field goals gave him an NFL record 18 consecutive field goals in the postseason without
1650748
1991–92 NFL playoffs


offense got on track with a pivotal 25-yard third down completion by Kelly to tight end Keith McKeller. A few runs by hobbled Buffalo running back Thurman Thomas and a 10-yard catch by Reed carried the Bills to within field goal range, and with 4:18 left in the game, Buffalo kicker Scott Norwood made a 44-yard field goal to increase the lead to 10–0. Kubiak, who was playing in his last NFL game before retiring, started out the Broncos next drive with an 11-yard scramble and then a completion to Johnson at midfield.
19944491
Alex Henery


in the fourth round of the 2011 NFL Draft with the 120th overall pick. He began the season as the Eagles' starting placekicker, and set a new NFL record for field goal accuracy by a rookie kicker. In Week 16, he kicked a career-best 51-yard field goal in a 20−7 win over the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium. In his second year with the Eagles, he set a franchise record by making 18 consecutive field goals, and went on to extend the record to 22 (then-longest active
7271338
Cairo Santos


goals in the 30–27 overtime victory against Denver Broncos including a game-winning 34-yard field goal attempt that bounced off the left upright with five seconds left in overtime in Week 12. In November, Santos was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for the first time in his career after converting 11 of 11 field goals and all five extra points. Santos was the team season scoring leader and sixth in NFL season. He also was the seventh (tied) kicker with most field goals made in NFL season. After missing
20389901
Harrison Butker


Redskins. In the following game against the Houston Texans, Butker made all five of his field goal attempts and all three extra point tries. In Week 8, he converted five field goals, including a 51-yarder, in a 29–19 win over the Denver Broncos, earning himself AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and AFC Special Teams Player of the Month. In his first month in the NFL he earned two NFL records: Most made field goals in a month for a rookie kicker and the only player to make five field
4146634
Tony Franklin (kicker)


round draft choice in the 1985 NFL Draft. He led the NFL in scoring (140 points) and field goals made (32) in 1986 and was selected to represent the AFC in the Pro Bowl. He played in Super Bowl XX and kicked a 36-yard field goal. The 32 field goals he made in 1986 was a Patriots single-season franchise record until Stephen Gostkowski broke the record in 2008. After being cut by New England, Franklin was out of football until 1988, when an injury crisis led the Miami
12708537
Roger Ruzek


the kicking competition. He made 22 of 25 (88%) field goal attempts, ranking second in the NFL and breaking a franchise record. His 92 points tied for fourth in the league among kickers. Against the New York Giants he tied an NFL record with 4 field goals made in one quarter (the most ever made in a fourth quarter). Against the Los Angeles Rams, he set a franchise mark with 5 field goals made (tied by Eddie Murray in 1993). In 1989, he was replaced
15111446
1958 NFL Championship Game


win by blocking a Lions field goal attempt as time expired in the game. In the final game of the regular season, the Giants defeated the Cleveland Browns with Pat Summerall's game-winning 49-yard field goal on the final play (the longest field goal made in the entire season among all NFL kickers). The win enabled them to tie the Browns for the conference title, and though the Giants had won both games against Cleveland in the regular season, the rules of the time required a tiebreaker playoff game on December
15993648
Shayne Graham


record their first winning season since 1990. Graham was the first kicker in franchise history ever to be selected to play in a Pro Bowl. In 2005, Graham set the NFL record for tackles by a kicker with 11 combined (7 plus 4 assists.) In 2006, Graham finished fourth in the AFC with 115 points and was 25-of-30 (83.3%) on field goals on the season. In 2007, Graham missed his first field goal attempt of the season (a 53-yard attempt). But after that, he
4311899
Gary Anderson (placekicker)


to the NFL's All-Decade teams of the 1980s and 1990s, as well as the Steelers All-Time Team. As a member of the Vikings in 1998, Anderson became the first NFL kicker to successfully convert every field goal and point after touchdown during regular season play. During the postseason, however, he missed a critical field goal in the 1998 NFC Championship Game, which is regarded as a primary factor in the Vikings' subsequent defeat. Anderson continued to play in the NFL for six more seasons before retiring
8196713
2002–03 NFL playoffs


touchdown. This was featured on the NFL's Greatest Games as One Wild Finish, and was #4 on NFL Top 10's "Top Ten Comebacks". The third time was the charm for Titans kicker Joe Nedney. After missing the potential game-winning field goal at the end of regulation time, and a second failed kick in overtime was negated because of a controversial running-into-the-kicker penalty on Pittsburgh's Dewayne Washington, Nedney won the game from 26 yards out 2:15 into overtime. Steelers coach
7728083
George Blanda


Chargers, 20–17. In the AFC title game against the Baltimore Colts, Blanda again relieved an injured Lamonica, completing 17 of 32 passes for 217 yards and 2 touchdowns while also kicking a 48-yard field goal and two extra points, keeping the Raiders in the game until the final quarter, when he was intercepted twice. Aged 43, he became the oldest quarterback ever to play in a championship game, and was one of the few remaining straight-ahead kickers in the NFL. Blanda's achievements resulted in his winning the
174486
Jeff Wilkins


field goals and two extra points in the Rams 23–16 win over the Tennessee Titans. He also kicked a 50-yard field goal in the Rams 20–17 loss in Super Bowl XXXVI. Wilkins was the last player to kick barefoot in the NFL, doing so for the first seven games of the 2002 season. In 2003, Wilkins kicked an NFL record-tying 39 field goals (then shared with former Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears kicker Olindo Mare), which stood until surpassed by Neil Rackers'
17223666
Rick Danmeier


, when he missed only two field goals from inside the 40, and converted on 21 of 25 field goal attempts. He appeared in nine games for the Vikings in 1982, his last season with the team. Danmeier was one of the last kickers to employ the straight-on style of kicking. Danmeier's retirement in 1982 left Washington Redskins kicker Mark Moseley as the only remaining placekicker in the NFL to employ the style. Danmeier was inducted to the University of Sioux Falls Cougars hall of fame in 2000. He works
21696143
Rob Hart


In 1999, he was signed by the Scottish Claymores. Hart missed a game-tying 42-yard field goal in World Bowl 2000 with eight seconds left. Two years later, Hart converted all ten field goals and twenty points after touchdowns, and the year after, was NFL Europe's leading scorer with 64 points. After tryouts in the NFL, Hart returned to the Claymores in 2004. Hart finished his NFL Europe career as one of the league's top kickers, being a two-time All-League member. During
11149702
Jason Elam


kicked a 63-yard field goal to end the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars, tying Tom Dempsey's 28-year-old record for the longest field goal in NFL history. His cleats from the game are currently on display in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Elam also scored the 20,000th televised point on "ABC Monday Night Football". He tied for third in the AFC (tied for fifth in the NFL) in scoring by kickers, and his 58 extra-point conversions ranked second in the NFL while also representing a
21158147
Super Bowl XXX


Hastings returned 48 punts for 474 yards and a touchdown. The Steelers' rushing attack was led by Erric Pegram, who recorded 813 yards and five touchdowns, and Bam Morris, who had 559 yards and nine touchdowns. On special teams, newly acquired kicker Norm Johnson led the NFL in both field goals made (34) and field goals attempted (41), while also successfully making all 39 of his extra point attempts. Leading the offensive line was future Hall of Fame center Dermontti Dawson, who made the Pro Bowl
9755763
Super Bowl XLII


that set up Lawrence Tynes's game-winning 47-yard field goal. The field goal was the longest by a visiting kicker in Lambeau Field postseason history. This turned out to be the final game Brett Favre played for the Packers. Meanwhile, the Patriots continued to set NFL records on their road to the Super Bowl. First, Brady set the NFL record for completion percentage in a single game (92.9%) with 26 of 28 completions for 268 yards and three touchdowns in their 31–20 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in the
5966246
2008 Detroit Lions season


successive NFL season to see a team start out 0–12 after the Miami Dolphins in 2007. Next, the Lions stayed at home for a Week 14 NFC North rematch with newly signed veteran quarterback Daunte Culpepper's former team, the Minnesota Vikings. In the first quarter, Detroit was on the board first as kicker Jason Hanson got a 25-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Lions increased their lead as Hanson got a 23-yard field goal. The Vikings would close out the half as kicker Ryan Longwell got a 35-yard field
12311516
Chris Boswell


a game-winning 53-yard field goal in Week 12 (November 26, 2017) to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-28 as time expired. His game-winner set a new career-long and tied kicker Dan Bailey's record set in 2016 for the longest NFL field goal ever kicked at Heinz Field (53 yards) in its 17-year history. The only longer successful attempt was in collegiate play when former Old Dominion kicker Jarod Brown made a 54-yard kick against the Pitt Panthers in 2013. In Week 13,
139931
Rich Karlis


Richard John Karlis (born May 23, 1959) is a former American Football placekicker who played nine seasons for the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings, and Detroit Lions in the National Football League from 1982 to 1990. He played college football at the University of Cincinnati and is known as the last of the field goal kickers who kicked barefoot full-time in the NFL. Karlis is best known for kicking the game-winning field goal in overtime for Denver against the Cleveland Browns in the to reach Super Bowl XXI. He
7950228
2001 Vanderbilt Commodores football team


. Lance Garner of Kempner, Texas was the heir apparent to kicker John Markham, who departed as the Commodores’ all-time leading scorer. Markham, who made 14-of-18 field goals in 2000, was the second place-kicker taken in April's NFL draft, going to the New York Giants in the fifth round 162 pick. Widenhofer did not make any bold predictions for the year. His only comment to the media before the start of spring practice in March was that he was "cautiously optimistic" about the 2001
15673455
Placekicker


(One player often handles both jobs in the Canadian Football League, which has smaller active rosters than in the NFL.) A professional team will occasionally even have a kickoff specialist who handles only the kickoffs and serves as a backup to the kicker who handles field goals and extra points. This is typically done to further protect a premier point-scoring kicker from injury or if he, while accurate, does not have sufficient distance on kickoffs. Amateur teams (e.g., college or high school) often do not differentiate between
8196819
2017 Oakland Raiders season


4:49 remaining. Another Tavecchio field goal, this time from 43 yards out, extended the lead to 26–16 with 1:14 left in the game. The Titans could muster no more, missing a 52-yard field goal with 12 seconds remaining as the Raiders pulled out the win 26–16. In the win, Tavecchio became the first kicker in NFL history to make two 50-yard field goals in an NFL debut. Following his performance, Tavecchio was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Marshawn Lynch ran for 76 yards on 18 carries in
18982012
Wichita State Shockers


1979. In 1978 place kicker Joe Williams tied University of Arkansas All-American kicker Steve Little and University of Texas kicker Russell Erxleben for the longest kick in NCAA history after kicking a 67-yard field goal. That record still stands today. Defensive end Jumpy Geathers was the last WSU football player to play in the NFL and also had the longest NFL career. His career spanned from 1984–1996, playing for the New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, and Denver Broncos. He also won Super Bowl XXVI with the Redskins
2940715
Chris Boswell


, Boswell kicked a season-long 49-yard field goal against the Cincinnati Bengals. On October 23, Boswell kicked three field goals but missed two against the New England Patriots. On November 20, Boswell kicked three field goals against the Cleveland Browns. On December 11, Boswell kicked two field goals against the Buffalo Bills. On December 18, Boswell kicked a career-high six field goals against the Cincinnati Bengals. He is the first kicker in NFL history to convert at least six field goals in a game and have five
139928
Icing the kicker


the game, those kickers tended to be more accurate. A study was also undertaken by Scott Berry, a statistician and the former chairman of the Statistics in Sports section of the American Statistical Association, and Craig Wood, a biostatistician, life-long Pittsburgh Steeler fan, who won the Inaugural Henry Hood Center for Health Research Pillar Award, was published in 2004 in the journal "Chance". Berry and Wood looked at every field-goal attempt made in the 2002 and 2003 NFL seasons, including playoffs, and concluded
18302331
John Carney (American football)


relegated to kickoff duties. At age 44, Carney was the oldest active NFL player during the 2008 season. After a near perfect season (35-for-38 on field goal attempts with two blocked), Carney was chosen as the starting kicker for the NFC for the 2009 Pro Bowl. Carney was not re-signed after his contract expired, leaving him a free agent entering the 2009 season. Following the announcement that New Orleans Saints placekicker Garrett Hartley would be suspended the first four games of the 2009 season, Carney returned to New
19290456
Russ Purnell


the 20 in 1999 and 2000. Baltimore led the NFL with a 14.8-yard punt return average in 2000, while Lewis (36-16.1 avg.) had the highest seasonal average for any player with 30-plus returns in NFL history and had two returns for touchdowns against the New York Jets. Purnell served as special teams coach for the Indianapolis Colts under Tony Dungy from 2002–08. Under Purnell’s guidance, kicker Mike Vanderjagt (217/248, 87.5 pct.) became the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, and he set
10488118
Ola Kimrin


goal attempts in 1997. In 1999, he played on the Swedish national team that won bronze at the 1999 IFAF World Championship in Italy, the first ever IFAF World Championship. Kimrin played for NFL Europe in 2001 and 2002. In the 2002 season, he led NFL Europe kickers in scoring (57 points) for the Frankfurt Galaxy, converting 12-of-24 field goals (long of 52) and 20-of-22 extra point attempts. He then signed a free agent contract with the Denver Broncos and kicked a 65-yard field goal in the final
22098539
Field goal range


since the field in indoor football (including both end zones) is only 66 yards. Scaccia, while playing indoor football, attempted a 64-yard kick that was inches short of success, hitting the crossbar. Longer field goals have been attempted at times; the longest attempt in the NFL, which was well short and was kicked into the wind, was 76 yards, attempted by Sebastian Janikowski of the Oakland Raiders, in a September 28, 2008 game against the San Diego Chargers. NFL Europe rewarded kickers that successfully kicked a
20025209
2007 Atlanta Falcons season


goal. Houston ended the half with kicker Kris Brown getting a 42-yard field goal. In the third quarter, the Texans drew close with Brown kicking a 37-yard field goal. The Falcons responded with Andersen getting a 36-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Houston tried to retaliate with Brown kicking a 19-yard field goal. Again, Atlanta answered with Andersen nailing a 46-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Falcons held on to give head coach Bobby Petrino his first NFL victory. With the win, the Falcons snapped a six-
10983580
Minnesota Vikings


finished the season 15–1, their only loss was to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 27–24 in Week 9. In the playoffs, the Vikings rolled past the Arizona Cardinals 41–21, and came into the Metrodome heavily favored for their NFC title showdown with the Atlanta Falcons, who had gone 14–2 in the regular season. After kicker Gary Anderson, who had just completed the first perfect regular season in NFL history (not missing a single extra point or field goal attempt the entire year), missed a 38-yard field goal attempt with just over
3452
Bob Waterfield


, punters, and place-kickers in the NFL, he set NFL career place-kicking records with 315 extra points and 60 field goals, as well as a single-season record with 54 extra points in 1950, and a single-game record with five field goals in a game. Waterfield was married to movie actress Jane Russell from 1943 to 1968. During the 1950s, Waterfield also worked in the motion picture business, initially as an actor and later as a producer. He remained involved in football as an
10773356
Greg Zuerlein (American football)


below the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision since Paul Ernster in 2005. The Rams cut their primary kicker Josh Brown, who was in the final year of his $14.5 million five-year deal, the same weekend they drafted Zuerlein. Zuerlein made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Detroit Lions and converted two extra point attempts and three field goal attempts in the 27–23 loss. In Week 3, against the Chicago Bears, he made a 56-yard field goal, the longest at Soldier Field. In Week 4,
18223335
Alan Gendreau


field goals to start the season. Despite his strong second half, interest from the NFL waned. He finished his college career with 295 points, the most in Sun Belt Conference history. Scouting reports leading up to the 2012 NFL Draft rated Gendreau as an average kicker. With only 62 field goal attempts in college—just over one per game—he did not receive attention from many NFL teams. He also did not have an agent and he did not know how to obtain one. He went undrafted. Gendreau stayed
20140707
Trick play


the punter or backup quarterback on most teams) will throw or run as with the fake punt. Danny White was both quarterback and punter for the Dallas Cowboys in the 1980s and often executed this play. Less frequently, the placekicker, who virtually never handles the ball in an American football game, will serve as the passer or rusher on a fake field goal. Examples include then-New England kicker Adam Vinatieri receiving a direct snap and throwing a touchdown pass during an NFL game in 2004, and LSU kicker Colt David
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Giorgio Tavecchio


. He tied with Los Angeles Rams' kicker Greg Zuerlein for the most points scored by a kicker in Week 1 with 14. He became the first player to hit two 50-plus yard field goals on his debut in NFL history. Tavecchio's performance in Week 1 earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In the next game, a 45–20 victory over the New York Jets, he had a season-high six extra points converted to go along with a 29-yard field goal. Overall, he finished the 2017 season
11444768
Field goal range


line of scrimmage is at the 30, the field goal would be 47 yards (in American football) or 37 yards (in Canadian football). The exact field goal range varies for each team, depending on the ability of the team's placekicker. While some weaker placekickers may have trouble kicking field goals longer than 30 yards (making field goals from beyond the 13 difficult), others may consistently make 50-yarders, making it practical to kick from beyond the 33. For most NFL kickers, the 35-yard line is typically
20025201
1980–81 NFL playoffs


41 seconds left in the game to preserve Oakland's 14–12 victory. Instead of opting for a game-winning field goal, Cleveland decided to attempt a passing play because Browns kicker Don Cockroft had previously missed two of four field goal attempts, had another aborted following a bad snap, and had one extra point blocked. In addition, the field was frozen and slippery. With the game-time temperature at , the coldest NFL game since the Ice Bowl of December 31, 1967, the first quarter contained nothing but punts
22018824
Tony Franklin (kicker)


is also a member of the Sun Bowl's 75th Anniversary All-Sun Bowl Team. Franklin was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the third round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He was credited with the fourth longest field goal (at the time) in NFL history during his rookie year with the Eagles, a 59-yarder at Dallas on November 12, 1979. Franklin played in Super Bowl XV and kicked a 30-yard field goal. On February 21, 1984, Franklin was traded to the New England Patriots for a sixth-
12708536
Klaus Wilmsmeyer


Klaus Wilmsmeyer (born December 4, 1967) is a former American football punter in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, and the Miami Dolphins. He attended Lorne Park Secondary School and played college football at the University of Louisville. Highschool: Lorne Park Secondary School. At the University of Louisville, Klaus was also the team's field goal kicker. His 52-yard field goal in 1989 is tied for the longest in school history. As an NFL punter, Klaus was part of the San Francisco 49ers
15283312
Warren Moon


time running out in the final period. Moon managed to lead the Oilers on a last-second field goal drive to tie the game at 38 and force overtime, but threw an interception in the extra period that set up Buffalo kicker Steve Christie's game-winning field goal. The Bills' rally from a 32-point deficit was the largest comeback victory in NFL history and is now known in NFL lore simply as the Comeback. Moon finished the game with 36 completions for 371 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions.
17217285
1991–92 NFL playoffs


six passes for 78 yards in this game, and James Lofton, who had missed the last two regular season games with an ankle injury. The Bills crushed the Chiefs by jumping to a 24–0 lead in the third quarter. Buffalo quarterback Jim Kelly threw for 278 yards and three touchdowns. Bills kicker Scott Norwood, who had missed five of his last six field goal attempts at the end of the regular season, made all three field goal attempts, while Andre Reed finished with four receptions for 100 yards and two touchdowns.
19944472
Brandon Coutu


kicker in Georgia history to have over 80% field goal accuracy. All these things were accomplished after turning down scholarships at other schools for soccer and being a walk-on on Georgia's football team. Coutu was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He was one of only two kickers picked by NFL teams in that draft. He was waived by the team on September 5, 2009. Coutu was re-signed by the Seahawks on July 30, 2011 to replace Olindo Mare
6410069
History of the Pittsburgh Steelers


the ensuing Colts drive, leaving the Colts with just one last chance to tie and send the game into overtime. But Colts kicker Mike Vanderjagt, one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, missed a 46-yard field goal attempt—wide right—with :18 left in the fourth quarter. The game was the first time in NFL history that a sixth seed (Pittsburgh) defeated a first seed (Indianapolis Colts) in the playoffs. It also marked the first time that a sixth seed would get to play in
964624
1974–75 NFL playoffs


set up Moses Denson's 1-yard rushing touchdown to give Washington their first lead at 10–7. Two Washington turnovers in the second half set up two field goals by Rams kicker David Ray. In the fourth quarter, coach George Allen replaced Kilmer with Sonny Jurgensen. With the Redskins driving for the possible tying field goal, defensive tackle Merlin Olsen pressured Jurgensen into throwing the game clinching interception to Robertson, who weaved his way back and forth across the field as he ran to the end zone. The extra point kick failed, but
17171863
2008 Cincinnati Bengals season


into their bye week at 1–8, the win also made the Lions the only winless NFL team. Coming off their bye week, the Bengals stayed at home for a Week 11 interconference duel with the Philadelphia Eagles. After a scoreless first quarter, Cincinnati pounced as kicker Shayne Graham got a 20-yard field goal. The Eagles responded as kicker David Akers got a 42-yard field goal. The Bengals would close out the half as QB Ryan Fitzpatrick completed a 26-yard TD pass to WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh. In the third quarter, Cincinnati increased
17562433
Cairo Santos


, he became the first Brazilian born player ever to play in an NFL regular season game in a 26–10 loss to the Tennessee Titans (which was also the team of the kicker Santos replaced), also kicking his first career field goal. After missing two field goals in his first two games, he made his next 13 field goal attempts, including a clutch game-winning field goal with 26 seconds left in a Week 7 win over the San Diego Chargers and a 53-yard field goal the following week against the St. Louis
20389896
2007 Baltimore Ravens season


his former team, who made their first-ever visit to Buffalo in their twelfth NFL season. With McNair still out with injuries, QB Kyle Boller was given the start. In the first quarter, Baltimore trailed early as Bills kicker Rian Lindell got a 29-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, the Ravens continued to struggle as Lindell increased Buffalo's lead with 26-yard and a 35-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Baltimore got back into the game as McGahee ran 43 yards
15574847
2008 Arizona Cardinals season


With the score at 7–3, Akers missed a 47-yard field goal attempt, the first he missed in his last 20 attempts in the postseason, an NFL Record. The Cardinals answered in the second quarter as Warner hooked up with Fitzgerald again on a flea-flicker, Warner to Arrington, back to Warner, who threw it to Fitzgerald for a 62-yard TD pass. Philadelphia struck back as Akers made a 33-yard field goal, but Arizona closed out the half with Warner's one-yard touchdown pass to Fitzgerald and kicker Neil
18118164
2011 Denver Broncos season


send the game into overtime. On the Dolphins' second possession in overtime, Broncos' linebacker D. J. Williams forced a fumble off Moore, giving the Broncos possession at the Dolphins' 36-yard line. Four plays later, kicker Matt Prater, who had missed two field goals in the first half, nailed the game-winning 52-yard field goal. Notes With the win, the Broncos earned their 400th win in franchise history, their first-ever win at Miami in eight tries, and became the first team in NFL history
18910965
Nate Kaeding


, Kaeding was 3-for-9 on field goal attempts at home and 8-for-15 (53.3%) overall in eight playoff games. In 2011, Kaeding was injured on the first play of the season when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, causing him to miss the duration of the season and necessitated the signing of Nick Novak. Kaeding ended the 2011 season as the NFL’s most accurate kicker of all-time, converting 86.5% of his field goals attempts. He competed for his job in 2012 and beat out Novak, who also
2975993
Randy Bullock


the fifth round of the 2012 NFL Draft, with the 161st overall pick, becoming the first kicker ever drafted by the team. His draft profiles agreed that he has tremendous leg strength for field goals and kickoffs, along with his accuracy on long and short kicks. NFL draft analysts noted that Bullock takes a consistent, controlled approach to each kick, getting enough rise to avoid blocks. Bullock was competing with veteran Shayne Graham for the placekicker position. He had made 3 of 4 field goal attempts in the preseason, with
11148813
Randy Bullock


with his misses typically coming on field goal attempts beyond 50 yards in 2013. During the 2014 season, he finished the season as the 6th-ranked NFL kicker based on his performance of making 30 of 35 field goal attempts in the regular season, with a long of 55 yards. He made 4 of 5 attempts (80%) beyond 50 yards that season. He also converted 100% of his 40 extra point attempts. Bullock added 40 touchbacks in the 2014 regular season, the 12th most in the NFL that
11148817
Garrett Hartley


Garrett Hartley (born May 16, 1986) is a former American football placekicker. He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008. Later that year he became the placekicker for the New Orleans Saints, for whom he set an NFL record (now surpassed) for most consecutive successful field goals to start a career, and then became the first kicker in NFL history to convert three field goals of more than 40 yards in the Super Bowl. He played college football at Oklahoma. Hartley has also
19422224
Jason Elam


NFL record for consecutive extra points (371, later broken by Matt Stover), saw the streak end against Indianapolis Colts. In 2003, he played all 16 regular-season games and converted 27 of 31 field goal attempts (.871) and all 39 extra point attempts to account for 120 points, third most in the AFC (fourth in NFL) among kickers. In the season opener at the Cincinnati Bengals, he made all three field goal attempts (51, 27, 39) and totaled 12 points to eclipse
21158158
Rolf Benirschke


field goal that defeated the Chargers, prompting a meeting with San Diego owner Alex Spanos over Benirschke's loyalties. Although Benirschke had the third-highest field goal percentage in NFL history, the Chargers selected punter/kicker Ralf Mojsiejenko in the 1985 NFL Draft to provide competition. On August 31, 1987, Benirschke was traded to the Dallas Cowboys for a draft pick after he lost his job to rookie Vince Abbott. He was released by Dallas on September 7, and formally announced his retirement in December. After 10 years with
4060953
Bill Gramática


In the NFL, he made 37 of his 48 field goal attempts and 60 of his 61 extra point attempts. In 2006, Gramática returned to football as the kicker for the Tampa Bay Storm of the Arena Football League. In contrast to his NFL start, Gramática's Arena Football career was lackluster in comparison; he made 65 of 71 extra points attempts and was just 8 for 18 on field goal attempts. During his time with the New Orleans Saints, Martin Gramática witnessed the devastation Hurricane Katrina left and wanted to give
7959281
David Kimball


State, his major was Recreation & Park Management. Originally a seventh round selection (#229 overall) of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2004 NFL Draft, Kimball stood little chance making the squad over Mike Vanderjagt, the NFL's all-time most accurate field goal kicker. He was released by the Colts after training camp on September 1, 2004. He signed with the New York Giants on January 7, 2005, but was waived during camp on August 18, 2005 in favor of veteran kicker Jay Feely. Kimball
20857269
Antonio Cromartie


award. The following week, Cromartie made NFL history. Minnesota Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell came onto the field to attempt a 58-yard field goal to end the first half. The Chargers put Cromartie in the endzone to return the field goal in case of a missed kick. The field goal attempt missed the goalposts and fell toward the back of the endzone. Cromartie intercepted the football, came down with both feet in bounds, two inches from the back of the end zone, and began the return. Cromartie returned the missed field
17988088
1994 Miami Dolphins season


his last NFL game before retiring, threw two touchdowns in the first half: a 1-yard completion to tight end Derrick Walker and a 57-yarder to running back Kimble Anders. Meanwhile, Kansas City kicker Lin Elliot made a 21-yard field goal. For Miami in the first half, running back Bernie Parmalee scored a 1-yard touchdown, quarterback Dan Marino threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to tight end Ronnie Williams, and kicker Pete Stoyanovich made a 40-yard field goal. The Dolphins then took the opening kickoff of the second half and marched 64 yards
5271700
David Buehler


finished 10th in the league in scoring (112) and tied for 13th in total field goals made (24). Although Buehler hit a career long field goal of 53 yards on November 25, 2010, against the New Orleans Saints, he also missed a 59-yard field goal which had a chance to tie the game up. He suffered from inconsistency, making only 24 out of 32 field goals attempts, ranking 30th out of 32 NFL kickers. In 2011, his accuracy problems caused the Cowboys to open up the kicking
18078642
Josh Scobee


a 12-7 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on "Monday Night Football". Three of his field goals were over 50 yards in length, including two field goals of 54 yards each. Scobee's three 50+ yard field goals tied an NFL record for most 50+ yard field goals in a single game with five other kickers including Neil Rackers, Morten Andersen, and Sebastian Janikowski. On July 16, 2012, Scobee agreed to a four-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars after receiving a franchise tag earlier in
8464682
Field goal


the 2010 NFL season was 82.3. In comparison, Jan Stenerud, one of only two pure kickers in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (along with Ray Guy), had a career field goal percentage of 66.8 from 1967 to 1985. When a team decides to attempt a field goal, it will generally line up in a very tight formation, with all but two players lined up along or near the line of scrimmage: the placekicker and the holder. The holder is usually the team's punter or backup quarterback.
9362669
Super Bowl XLI


led by Pro Bowlers Jeff Saturday and Tarik Glenn. On special teams, the Colts signed kicker Adam Vinatieri to replace Vanderjagt. While Vinatieri's career field goal percentage was lower, the Colts considered him to be an improvement because of his reputation for making "clutch" kicks, a reputation aided by his game winning field goals in Super Bowl XXXVI and Super Bowl XXXVIII. Indianapolis' defense ranked second in the NFL in fewest passing yards allowed. Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis (who recorded 9.5 sacks and forced 4 fumbles)
1683081
1991–92 NFL playoffs


to the hospital near the end of the first half. The Chiefs controlled most of the first quarter, with Word rushing for 36 yards on 13 carries, but missed a chance to score when their normally reliable kicker Nick Lowery missed a 33-yard field goal. Marinovich promptly gave the Chiefs another scoring chance with an interception to Cherry, who returned the ball 17 yards. However, their ensuing drive ended with another missed field goal from Lowery, a 47-yard attempt early in the second quarter. On the Raiders next drive, Cherry
19944436