The competitors to be named among the many finest NFL kickers of all time has by no means been extra fierce. Granted, lots of the biggest kickers in NFL historical past are previously, however a number of the most profitable NFL kickers are taking part in proper now.
That creates fairly the conundrum in the case of evaluating gamers from completely different eras and creating an inventory of one of the best NFL kickers of all time.
Finest NFL kickers of all time
However what makes an awesome kicker? Is it kicking one of many longest playoff field goals and gaining glory that manner? Is it having the best discipline aim proportion in NFL historical past? There was lots to contemplate, however we thought of consistency, longevity, and simply total stage of problem when placing collectively our rating of the ten finest NFL kickers of all time.
10. George Blanda
George Blanda’s unbelievable longevity helps to place him among the many finest kickers of all time. He didn’t retire till he was 48, which is previous, even for kickers.
He retired with the report for many all-time factors scored, doing so in 26 seasons. That makes Blanda certainly one of two gamers in NFL historical past to compete in 4 completely different a long time. It’s price noting that Blanda additionally made waves as a quarterback. However as a kicker, he transformed 98.3% of his PATs and 52.4% of his discipline objectives, taking part in in an period when discipline objectives had been far tougher.
9. Lou Groza
Technically, Lou Groza additionally performed as a lineman, however he’s finest recognized for his kicking exploits. Why else would he be given the nickname of “the Toe?” Groza was the trailblazer who made NFL groups notice that they wanted a place-kicking specialist on their roster.
At one level, he owned the entire information for kicking accuracy and distance. If we’re splitting hairs, Groza solely made 57.8% of his discipline objectives and his longest discipline aim was 52 yards. However his impression on the sport was too profound to not embody him among the many finest kickers of all time.
8. Jason Elam
For some time, Jason Elam was tied for the longest discipline aim ever made when he nailed a 63-yarder. However his profession was a lot greater than that.
He remodeled 80% of his profession discipline aim makes an attempt and 99.4% of his PATs. At instances, he benefited drastically from kicking in Denver’s skinny air. Nevertheless, Elam was additionally correct sufficient to assist the Broncos win two Tremendous Bowls and be chosen to the Professional Bowl 3 times.
7. Jason Hanson
Primarily based on loyalty and longevity alone, Jason Hanson deserves to be talked about among the many finest kickers of all time. He spent all 21 seasons of his profession with the lowly Lions when he certainly may have discovered a house with a extra aggressive franchise.
Taking part in in Detroit doubtless value him publicity, limiting him to only two Professional Bowl picks. Regardless of an absence of eyeballs on him, Hanson transformed 82.4% of his discipline objectives over his 21 seasons within the NFL whereas lacking simply seven PATs. Additionally, despite the fact that his crew didn’t all the time win, Hanson had 9 game-winning discipline objectives in additional time, which is tied for the all-time report.
6. Matt Prater
In the case of kicking from a distance, few in NFL historical past are higher than Matt Prater. He owes a part of that to the years he spent in Denver’s skinny air. However even after leaving the Broncos, Prater has continued to be probably the greatest long-distance kickers the sport has ever seen.
For a few years, he held the NFL report with a 64-yard discipline aim. Prater has additionally made extra discipline objectives from 50 yards or longer than some other kicker. He’s a two-time Professional Bowler with an 83% profession dialog price on discipline objectives, placing him in uncommon firm.
5. Gary Anderson
Born in South Africa, Gary Anderson performed each soccer and soccer throughout his faculty days at Syracuse. However he properly centered on soccer throughout his junior and senior seasons, in the end changing into probably the greatest kickers of all time.
In 1998, he grew to become the primary kicker to transform each PAT and discipline aim for a full common season. After all, Vikings followers solely keep in mind his miss within the NFC Championship Recreation. That low second apart, Anderson was a four-time Professional Bowler and a member of each the Eighties and Nineteen Nineties All-Decade Groups, as he was one of many league’s premier kickers for 23 seasons.
4. Stephen Gostkowski
One shouldn’t overlook the function that Stephen Gostkowski performed for the Patriots throughout their dynasty, as he was New England’s kicker from 2006 to 2019. Throughout that point, he led the NFL in scoring 5 instances, together with 4 consecutive years from 2012 to 2015, incomes him a spot on the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Group.
Whereas he received loads of alternatives due to Tom Brady and set the report earlier than PATs had been moved again to 35 yards, Gostkowski holds the NFL report for 479 further factors transformed. It’s secure to say that report won’t ever be damaged. He ended his illustrious profession with 4 Professional Bowl invites and three Tremendous Bowl rings.
3. Adam Vinatieri
One may say that Adam Vinatieri is the one who “kicked off” New England’s dynasty. He kicked the game-winning discipline aim when the Patriots gained their first Tremendous Bowl, to not point out the sphere aim within the snow he kicked to tie the Division Spherical sport within the infamous Tuck Rule Game.
Clearly, Vinatieri was a kicker who excelled in massive moments, however he’s a lot greater than that. After 10 seasons with the Patriots, he spent one other 14 with the Colts, in the end setting the NFL’s all-time report for factors scored. Vinatieri additionally holds a number of different information, together with essentially the most consecutive discipline objectives made and made discipline objectives. He’s really probably the most storied kickers in NFL historical past.
2. Morten Andersen
Who may have predicted {that a} left-footed child from Denmark would develop into probably the greatest kickers in NFL historical past?
The one-time soccer participant had an unlikely journey to the NFL, however as soon as he received there, he was all the time among the many finest. Morten Andersen would finally earn the nickname of Mr. Automated, connecting on 565 discipline objectives throughout his profession at a clip of almost 80%.
Andersen was a seven-time Professional Bowler and a five-time First-Group All-Professional choice throughout his profession, which spanned a quarter-century, serving to him set the NFL report for video games performed. He was additionally among the many first kickers to make a discipline aim from 60 yards or additional throughout an period when that was even rarer than it’s now. Most significantly, Andersen was simply the second placekicker to earn a spot within the Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame.
1. Justin Tucker
His profession is probably not over but it surely ought to already be clear that Justin Tucker is the best kicker the NFL has ever seen. Statistically, he’s the second-most correct placekicker in league historical past. He additionally owns the report for the longest discipline aim at 66 yards, which is much from the one discipline aim from 60-plus yards that he’s hit in his profession.
Since he got here into the league in 2012, he’s been near computerized on PATs, even when the space was pushed again. Tucker has been almost as computerized on discipline objectives, regularly among the many high kickers in each made discipline objectives and proportion. Whenever you see Tucker on the sphere, you simply know the kick goes to be good regardless of the state of affairs, and that’s what makes him one of the best of all time.
Who’s essentially the most correct NFL kicker of all-time?
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is essentially the most correct NFL kicker of all-time, having made 89.2% of his discipline objectives.
Are there any kickers within the HOF?
Sure, there are 4 kickers — Morten Andersen, Jan Stenerud, George Blanda, and Lou Groza — within the Corridor of Fame.
Is Justin Tucker nonetheless essentially the most correct kicker in NFL historical past?
No, Justin Tucker is now not essentially the most correct kicker ever. Tucker’s numbers have dipped on the again finish of his profession, which has led to him being overtaken by Harrison Butker.
Has a kicker ever gained MVP?
Sure, Washington kicker Mark Moseley gained MVP within the 1982 common season. Moseley is the one kicker in NFL historical past to win the award. He made 23 straight discipline objectives throughout the 1981 and 1982 seasons and went 20-for-21 on discipline objectives within the 1982 common season.
Has a kicker ever gained Tremendous Bowl MVP?
No, a kicker has by no means gained Tremendous Bowl MVP.
Has a kicker ever scored a TD?
Sure, numerous kickers have been credited with touchdowns both as a passer, receiver, or rusher. Fred Cone holds the report for kicker touchdowns with 4 (two dashing, two receiving).
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