Ranking the greatest kickers in history

The competition to be named among the greatest NFL kickers of all time has never been fiercer. Yes, most of the best kickers in NFL history are in the past, but some of the most successful NFL kickers are playing right now.

This creates quite a dilemma when it comes to comparing players from different eras and creating a list of the best NFL kickers of all time.

The best NFL kickers of all time

So what makes a great hit? Is he kicking one of these? longest playoff field goals and this is how you gain victory? Does he have the highest field goal percentage in NFL history? There was a lot to consider, but we considered consistency, longevity, and overall difficulty level when putting together our ranking of the top 10 NFL players of all time.

10. George Blanda

George Mix‘s incredible longevity helps place him among the greatest kickers of all time. He didn’t retire until he was 48, which is old even for amateurs.

He retired after breaking the all-time scoring record in 26 seasons. This makes Blanda one of only two players in NFL history to compete in four different decades. It is worth noting that Blanda also made a splash as a playmaker. But as a kicker, he converted 98.3% of his PATs and 52.4% of his field goals, and he played in an era when field goals were much more challenging.

 



 



 



 

9.Lou Groza

Technically Lou Groza He also played as a lineman, but is best known for his kicking skills. Otherwise why call him “Toe?” Why should he be given a nickname? Groza was the pioneer who made NFL teams realize they needed a specialist on their roster.

At one point he held all the records for kicking accuracy and distance. Splitting hairs, Groza only made 57.8% of his field goals, and his longest field goal was 52 yards. But his impact on the game was too profound to include him among the greatest kickers of all time.

8. Jason Elam

For a while, Jason Elam When he nailed a 63-yarder it became the longest field goal ever made. But his career was much more than that.

He has made over 80% of his career field goal attempts and 99.4% of his PATs. He benefited greatly from kicking up Denver’s thin air at times. But Elam was also accurate enough to help the Broncos win two Super Bowls and be named to the Pro Bowl three times.

7.Jason Hanson

Based solely on fidelity and longevity, Jason Hanson He deserves to be mentioned among the best kickers of all time. He spent all 21 seasons of his career with the lower-level Lions, though he could certainly find a home with a more competitive team.

 



 



 



 

Playing in Detroit likely cost him exposure and limited him to just two Pro Bowl selections. Despite the lack of eyes on him, Hanson converted 82.4% of his field goals and missed only seven PATs during his 21 seasons in the NFL. Additionally, although his team did not always win, Hanson had nine game-winning goals in overtime, tying the all-time record.

6. Matt Prater

When it comes to kicking from distance, few in NFL history are better than this Matt Prater. He owes some of that to the years he spent in Denver’s poor weather. But even after leaving the Broncos, Prater remained one of the best long-range shooters football has ever seen.

He held the NFL record for field goals with a 64-yard field goal for many years. Prater also made more field goals from 50 yards or longer than any other kicker. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler with an 83% career strikeout rate on field goals, making him one of those rare individuals.

5.Gary Anderson

born in South Africa, Gary Anderson He played both football and football during his college days at Syracuse. But during his junior and senior seasons, he wisely focused on football and ultimately became one of the best kickers of all time.

In 1998, he became the first kicker to convert every PAT and field goal during a regular season. Of course, Vikings fans only remember his miss in the NFC Championship Game. That bad moment aside, Anderson was a four-time Pro Bowler and a member of the All-Decade Teams of both the 1980s and 1990s and was one of the league’s leading hitters for 23 seasons.

4.Stephen Gostkowski

The role it plays should not be overlooked. Stephen Gostkowski He played for the Patriots during their dynasty, as he was New England’s starting kicker from 2006 to 2019. During that span, he led the NFL in receiving touchdowns five times, including four consecutive years from 2012 to 2015, earning him a spot on the NFL’s All-Star Game of the 2010s. -Team Decade.

While I have had many opportunities thanks to him Tom Brady and Gostkowski, who broke the record before PATs were moved to 35 yards, holds the NFL record for 479 extra points converted. We can say that the record will never be broken. He ended his illustrious career with four Pro Bowl invitations and three Super Bowl rings.

3. Adam Vinatieri

We can say this Adam Vinatieri He is the person who “started” the New England dynasty. He hit the game-winning shot when the Patriots won their first Super Bowl, not to mention the shot he hit in the snow to tie the Division Round game. The famous Tuck Rule Game.

Obviously, Vinatieri was a standout shooter in big moments, but he is so much more than that. After 10 seasons with the Patriots, he spent 14 more with the Colts, ultimately setting the NFL’s all-time record for points scored. Vinatieri also holds several other records, including consecutive field goals made and made. Truly one of the most storied kickers in NFL history.

2. Morten Andersen

Who would have guessed that a left-footed kid from Denmark would become one of the best kickers in NFL history?

The one-time football player had an unusual journey to the NFL, but once he got there he was always among the best. Morten Andersen He would eventually earn the nickname Mr. Automatic, connecting on 565 field goals during his career with a nearly 80% clip.

Andersen was a seven-time Pro Bowler and a five-time First-Team All-Pro selection during a career that spanned a quarter-century, helping him set the NFL record for games played. He was also one of the first kickers to kick a field goal from 60 yards or farther, at a time when it was rarer than it is now. Most importantly, Andersen was the second straight receiver to earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

1.Justin Tucker

His career may not be over, but it should be obvious by now justin tucker The best kicker the NFL has ever seen. Statistically, he is the second most accurate player in league history. He also holds the record for the longest field goal at 66 yards; This is far from his only field goal of more than 60 yards in his career.

Since coming to the league in 2012, he has been near-automatic on PATs, even when the yardage has been pushed back. Tucker was almost equally automatic on field goals; He was often among the best shooters, both in terms of goals scored and percentage. When you see Tucker on the field, you know the innings are going to be good no matter the situation, and that’s what makes him the greatest of all time.

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Who is the most accurate NFL kicker of all time?

Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is the most accurate NFL kicker of all time, making 89.2% of his field goals.

Any hitters in the HOF?

Yes, there are four kickers in the Hall of Fame: Morten Andersen, Jan Stenerud, George Blanda and Lou Groza.

Is Justin Tucker still the most accurate kicker in NFL history?

No, Justin Tucker is no longer the most accurate hitter ever. Towards the end of his career, Tucker’s numbers dropped, which led to him moving on to Harrison Butker.

Has a kicker ever won an MVP?

Yes, Washington kicker Mark Moseley won the MVP award during the 1982 regular season. Moseley became the only kicker in NFL history to win the award. He scored 23 straight goals in the 1981 and 1982 seasons and went 20-for-21 on field goals during the 1982 regular season.

Has a kicker ever won the Super Bowl MVP?

No, a kicker has never won Super Bowl MVP.

Has the kicker ever thrown a TD?

Yes, goals have been scored against various scorers as passers, receivers or runners. Fred Cone holds the record for receiving touchdowns with four (two rushing, two receiving).