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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 best kickers in NFL historical past are previously, however a number of the most profitable NFL kickers are enjoying proper now.
That creates fairly the conundrum in terms of evaluating gamers from totally 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 excellent kicker? Is it kicking one of many longest playoff field goals and gaining glory that manner? Is it having the best discipline purpose share in NFL historical past? There was loads to contemplate, however we considered 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 unimaginable 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 file for many all-time factors scored, doing so in 26 seasons. That makes Blanda one among two gamers in NFL historical past to compete in 4 totally different many years. 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, enjoying in an period when discipline objectives had been far more difficult.
9. Lou Groza
Technically, Lou Groza additionally performed as a lineman, however he’s finest identified 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 data for kicking accuracy and distance. If we’re splitting hairs, Groza solely made 57.8% of his discipline objectives and his longest discipline purpose 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 purpose ever made when he nailed a 63-yarder. However his profession was a lot greater than that.
He remodeled 80% of his profession discipline purpose makes an attempt and 99.4% of his PATs. At occasions, he benefited vastly 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
Based mostly 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 might have discovered a house with a extra aggressive franchise.
Enjoying in Detroit doubtless price him publicity, limiting him to simply two Professional Bowl alternatives. Regardless of a scarcity 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, though his crew didn’t at all times win, Hanson had 9 game-winning discipline objectives in extra time, which is tied for the all-time file.
6. Matt Prater
On the subject 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 the most effective long-distance kickers the sport has ever seen.
For a few years, he held the NFL file with a 64-yard discipline purpose. 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 fee 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 correctly targeted on soccer throughout his junior and senior seasons, in the end turning into the most effective kickers of all time.
In 1998, he grew to become the primary kicker to transform each PAT and discipline purpose for a full common season. In fact, 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 Nineteen 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 occasions, together with 4 consecutive years from 2012 to 2015, incomes him a spot on the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Workforce.
Whereas he bought loads of alternatives due to Tom Brady and set the file earlier than PATs had been moved again to 35 yards, Gostkowski holds the NFL file for 479 additional factors transformed. It’s secure to say that file won’t ever be damaged. He ended his illustrious profession with 4 Professional Bowl invites and three Tremendous Bowl rings.
3. Adam Vinatieri
One might say that Adam Vinatieri is the one who “kicked off” New England’s dynasty. He kicked the game-winning discipline purpose when the Patriots received their first Tremendous Bowl, to not point out the sector purpose 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 file for factors scored. Vinatieri additionally holds a number of different data, 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 might have predicted {that a} left-footed child from Denmark would turn out to be the most effective kickers in NFL historical past?
The one-time soccer participant had an unlikely journey to the NFL, however as soon as he bought there, he was at all times among the many finest. Morten Andersen would ultimately 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-Workforce All-Professional choice throughout his profession, which spanned a quarter-century, serving to him set the NFL file for video games performed. He was additionally among the many first kickers to make a discipline purpose 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 might not be over nevertheless it 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 file for the longest discipline purpose at 66 yards, which is way from the one discipline purpose from 60-plus yards that he’s hit in his profession.
Since he got here into the league in 2012, he’s been near automated on PATs, even when the space was pushed again. Tucker has been almost as automated on discipline objectives, incessantly among the many high kickers in each made discipline objectives and share. Once you see Tucker on the sector, you simply know the kick goes to be good regardless of the scenario, 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 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 received MVP?
Sure, Washington kicker Mark Moseley received 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 received Tremendous Bowl MVP?
No, a kicker has by no means received Tremendous Bowl MVP.
Has a kicker ever scored a TD?
Sure, varied kickers have been credited with touchdowns both as a passer, receiver, or rusher. Fred Cone holds the file for kicker touchdowns with 4 (two dashing, two receiving).
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