10 longest field goals in NFL history
Take a look at the top 10 longest field goals ever in the NFL.
Follow Us
Justin Tucker (Image via NPR)
The NFL is one of the most complicated leagues in the country. Similarly, the sport of football is also highly complicated and adopts various rules and technicalities. However, what sets American Football apart from other sports is its inculcation of special teams.
Special teams were included in the league for positions like the punter, punter returner, returner specialist, and the most important of them all, the kicker.
The Kicker is a special team player whose only job is to kick the pigskin for a field goal. He’s only invited on the field to kick the ball and then the athlete makes his way to the sidelines.
Field goals are a crucial part of American football and can often determine the outcome of a game. Throughout the history of the NFL, many kickers have attempted and made some impressive field goals. In fact, even the recent Super Bowl final included an integral field goal that helped the Kansas City Chiefs clinch the title.
The ability to make long-range field goals is a testament to the skill, strength, and precision of NFL kickers. The top 10 longest field goals in NFL history were made by some of the most talented and accomplished kickers to ever play the game. Take a look at them down below.
10. Matt Prater (62 yards)
The Arizona Cardinals kicker Matt Prater, known for his long-range kicks like the 64-yarder in 2013, made history again. In a recent Week 3 game against the Dallas Cowboys, Prater nailed a 62-yarder just before halftime, adding another notable feat to his record.
Despite low expectations for the Cardinals this season, they’ve surprised many with their resilience, particularly in the kicking department, showcasing Prater’s prowess.
9. Brett Maher (62 yards)
Brett Maher is one of those players who should be on the list multiple times. He has hit a field goal for 62 yards twice in his career while many struggle to score even once.
He achieved both legendary kicks with the Dallas Cowboys. The first one came against their arch-rivals, the Eagles, and the second one was completed against the Jets just before half-time. Currently, a free agent the 33-year-old is looking for a new team to call home.
8. Graham Gano (63 yards)
Graham Gano tied the record for one of the longest field goals in NFL history on October 7, 2018, during a game between the Carolina Panthers and the New York Giants. Gano’s 63-yard field goal helped secure a victory for the Carolina Panthers.
Gano’s 63-yard field goal demonstrated his incredible leg strength and accuracy, as well as his ability to handle pressure in high-stakes situations. He has made several other impressive field goals throughout his career, including a 63-yarder during a game between the Panthers and the Indianapolis Colts in 2015 and a 59-yarder during a game between the Giants and the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.
7. David Akers (63 yards)
On September 12, 2012, during a game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers, David Akers made a 63-yard field goal. This kick tied the record for the longest field goal in NFL history at the time, and it was a crucial part of the 49ers’ victory over the Packers that day.
Akers’ impressive kicking performances have earned him six Pro Bowl selections. He is widely considered to be one of the best kickers in NFL history.
6. Sebastian Janikowski (63 yards)
During a game between the Oakland Raiders and the Denver Broncos, Sebastian Janikowski made a 63-yard field goal which was considered the longest at the time. The field goal also helped secure a crucial victory for the Raiders.
Sebastian Janikowski was widely regarded as one of the best kickers in NFL history and his ability to make long-range field goals played a significant role in his success. His impressive career accomplishments, including his numerous Pro Bowl selections and his record-setting kicks, have cemented his legacy as a legendary figure in the sport of football.
5. Jason Elam (63 yards)
Jason Elam made a 63-yard field goal that tied the record for the longest field goal in NFL history at the time and it helped the Broncos win the game. Elam’s field goal occurred at the end of the first half making it very crucial for his team. The field goal happened during a game between the Denver Broncos and the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Elam’s ability to make long-range field goals played a significant role in his success in the NFL. His impressive career accomplishments, including his two Super Bowl victories with the Denver Broncos and his record-setting kicks, have cemented his legacy as one of the best kickers in NFL history.
4. Brett Maher (63 yards)
Brett Maher, a kicker from the NFL has earned a reputation for his ability to make long field goals, including one of the longest field goals in NFL history.
Maher’s impressive leg strength and accuracy were on full display during a game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Philadelphia Eagles on October 20, 2019, when he made a 63-yard field goal. This kick tied the record for the longest field goal in Cowboys history, and it was the longest field goal made during the 2019 NFL season.
3. Tom Dempsey (63 yards)
Tom Dempsey was a kicker for the New Orleans Saints way back in 1970, and during a game against the Detroit Lions, he kicked a 63-yard field goal that set a new NFL record. Dempsey’s 63-yard field goal, achieved during a game against the Detroit Lions in 1970, is one of the most impressive feats in NFL history.
Dempsey was born without toes on his right foot, and he wore a special shoe with a flat front that allowed him to kick the ball with more force. This shoe allowed him to generate greater force and power when kicking the ball, which ultimately led to his record-breaking kick.
2. Matt Prater (64 yards)
Matt Prater cemented himself in the history books as one of the greatest NFL kickers of all time with his sensation 64-yard kick. On December 8, 2013, during a game between the Denver Broncos and the Tennessee Titans, Prater made a 64-yard field goal.
This kick broke the previous record of 63 yards set by Tom Dempsey and tied by Jason Elam, Sebastian Janikowski, David Akers, Graham Gano, and Greg Zuerlein. Prater’s 64-yard field goal is the longest field goal in NFL history, and it demonstrated his exceptional leg strength, accuracy, and consistency as a kicker.
1. Justin Tucker (66 yards)
It was pretty obvious that the GOAT of all kickers Justin Tucker would find himself on the top sport of the longest field goals ever made list. Tucker has hit many 60+ yards kicks in the NFL. However, his 66-yarder for the Ravens against the Lions was a thing of beauty.
The moment was truly remarkable, as Tucker kicked the ball with incredible power and accuracy, and it sailed through the air, over the crossbar, and landed squarely in the center of the end zone.
He has the highest field goal percentage in NFL history among kickers with at least 100 attempts, and he is the only kicker in NFL history to have a field goal percentage of over 90% in multiple seasons. Tucker has also been selected to the Pro Bowl four times and has been named a First-Team All-Pro three times.
Do follow us on: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
In case you missed it!
Stay Updated!
Aamir Jethwa
(1484 Articles Published)