How Far Can NFL Kickers Kick?
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How far can NFL kickers kick?
This is a question that is often asked by football fans. The answer may surprise you.
In this blog post, we’ll take a look at how far NFL kickers can kick the ball and how they compare to other professional athletes.
The History of the NFL Kicker
The National Football League has a long and storied history, with many great players and teams. One position that has always been important, but often taken for granted, is the kicker. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of the NFL kicker, and how far they can kick the ball.
The first NFL kicker
The first NFL kicker was Dutch Sternaman of the Decatur Staleys (now the Chicago Bears). In 1920, players were allowed to dropkick field goals for the first time. Sternaman made 5 of 9 field goals that season. Separate kicking specialists didn’t become prevalent until later in the NFL’s history.
The development of the kicking game
Kicking has been a part of football since the very early days of the sport. In the early days of football, players would often punt the ball to one another as a way of moving it up the field. As the game developed, this method of moving the ball became less common, and kicking became more specialized.
Kickers began to emerge as key players in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. One of the most famous early kickers was Walter Camp, who is considered to be one of the founders of modern American football. Camp was also responsible for introducing many of the rules that are still in place today, including those governing kicking.
The kicking game continued to develop in the early twentieth century. In 1927, NFL kickers made just seven field goals all season. By 1934, that number had risen to eighty-seven. The first ever Pro Bowl was played in 1939, and featured several star kickers including Sammy Baugh and Don Hutson.
Today, kickers are an integral part of any NFL team. They are often called upon to make game-winning field goals, and their performances can be the difference between winning and losing a game.
How Far Can NFL Kickers Kick Today?
The average NFL kicker can kick the ball between 60 and 70 yards. However, there have been a few kickers who have been able to kick the ball over 80 yards. The longest field goal ever kicked in an NFL game was 64 yards, which was accomplished by Matt Prater in 2013.
The average NFL kicker
So, how far can NFL kickers kick today? The average NFL kicker can kick the ball anywhere from 50 to 70 yards. However, there have been some exceptional Kickers who have been able to kick the ball over 80 yards.
The longest field goal in NFL history was kicked by Jason Elam of the Denver Broncos in 1998. The kick was from 63 yards away and it went through the uprights with plenty of distance to spare.
Even though 63 yards is the longest field goal ever kicked in an NFL game, there have been a few kicks that have come close. In 2013, David Akers of the San Francisco 49ers attempted a field goal from 63 yards away but he just missed wide left.
In 2016, Matt Prater of the Detroit Lions made a field goal from 64 yards away but it just barely cleared the crossbar. So, while 64 yards is technically further than 63 yards, it is not considered to be a longer field goal because it did not go through the uprights with plenty of distance to spare like Jason Elam’s kick did.
The best NFL kickers
In the NFL, the average field goal is about 33 yards. The longest field goal ever kicked in an NFL game was 64 yards, by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos. However, from beyond 50 yards, kickers only have a success rate of about 50 percent.
Why Do NFL Kickers Kick So Far?
Most NFL kickers can kick the ball between sixty and seventy yards, with a few even able to kick it eighty yards. So, why can they kick it so far? The answer has to do with a few factors. First, NFL kickers are usually quite tall, which gives them more leverage. Second, they have a lot of strength in their legs. Third, they use a special kicking shoe that has a very hard toe.
The science of kicking
When an NFL kicker lines up for a field goal, he knows he has to make it from at least 33 yards out — and preferably much farther. But how do they do it? How do they kick the ball so far?
It starts with the shoes. Modern kicking shoes have much longer and thinner spikes than traditional cleats, which helps the kicker get more traction when he makes contact with the ball. The kicking shoe also has a very stiff sole, which doesn’t compress when the kicker makes contact. This gives him a firm platform to push against, resulting in more power.
But the biggest factor in how far a kicker can kick is his technique. A good kicker will start his approach at a dead run, striking the ball just as he reaches top speed. He’ll also keep his body as upright as possible as he makes contact, which prevents energy from being wasted in horizontal motion.
All of this comes together to give NFL kickers the ability to send the ball sailing through the uprights from distances of 50 yards or more — something that would have been unthinkable just a few decades ago.
The training of NFL kickers
Kickers in the NFL train during the offseason to maintain their leg strength and accuracy. They undergo a kicking workout regimen that consists of several different kicking drills. Some of these include:
-Ball drop kick: The kicker drops the ball and kicks it on the rebound. This helps to improve accuracy and distance control.
-Field goal kicking: The kicker practices kicking field goals from various distances and angles.
-Punt kicking: The kicker practices punting the ball as far as possible while maintaining accuracy.
NFL kickers train diligently in order to be able to make long kicks during games. They must have strong leg muscles and be able to control the ball well in order for their kicks to be successful.
Can NFL Kickers Kick Even Further?
If you’ve ever wondered how far NFL kickers can kick, the answer may surprise you. NFL kickers have been kicking the ball further and further each year, and there’s no reason to believe they can’t keep going. In this article, we’ll take a look at how far NFL kickers can currently kick, and how much further they may be able to kick in the future.
The limits of kicking
It’s a common misconception that NFL kickers have unlimited range. In reality, there is a limit to how far they can kick the ball. The record for the longest field goal in NFL history is 64 yards, set by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos in 2013.
While 64 yards is impressive, it’s not close to the longest field goal ever kicked. The record for the longest field goal in football history belongs to 76-year-old BernieIGEsParkey, who kicked a 89-yarder in 2013 while playing for the Chicago Bears in an exhibition game against the Baltimore Ravens.
So why can’t NFL kickers kick as long as Bernie Parkey? Part of it has to do with the regulation size of an NFL football, which is slightly smaller than a college football. But the biggest difference is that NFL kicking tees are only allowed to be two inches tall, while college kicking tees can be three inches tall.
The extra inch may not seem like much, but it can make a big difference when trying to launch a long field goal. For example, former NFL kicker Jason Elam once said that he could regularly hit 70-yard field goals in practice with a three-inch tee, but he could only hit 60-yarders with a two-inch tee.
So if you’re ever wondering why an NFL kicker missed a long field goal attempt, don’t be too quick to blame them. It’s not easy kicking a ball 60 yards with accuracy… let alone from 60 yards out!
The future of the kicking game
In recent years, the kicking game in the NFL has evolved. thanks in large part to new advances in equipment and training methods. Kickers are now routinely hitting field goals from distances that were once considered unthinkable.
So what does the future hold for the kicking game in the NFL? It’s tough to say for sure, but it’s certainly possible that we will see even more long-range field goals attempted and made in the years to come. It’s also possible that teams will place an even greater emphasis on kickers who have the ability to consistently make long-range field goals, as these kickers will be seen as a valuable asset in a close game.
Whatever the future holds, one thing is certain: the kicking game in the NFL is evolving, and it is doing so at an ever-increasing pace.