What Is the Longest Field Goal in NFL History?

What is the longest field goal in NFL history? The answer may surprise you!

The Current Record

The current record for the longest field goal in NFL history is 64 yards, set by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos in 2013.

The Previous Record

In 2013, San Francisco 49ers placekicker David Akers set the NFL record for the longest field goal made in a regular season game. Akers’ field goal was 63 yards, which he kicked in a week 16 game against the Green Bay Packers.

This record stood for just over five years, until it was broken by another 49ers kicker, Robbie Gould, who made a 64-yard field goal in 2018. Gould’s field goal came in a week 14 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

The History of the Longest Field Goal

In the annals of NFL history, there have been many great kicking performances. But which one is the greatest of all time?

This question can be difficult to answer, as there are many variables to consider. For example, was the kick made in a game-winning situation? Was it made in bad weather conditions? And perhaps most importantly, how long was the field goal itself?

In this article, we’ll take a look at the longest field goal in NFL history. We’ll also discuss some of the other great kicking performances that have come close to breaking the record.

The current record holder is Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos. In 2013, he kicked a field goal that was 64 yards in length. This kick occurred in a game against the Tennessee Titans, and it helped the Broncos win by a score of 51-28.

Prior to Prater’s record-breaking kick, the longest field goal in NFL history had been 63 yards. This had been accomplished twice, first by Tom Dempsey in 1970 and then by Jason Elam in 1998. Both of these kicks were made in Denver (Elam’s with the Broncos, Dempsey’s with the New Orleans Saints).

While 64 yards is certainly a long way to kick a football, it’s worth noting that there have been several attempts from even longer distances. In 1975, for example, Elvin Bethea of the Houston Oilers attempted a field goal from 65 yards out (it missed wide left). And in 2011, David Akers of the San Francisco 49ers attempted one from 66 yards (it also missed wide left).

The Chances of Breaking the Record

Breaking the current record of 63 yards, set by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos in 2013, is unlikely but not impossible. Field goal kicking has improved steadily over the years as teams put more emphasis on special teams and as players get bigger, stronger and more accurate. In the early days of the NFL, most field goals were made from 30 yards or less. Now, it’s not uncommon to see kickers routinely making field goals from 50 yards or more.

So far this season, there have been 24 field goals made from at least 50 yards, including a 63-yarder by Brett Maher of the Dallas Cowboys. Given that trend and the fact that NFL teams are generally more adept at putting their kickers in position to succeed, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that someone could one day eclipse Prater’s record.

The Chances of the Record Being Broken

The current record for the longest field goal in NFL history is 64 yards, set by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos in 2013. The record has been twice before, by Tom Dempsey in 1970 and by Jason Elam in 1998.

Although there have been some close calls, the record has stood for over seven years now and it seems unlikely that it will be broken anytime soon. The main reason for this is that kickers are simply not attempting long field goals as often as they used to. In the 1970s and 1980s, it was not uncommon for kickers to attempt field goals of over 50 yards on a regular basis. Nowadays, most teams are content to attempt shorter field goals or go for it on fourth down instead.

That being said, anything is possible and there have been some close calls in recent years. In 2018, Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs came within inches of breaking the record with a 63-yard field goal attempt. If he had been just a few yards closer, we could be talking about a new record holder today.

Only time will tell if the current record will be broken, but it seems unlikely at this point.