What Is The Longest Field Goal In NFL History?
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The longest field goal in NFL history was kicked by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos on December 8, 2013. The kick was 64 yards.
The Current Record Holder
The current record holder for the longest field goal in NFL history is Morten Andersen, who kicked a field goal of 62 yards during a game between the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears in November of 1988. This record has stood for over 30 years, and it is unlikely that it will be broken any time soon.
The Previous Record Holders
The previous record holders for the longest field goal in NFL history are as follows:
-64 yards: Matt Prater (Denver Broncos)
-63 yards: Tom Dempsey (New Orleans Saints)
-62 yards: Jason Elam (Denver Broncos)
-61 yards: Sebastian Janikowski (Oakland Raiders)
-60 yards: Greg Zuerlein(St. Louis Rams), David Akers (San Francisco 49ers), Rob Bironas(Tennessee Titans), Blair Walsh(Minnesota Vikings)
The Chances of Breaking the Record
Although there have been longer field goals kicked in practice and in other professional leagues, the longest field goal in an NFL game is 64 yards. This record was set by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos on December 8, 2013. The record had previously been 63 yards, set by Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints on November 8, 1970.
The longest field goal attempt in NFL history was 76 yards, by Steve O’Neill of the Buffalo Bills on September 28, 1975. The kick fell short, but it is still the longest field goal attempt on record.
In 2013, 27 field goals were made from 50 yards or more. In 2014, that number rose to 41. And in 2015, there were a total of 46 field goals made from 50+ yards. So while the chances of making a long field goal are increasing, they are still relatively low.
The chances of kicking a 64-yard field goal are about 1 in 100 for even the best kickers in the NFL. As such, it is considered to be one of the most difficult records in sports to break.
The Chances of the Record Being Broken
The Chances of the Record Being Broken
The current record for longest field goal is 64 yards, set by Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos in 2013.
It’s a pretty safe bet that the record will be broken at some point. After all, NFL teams are now using more accurate kicking technology, and kickers are generally getting better and better.
In fact, there have already been a few close calls. In 2014, for instance, Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ rookie kicker Patrick Murray came within inches of breaking the record with a 63-yard field goal attempt.
Still, 64 yards is a long way to kick a football, so don’t expect the record to be broken anytime soon.
