Who Is The Best Field Goal Kicker In The Nfl?
Contents
The best field goal kicker in the NFL is a hotly contested title. There are a lot of great kickers out there, so it’s tough to make a definitive statement. However, we can take a look at the numbers and see who the best kickers are based on certain criteria.
Stephen Gostkowski
Stephen Gostkowski is an American football placekicker for the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Patriots in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft.
Accolades
-4× Super Bowl champion (XXXIX, XLIX, LI, LIII)
-2× First-team All-Pro (2007, 2016)
-7× Pro Bowl (2008, 2010, 2013–2017)
-NFL records
-Most consecutive extra points made: 422 (2012–2018)
-Most field goals made in a season: 58 (2015)
Field Goal Percentage
Gostkowski ranks first among active NFL kickers (minimum 200 made field goals) in career field goal percentage, at 87.4%. His career long of 58 yards came in 2006 against the Indianapolis Colts. He has twice kicked six field goals in a game, against the Baltimore Ravens in 2007 and the New York Jets in 2010, both Patriots wins.
Field Goals Made
In the National Football League (NFL), the record for the most regular season field goals made is 42, set by Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens in 2016. In the post-season, the record is held by Adam Vinatieri of the Indianapolis Colts, who made 52 field goals during his career.
Justin Tucker
There is no doubt that Justin Tucker is the best field goal kicker in the NFL. He has consistently made big kicks in clutch situations and has helped his team win many games. Some people may say that other kickers are just as good, but they are not as accurate or consistent as Tucker.
Accolades
Tucker has been named to the NFL All-Pro first team four times and the second team once. He was also named the Special Teams Player of the Year by the Professional Football Writers Association in 2013.
Field Goal Percentage
Leading the NFL in field goal percentage this season is Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens. Tucker, who is in his sixth NFL season, has made 23 of his 24 field goal attempts so far this season, for a career-high 96.0 percent success rate. He also has a career-long field goal of 63 yards.
Second in field goal percentage this season is Matt Prater of the Detroit Lions. Prater, who is in his 14th NFL season, has made 20 of his 21 field goal attempts this season, for a 95.2 percent success rate. He also has a career-long field goal of 64 yards.
Third in field goal percentage this season is Greg Joseph of the Cleveland Browns. Joseph, who is in his rookie NFL season, has made 18 of his 20 field goal attempts this season, for a 90.0 percent success rate. His longest field goal so far this season is 58 yards.
Field Goals Made
In 2017, Tucker made 34 out of 37 field goal attempts, for a 91.9 percent success rate. His long for the season was 56 yards. He also kicked 50 extra points. For his career, Tucker has made 228 out of 265 field goal attempts, for an 85.5 percent success rate. His long is 61 yards.
Dan Bailey
Dan Bailey is the best field goal kicker in the NFL. He has made 88.6 percent of his field goals during his eight-year career, which is the best percentage in NFL history. He has also made the most field goals in a season (42 in 2015) and the most field goals in a game (7 in 2016).
Accolades
Dan Bailey has been praised for his accuracy, with PFF giving him a grade of 86.7 in 2011, the second highest of all NFL kickers that year. He was also named the NFC’s Special Teams Player of the Month for November 2011 after making 14 out of 15 field goal attempts that month. In 2012, he was again named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September.
Field Goal Percentage
In the NFL, the average field goal percentage is about 84%. To be considered statistically above average, a kicker must have a field goal percentage of at least 85%. In order to be considered for the Pro Bowl, a kicker must have a field goal percentage of at least 89.3%. To be considered an elite kicker in the NFL, a field goal percentage of 90% or above is typically required.
Over the course of his career, Dan Bailey has made 193 out of 222 field goals attempted, good for an impressive 87.4% field goal percentage. This ranks him as the 2nd best field goal kicker in NFL history, behind only Justin Tucker who has made 228 out of 258 attempts (88.3%).
Field Goals Made
In the National Football League (NFL), the field goal (FG) is the most common type of score. A field goal is worth three points and is typically attempted from inside the opponent’s 35-yard line, depending on the specific game situation.
The league’s best field goal kickers will typically make around 85 percent of their attempts, meaning that they will make around 28 out of 33 kicks. However, there have been some kickers who have been able to maintain a success rate of 90 percent or higher.
Some of the best field goal kickers in NFL history include:
-Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens): He is currently the most accurate kicker in NFL history, having made 92.7 percent of his field goal attempts.
-Morten Andersen (New Orleans Saints/Atlanta Falcons/Kansas City Chiefs/Minnesota Vikings): He is the NFL’s all-time leading scorer with 2,544 points.
-Adam Vinatieri (New England Patriots/Indianapolis Colts): He has played in five Super Bowls and is the only player to have kicked two game-winning field goals in overtime.
-Jason Elam (Denver Broncos/Atlanta Falcons): He played in three Super Bowls and was a two-time Pro Bowler.
Adam Vinatieri
Accolades
Adam Vinatieri is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He has played in five Super Bowls, four with the New England Patriots and one with the Indianapolis Colts, winning four times. He holds the record for most postseason points scored with 234, and is second on the NFL’s all-time scoring list behind Morten Andersen. Vinatieri was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2020.
Field Goal Percentage
Adam Vinatieri is widely considered to be the best field goal kicker in the NFL. As of the 2019 season, he has made 84.5% of his field goal attempts, which is the highest percentage among active kickers. He has also made a number of clutch kicks in big moments, including a 48-yarder in the Snow Bowl and a 41-yarder in Super Bowl XLI.
Field Goals Made
Adam Vinatieri is an American football placekicker who is currently a free agent. He has played in the National Football League (NFL) for 24 seasons, and has been a member of three teams: the New England Patriots, the Indianapolis Colts and the San Diego Chargers. He is considered to be one of the greatest kickers in NFL history.
During his career, Vinatieri has made 599 field goals and 713 extra points, for a total of 2,616 points. He has also appeared in five Super Bowls, winning four of them. In Super Bowl XXXVI, he kicked a 48-yard field goal as time expired to give the Patriots a 20–17 victory over the St. Louis Rams, and was named Super Bowl MVP. In Super Bowl XXXVIII, he kicked two field goals to help the Patriots defeat the Carolina Panthers 32–29. In Super Bowl XLIX, he made four field goals to help the Patriots defeat the Seattle Seahawks 28–24. In Super Bowl LI, he made one field goal and three extra points to help the Patriots defeat the Atlanta Falcons 34–28 in overtime.
Mason Crosby
Mason Crosby is the best field goal kicker in the NFL. He is a 10-time Pro Bowl selection and has been named to the All-Pro team four times. He is the all-time leading scorer in Packers history and is the all-time leading scorer among active players. He is the all-time leading scorer in the NFL among kickers.
Accolades
Mason Crosby has been one of the most accurate field goal kickers in the NFL since he was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in 2007. He has made 85.4 percent of his field goal attempts, which is the fourth-best rate in NFL history.
Crosby has been named to the Pro Bowl three times and was first-team All-Pro in 2011. He was also the Packers’ nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award in 2013, given to a player who demonstrates excellence on and off the field.
Field Goal Percentage
In terms of field goal percentage, Crosby has been near or at the top of the leaderboard for much of his career. According to Pro Football Reference, he ranks first among all active players in field goal percentage (87.8 percent), and his career field goal percentage of 85.7 percent ranks seventh all-time.
Field Goals Made
Mason Crosby is an American football placekicker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Colorado, and was signed by the Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2007.
Crosby has been successful throughout his career, setting numerous franchise records. He is the Packers’ all-time leading scorer, and holds the NFL record for the most field goals made in a season (168). He has also been named to four Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2012.