Who’s the Best NFL Kicker?

It’s a question that’s been debated for years: who’s the best NFL kicker? We take a look at the stats to see who comes out on top.

Sebastian Janikowski

Sebastian Janikowski, or “Seabass” as he’s nicknamed, is widely considered to be one of the best kickers in NFL history. Janikowski was drafted in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders and he’s been with the team ever since. In his 18 years with the Raiders, Janikowski has made 80.4% of his field goal attempts, which is the 4th highest percentage in NFL history. He’s also made 57 of his 85 career field goal attempts from 50 yards or more, which is the most in NFL history.

Accolades

Sebastian Janikowski was drafted in the first round of the 2000 NFL Draft by the Oakland Raiders, making him only the second kicker in NFL history to be a first-round pick. He has been named to the Pro Bowl three times (2000, 2004, and 2011) and was voted first-team All-Pro twice (2000 and 2011). He won the inaugural Special Teams Player of the Year Award in 1999 as a member of the Florida State Seminoles. In his 18 NFL seasons, Janikowski has made 80.4 percent of his field goal attempts (587 of 728), which is the ninth-best success rate in NFL history.

Record

In his 18-year career, Sebastian Janikowski has made 80.4 percent of his field goal attempts, which is the fifth-best success rate in NFL history. He’s also made 563 PATs, which is the sixth most in league history.

Adam Vinatieri

Accolades

Throughout his career, Adam Vinatieri has been named to four Pro Bowls (2002, 2004, 2014, 2015), was a two-time first-team All-Pro (2002, 2004), and was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2002. He holds the NFL record for most playoffs field goals made (56) and attempted (67). He’s also tied for the NFL playoff record for most field goals made in a single game, with five.

Record

Adam Vinatieri is an NFL kicker who currently plays for the Indianapolis Colts. He is widely considered to be one of the best kickers in NFL history, and holds several records, including:

– Most field goals made in a career (596)
– Most field goals made in a season (42)
– Most points scored in a career (2,673)
– Most points scored in a season (164)
– Most seasons with 100+ points scored (15)

Jason Elam

Jason Elam is one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. He played for the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons. Elam was selected to four Pro Bowls and holds the Broncos franchise record for most points scored. He’s also the only player in NFL history to score a touchdown on a kickoff return and a field goal in the same game.

Accolades

In his 16-year career, Jason Elam has been selected for three Pro Bowls, he is a two-time All-Pro and he has been the NFL’s leading scorer.

Record

In football, Jason Elam is best known for his incredible accuracy. In 21 seasons with the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, he made over 80 percent of his field goal attempts, including an NFL-record 90.8 percent in 1998. He also holds the league record for most game-winning field goals in overtime, with six.

But Elam’s accomplishments go beyond his on-field heroics. He’s also a respected author and humanitarian, who has used his platform to raise awareness for various causes.

In 2007, he published a book called “Americas Other Team: The Legacy of the Denver Broncos,” which chronicles the history of the franchise and its fans.

Elam has also been involved in numerous philanthropic endeavors, including working with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Special Olympics. He has also helped to raise money for multiple sclerosis research.

Gary Anderson

Gary Anderson is the best NFL kicker because of his accuracy and his ability to make long field goals. Anderson has a career field goal percentage of 85.4 percent, which is the best in NFL history. He also holds the NFL record for the longest field goal, which he made in 1998.

Accolades

Gary Anderson (born December 9, 1959) is a former American football kicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 23 seasons. He played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1982 to 1994, the Philadelphia Eagles from 1995 to 2002, and the Minnesota Vikings from 2003 to 2004. Anderson holds the NFL records for highest field goal percentage in a career and most seasons with a field goal percentage of 85% or higher. He is also tied with Jason Elam and Sebastian Janikowski for the longest field goal made in NFL history at 63 yards. In addition to his NFL career, Anderson also competed in major professional leagues in Europe and United States.

Anderson was born in Southfield, Michigan and attended Dearborn Heights Crestwood High School. Anderson did not play organized football until his senior year of high school where he served as his team’s placekicker and punter. Upon graduation, Anderson enrolled at Syracuse University where he played college football for Syracuse Orange football team from 1978 to 1981. As a senior, he set an NCAA record by kicking 100 extra points. Upon graduation, he was not selected in the 1982 NFL Draft but was later signed as an undrafted free agent by the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Anderson’s 23-year professional career is distinguished among NFL kickers for several reasons:
-He played in more games than any other kicker in NFL history (363).
-He made more successful field goals than any other kicker (565).
-His 58 missed field goals are tied for 20th fewest among those with 200 or more attempts.
-His 565 made field goals are tied with Morten Andersen for the most ever by a kicker in NFL history; they are also tied (with Andersen) for second most all-time behind only Jason Elam’s 560 made field goals.
-He has a career success percentage on field goals of .829; this places him second behind Justin Tucker (.835) among all kickers with 200 or more attempts since 1982, when such data first became available – his 80.56% success rate on extra points ranks ninth among active players as of 2019.
-From 1982 through 2004 he attempted at least 30 field goals nine times (doing so 10 times if 1996 is included), kick three or fewer times only once, never missed more than seven times in a season, had double digit make seasons 12 times (13 if 1996 is included), had 14 games with three or more field goals (19 if 1996 is included), had eight seasons with over 100 points scored, scored over 150 points five times (six if 1996 is included), holds the single season record for points per game by a non-quarterback non-rushing non-“skill position” player with 2.67 achieved during the 1998 season (minimum of eight games played), was named an All Pro eight times including six First team selections and two Second team selections – one at each position., was selected to appear in nine Pro Bowls – second most appearances by an NFC kicker behind Jan Stenerud’s ten appearances., appeared on The Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Football Players five times: No

Record

Gary Anderson holds the NFL record for the most points in a single season, with 164 in 1998. He also holds the league record for most field goals made in a career, with 565.

David Akers

David Akers is the best NFL kicker because of his great accuracy and his ability to make big kicks when it counts. Akers has been kicking for the San Francisco 49ers for a long time and has been named to the Pro Bowl six times. Akers is also the all-time leading scorer for the 49ers.

Accolades

David Akers is a former American football placekicker. He played college football at Louisville, and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 1997. He also played for the Carolina Panthers, Washington Redskins, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and Detroit Lions. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection and was the NFC Championship Game Most Valuable Player in 2002. He is the Eagles’ all-time leading scorer with 2,150 points.

Akers was born in Lexington, Kentucky. He attended Tates Creek High School in Lexington, and played for the Tates Creek Commodores high school football team. He kicked a 52-yard field goal in a game against Bryan Station High School, which tied the Kentucky high school state record for longest field goal. He was named a first-team All-American by USA Today and Parade magazine as a senior in 1993.

Akers played college football at the University of Louisville from 1994 to 1996. In his three years at Louisville, he converted 60 of 85 field goal attempts (70.6%) and all 95 of his extra point attempts (100%). As a freshman in 1994, he set an NCAA freshman record with 27 successful field goals out of 37 attempts (73%).

Record

In his career, David Akers has made the most field goals in a season (44 in 2011), kicked the most field goals in a game (tied at 6), and holds the NFL record for most points scored by a kicker in a season (166 in 2011). He also has the second longest field goal in NFL history (63 yards).