In the pressure-packed world of the NFL, kickers often toil in obscurity – until the game is on the line. That’s when legends are made, with a single swing of the leg. And for a select few, that swing has launched a football record-breaking distances, etching their names in the history books with the longest field goals the league has ever seen.
Justin Tucker: The New Record-Holder
On September 26, 2021, Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker stepped onto Ford Field in Detroit and changed NFL kicking forever. From 66 yards out, he unleashed a booming kick that seemed to defy physics. The ball bounced off the crossbar and through the uprights, sealing an improbable 19-17 Ravens victory and shattering the previous record for longest field goal.
Tucker’s kick broke a record previously held by Matt Prater, who drilled a 64-yarder in the thin air of Denver back in 2013. But Tucker’s historic boot came indoors, at sea level, adding to its mystique. According to NextGen stats, the ball reached a maximum height of 50 yards and hung in the air for over 4 seconds before dramatically caroming through.
While 66 yards is the new high-water mark, Tucker is no stranger to long-range kicking. He also holds the record for longest field goal in a domed stadium with a 61-yarder in 2013. His consistency from distance is unmatched – Tucker is 16-for-16 in his career on attempts from 50+ yards in the fourth quarter or overtime.
“He’s the best kicker in history,” Ravens head coach John Harbaugh said after Tucker’s record-setter in Detroit. “When you have a kicker like that, you want to give him an opportunity like that.”
The Dallas Duo: Maher and Aubrey
Not to be outdone, the Dallas Cowboys boast two of the strongest legs in NFL history. In a 2024 preseason game, kicker Brandon Aubrey matched Tucker’s record with a 66-yard missile against the Raiders. While preseason records are unofficial, it proved Aubrey’s elite leg strength.
Aubrey’s teammate, Brett Maher, was no slouch either. Maher drilled a 63-yarder in 2019, tied for the second-longest kick in league history at the time. He’s also one of only a few kickers to make three field goals of 60+ yards in his career, showcasing his consistent range.
Super Bowl Record-Breaker: Harrison Butker
In Super Bowl LVIII, with the game tied late, Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker stepped up for a 57-yard attempt. In the biggest moment, on the biggest stage, Butker delivered – hitting the longest field goal in Super Bowl history to lift KC over San Francisco.
“We’ve got Harrison Butker, one of the best kickers in the league,” Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes said post-game. “I knew if we could get the ball to the 40-yard-line, he’d have a shot.”
Other Members of the 60-Yard Club
While 66 yards is the current gold standard, several other kickers have etched their names in the record books by breaking the once-thought unbreakable 60-yard barrier:
- Tom Dempsey, Saints (63 yards) – The OG of long-distance kicking, Dempsey’s 1970 bomb stood as the NFL record for over 40 years.
- Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders (63 yards) – The big-legged Polish kicker known as “Seabass” lived up to his cannon-leg reputation with a 63-yard shot in 2011.
- David Akers, 49ers (63 yards) – Akers tied the then-record in 2012 with a long-range missile at Lambeau Field.
- Graham Gano, Panthers (63 yards) – Gano boomed a 63-yarder as time expired to beat the Giants in 2018.
- Jake Elliott, Eagles (61 yards) – The young Eagles kicker announced his presence with a 61-yarder to beat the Giants as a rookie in 2017.
In a league that continues to emphasize strong special-teams play, elite kickers like Tucker, Butker and the Dallas duo of Maher and Aubrey will keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible. 70 yards, once thought impossible, seems to inch closer each year, waiting for one mighty leg to make history yet again.
