10 NFL records with a good chance to fall in 2020

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DENVER, CO – DECEMBER 22: Brandon McManus #8 of the Denver Broncos talks to Matt Prater #5 of the Detroit Lions, a former Denver Broncos kicker, on the field after a 27-17 Denver Broncos win at Empower Field on December 22, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images) /

Longest Field Goal

When you look at all-time stats for NFL kickers, it’s clear that the power and accuracy of today’s kickers are greater than any other period in league history.

Matt Prater, currently the kicker for the Detroit Lions, is the record holder at an incredible 64 yards, a benchmark set during his tenure with the Denver Broncos while kicking in the altitude of Mile High Stadium. Yet even away from the Rocky Mountains, today’s kickers are still able to convert their field goals at greater distances than ever before. In fact, 12 of the top 14 longest field goals in NFL history have all come in the last 10 seasons.

Only New Orleans Saints kicker Tom Dempsey (1970) and Denver Broncos kicker Jason Elam (1998) are the exceptions on list of NFL’s longest field goals ever and both are tied at No. 2 overall with a 63-yard conversion to their names. Of the kickers with a proven ability to hit from 60 yards or more, several are still active including Prater, Graham Gano, Brett Maher, Jake Elliott, Justin Tucker, and Greg Zuerlein. In addition, younger kickers like Harrison Butker of the Kansas City Chiefs have shown they can hit from ridiculous ranges (like 77 yards) in practice.

It simply makes sense that newer kickers to the NFL will continue to push that distance even farther, which should eventually bring about the NFL’s first 65-yard field goal conversion. Perhaps it will come this season.

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