In gridiron football, a field goal (FG) is a method of scoring. The team with the ball must kick, or drop kick, the ball through the goal, or between the uprights and over the crossbar, in order to score a field goal.
Keep reading if you enjoy field goals to learn about the longest FGs in NFL history.
What is the longest field goal in NFL history?
Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens made NFL history during the 2021 campaign by kicking the league’s longest field goal to extend the Detroit Lions’ winless streak by one week.
There have been multiple field goals of 60 yards or more in the history of the league, but Tucker’s kick shattered the previous record for field goals set in 2013.
1. Justin Tucker’s 66-Yard Fg Kick Makes History for Longest NFL Field Goal
2021 Detroit Lions kicker Justin Tucker nailed a 66-yard field goal kick as time expired for the victory, adding insult to injury to their difficult 0-2 start. With his kick, Tucker broke the previous NFL record for the longest field goal.
For a lot of years, Tucker’s kick was certain to hold the NFL field goal record. None of the attempts have even come close. Thanks to Tucker, many football fans now know the answer to the question “What is the longest field goal in NFL history?”
2. Matt Prater’s 64-Yarder Comes up Short in Quest for Nfl’s Longest Field Goal
Kicker Matt Prater had one of his best days on December 8, 2013. Prater was playing for the Denver Broncos when they faced the Tennessee Titans at Mile High Stadium. On this momentous day, Peyton Manning, a quarterback who will go down in history, moved the Broncos into scoring position just before halftime, which on this momentous day was at Tennessee’s 46-yard line.
It goes without saying that making a field goal at an altitude when the air is thin will help a football soar to new heights, but Prater’s achievement in breaking the previous field goal record should not be overlooked. Since the Broncos play at least eight home games each season, kickers have the opportunity to disregard the rule whenever they see fit.
3. Tom Dempsey’s 63-Yard Boot Held Record for 43 Years
There are three very notable elements that set what Tom Dempsey accomplished in 1970 apart from the competition, placing it appropriately at No. 3.
First, Dempsey’s right foot was born without any toes. Due to this, Dempsey used a specially made flat-front kicking boot, which is currently housed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. The Tom Dempsey rule is currently in effect, requiring that any shoes worn by a player using an artificial limb have a kicking surface that is comparable to that of a typical kicking shoe.
Second, Dempsey’s kickoff strategy is entirely unlike anything used in modern American football.
In contrast to the strategies utilized now, when kikers approach the ball from an angle, back then it was more typical for them to line up a few steps behind the ball.
The goalposts are the final notable distinction. The NFL relocated the goalposts in 1974 from directly in the center of the end zone entrance to behind the scoring area, outside of the playing field.
He doesn’t believe in such arguments when it comes to the possibility that Dempsey’s special shoes gave him an unfair advantage during the game-winning kick. Neither did ESPN’s Sport Science, which previously investigated the issue with studies. Dempsey’s achievements continue to be amazing and may be the greatest kick of all time.
4. Jason Elam’s 63-Yard Blast Was the First To Tie Long-held Record
Jason Elam was a superb NFL kicker who won two Super Bowls and was selected to three Pro Bowls. He had numerous opportunities to change the course of history while spending almost his entire 17-year career with the Denver Broncos. Elam accomplished this on October 25, 1998, by making a 63-yard field goal at Mile High Stadium, which is located 5,200 feet above sea level. The first kick to equal Tom Dempsey’s long-standing record was that one.
5. First-round Picks Sebastian Janikowski Performs Well
Sebastian “Seabass” Janikowski was the only kicker ever selected in the first round of an NFL Draft due to his unique physical makeup. Literally. The 260-pound, 6-foot-1-inch native of Poland understood how to give a ball some power. Despite only playing in one Pro Bowl throughout his 18-year career, Seabass had an impact. The special teams wizard’s 63-yard bomb at Mile High in 2011 may be his most famous kick.
6. David Akers Nails Improbable 63-Yard Shot off Crossbars at Lambeau
In his 16-year NFL career, David Akers made a lot of great field goals, but none were as far as his 2012 63-yard bounce off the crossbars at Lambeau Field. Although the San Francisco 49ers would ultimately lose the Super Bowl at the end of the season, the left-handed kicker had a wonderful start to the year with this attempt in Week 1.
7. Graham Gano’s 63-Yard Game-winning Kick Leaves the Giants With a Loss
Graham Gano may be scoring goals for the New York Giants these days, but not all that long ago, he dramatically offended their supporters. Gano set up for a 63-yard boot with only one second remaining as the wind whipped around at about six miles per hour from the east. Once the ball has taken off, it curves viciously, but only enough to drop in the corner pocket of the kicking net. It was a lovely thing.
8. Dallas Cowboys’ Brett Maher Drills 63-Yard Fg at Jerry World
Just before halftime, the Dallas Cowboys set up to have Brett Maher throw a 63-yard bomb against their NFC East opponents. According to the NBC broadcast, the shot would have been successful from 66 yards at AT&T Stadium, making it the farthest field goal in NFL history. While many of the previous longest field goals have been made at Mile High, this one was made indoors at Jerry World. Because it would have been made at a greater distance, it even offers hope for a longer kick in the future.
9. A 62-Yard Moonshot by Matt Bryant
Matt Bryant played for five different teams over the course of his career, but he’ll always remember the 2006 Tampa Bay Buccaneers game he won with a 62-yard field goal. Bryant got exactly the right amount of mustard on the ball to send it past the uprights, even though it appeared to be a mile away when he lined up.
10. Stephen Gostkowski and Three Others Have Made Field Goals From 62 Yards
In NFL history, a total of five 62-yard field goals have been made. In his career, Brett Maher has made a 63-yard field goal in addition to two others. Most recently, in Week 2 of the 2021 season, Matt Prater made a 62-yard field goal. The fact that Stephen Gostkowski’s 62-yard field goal was made at the 7,280-foot-high Azteca Stadium in Mexico City makes it notable as well.
