Kickers. The NFL's least important position until it becomes the most important position. Kickers are often forgotten, left in their corner to make kicks and do nothing else. However, kickers often find themselves thrown into game-winning or game-saving situations. In tight games, kickers can be the difference between victory and defeat. It is the ultimate pressure position. Here is DAZN's list of the greatest NFL kickers of all time.
Adam Vinatieri: 1996 - 2019
Mr Automatic, Adam Vinatieri is arguably the greatest, most clutch kicker in NFL history. The four-time Super Bowl champion kicked three Super Bowl-winning field goals for the New England Patriots. Vinatieri also made one of the most famous kicks in NFL history when his field goal attempt in the snowstorm at Foxborough Stadium kept a burgeoning Patriots team alive in a playoff game. A career conversion rate of 83.8% is not the highest amongst NFL kickers, but Vinatieri's big kicks make him one of the most ice-cool kickers in the league's history. A three-time First-Team All-Pro and member of the NFL 100 team, Vinatieri's outstanding CV, big-game performance, and longevity will take him into the Hall of Fame.
Justin Tucker: 2012 - Present
Statistically, Justin Tucker is the most accurate kicker of all time. His conversion percentage of 90.2% is the highest amongst NFL kickers with 100 attempts. Tucker also holds the record for the longest kick ever made, with an astonishing 66-yarder in 2021. A five-time First-Team All-Pro, Tucker is a near-guarantee of three points. His power, consistency, and accuracy are unmatched. Tucker is a Hall of Fame-bound kicker and a player who has made kicking a relentless art.
Mark Moseley: 1970 - 1986
The only permanent placekicker to win the NFL MVP award, Mark Moseley's 1982 season was the stuff of legend. For that season, Moseley's conversion rate was a staggering 95.2%. Later that season, Moseley made several kicks in the Super Bowl as he helped Washington win the title. The following season, Moseley led the league in points scored and was a two-time Pro Bowler. A kicker, in all likelihood, will never win the MVP again, making Moseley's achievement an incredible one.
Stephen Gostkowski: 2006 - 2020
Drafted in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, Stephen Gostkowski excellently replaced Adam Vinatieri's boots in New England. Gostkowski, a three-time Super Bowl winner, sported an 86.3% record on field goals and an absurd 98.2% on kicks after touchdowns. Gostkowski holds the NFL record for 523 consecutive successful kicks after touchdowns. He also has the record for most Super Bowl appearances for a kicker. A two-time First-Team All-Pro and a member of the NFL 2010s All-Decade team, Gostkowski was a premier kicker.
Morten Andersen: 1982 - 2007
Morten Andersen was born in Denmark and ended his career in the Hall of Fame. A former gymnast and soccer player, Andersen turned to football in college. From there, Andersen became the best kicker of the 1980s and earned five First-Team All-Pro nominations. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Andersen holds the record for most games played and is second in overall points scored. He played for five teams over three decades and was named to the NFL 1980s and 1990s All-Decade teams.