Best NFL kickers of all time: A top 10 list of the best kickers in American Football

To be considered one of the best NFL kickers of all time is an excellent accomplishment in American football. Placekickers are expected to produce results whenever they enter the field.

They are expected to be accurate with incredible leg strength and mental toughness to accomplish feats and score precise points. They are expected to step up in pressure situations, especially when they have to achieve winning moments during the last minutes of a particular game.

Top 10 best NFL kickers of all time

There have been several best NFL kickers in history, some of whom have probably never been heard of by the Hall of Famers voters.

According to various online sources, here is a list of the top 10 best NFL kickers of all time, compiled regarding a player's overall performance, achievements, era, and historical significance.

10. Pat Summerall

• Career: 1952-1961
• Team(s): Detroit Lions, Chicago Cardinals, New York Giants
• Career stats: 100 field goals out of 212 attempts
• Career highlights: NFL Champion 1952

Bill Russell's biography, age, net worth, rings, MVP's, coaching, cause of death, tributes, achievements

NBA

During his era, Pat was one of the best NFL kickers of all time since he did not miss a kick in the postseason. His most memorable and significant performance was a 49-yarder in Yankee Stadium, resulting in the 1958 season playoff.

9. Gary Anderson

• Career: 1982-2004
• Team(s): Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Tennessee Titans
• Career stats: 538 field goals out of 672 attempts
• Career highlights: Three-time NFL All-Pro, NFL 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, Four-time Pro Bowl, NFL scoring leader, Golden Toe Award

In simple words, Anderson is considered the best NFL kicker in history. He was the only one during the Super Bowl era in the 1980s decade to ever have a successful conversion rate of 80 percent plus. The Steelers retired his No. 1 jersey out of respect for his achievements.

8. Jim Bakken

• Career: 1962-1978
• Team(s): St Louis Cardinals
• Career stats: 282 field goals out of 447 attempts
• Career highlights: Four-time Pro Bowl, NFL scoring leader, NFL 1960s All-Decade Team, NFL 1970s All-Decade Team

Most assists in NBA game: who holds the record in 2024?

NBA

Jim was the most accurate kicker in his era, although he did not have a howitzer for the right leg. The St. Louis Cardinal's legend is one of the 29 individuals to be named to two All-Decade teams

7. Nick Lowery

• Career: 1978, 1980-1996
• Team(s): New England Patriots, Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets
• Career stats: 383 field goals out of 479 attempts
• Career highlights: Three-time Pro Bowl, Two-time NFL All-Pro, NFL scoring leader, Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame

With his incredible leg strength, Nick set the bar for two decades regarding the accuracy and power pack since his right leg was intense. Most of his home games were played at the Meadowlands and Arrowhead, and neither favoured the kickers.

6. Morten Andersen

• Career: 1982-2004, 2006-2007
• Team(s): New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons. New York Giants, Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings
• Career stats: 565 field goals out of 709 attempts
• Career highlights: Seven-time Pro Bowl, Six-time NFL All-Pro, Two-time Golden Toe Award, NFL 1980s and 1990s All-Decade Team, New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame

Who holds the record for the most touchdowns in the NFL?

NFL

While with New Orleans, Morten became one of the most famous NFL kickers when he earned six Pro Bowl selections and scored 1,318 points. In doing so, he made an all-time saint record, and with his longevity, he became a legend in three different decades.

The Danish former-American footballer was the most reliable player throughout his long career at his position and also one among only two people in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

5. Jan Stenerud

• Career: 1967-1985
• Team(s): AFL Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Chiefs, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
• Career stats: 373 field goals out of 558 attempts
• Career highlights: Six-time NFL All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, Four-time Pro Bowl, Three-time All-AFL Team, Two-time AFL All-Star, NFL 75th and 100th Anniversary Team, Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame

Among the best NFL kickers of all time sits Jan Stenerud, the first pure kicker to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991. He retired with the most field goals, 17 of 50 yards plus, and 373 overall field goals in the league's history.

Top 10 quarterbacks with the most touchdowns in American Football

Football

4. Adam Vinatieri

• Career: 1996-2019
• Team(s): New England Patriots, Indianapolis Colts
• Career stats: 599 field goals out of 715 attempts
• Career highlights: Four-time Super Bowl champion, Three-time NFL All-Pro, Three-time Pro Bowl, NFL scoring leader, NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary Team

Adam is considered the greatest of all time and ranks first in 3-pointers career attempts. Although there have been other best NFL placekickers in history with more accuracy and more muscular legs, none was more clutch than Adam Vinatieri.

3. Ben Agajanian

• Career: 1945, 1947-1949, 1953-1957, 1960-1962, 1964
• Team(s): Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, AAFC Los Angeles Dons, Los Angeles Rams, New York Giants, AFL Los Angeles-San Diego Chargers, AFL Dallas Texans, Green Bay Packers, AFL Oakland Raiders
• Career stats: 128 field goals out of 145 attempts
• Career highlights: Two-time NFL champion

During his era, Ben was considered the godfather of placekickers and one of the best NFL kickers of all time. While playing for the Giants and Packers, he was the league's leader in terms of field goal percentage on two occasions, and in his later years, he became a Dallas Cowboys consultant.

Who are the 15 best left-handed basketball players in the league right now?

NBA

2. Lou Groza

• Career: 1946-1967
• Team(s): AAFC Cleveland Browns, Cleveland Browns
• Career statistics: 264 field goals out of 481 attempts
• Career highlights: Four-time NFL champion, Nine-time Pro Bowl, Six-time NFL All-Pro, Sporting News NFL Most Valuable Player, NFL scoring leader, NFL 1950s All-Decade Team, NFL 50th Anniversary Team, Cleveland Browns Ring of Honour

Some sources consider Lou the best NFL kicker of all time since he tried more than anyone to give the position credit, although he did not invent it. During the 1953 season, he went down in history for scoring 23 field goals out of 26 attempts, and today, the Lou Groza Award is presented to the best college placekickers annually.

1. Justin Tucker

• Career: 2012-Present
• Team(s): Baltimore Ravens
• Career stats: 293 field goals out of 323 attempts
• Career highlights: Seven-time NFL All-Pro, Super Bowl champion, Five-time Pro Bowl, NFL 2010s All-Decade Team

Who are the oldest quarterbacks in the NFL at the moment?

NFL

Tucker is one of the best NFL kickers of all time, according to Reddit. He is the most accurate kicker in NFL history, with an average missed goal of 50.8 yards. That said, he holds two records for 90.5 percent field goals and the longest field goal at 66 yards.

In just 118, Tucker is the fastest placekicker ever to reach 1,000 points and the first player with over 30 goals in six different seasons who can do damage from any angle in any part of the field.

Who is the most clutch kicker in NFL history?

Adam Vinatieri, the four-time Super Bowl champion, is the most clutch placekicker in NFL history. The New England Patriots legend scored the game-winning kicks in the Super Bowls 36 and 38.

Which NFL kicker has the strongest leg?

Sebastian Janikowski of the Oakland Raiders has the strongest legs in the NFL since every time he lines up to take a kick. He gives great hope and opportunity to his team. His field goal against the Denver Broncos at 63 yards is the longest in NFL history.

Who is the best offensive lineman to ever play American football?

Football

Has anyone ever kicked a 70-yard field goal?

There have only been six field goal attempts of 70 or more yards in NFL history by various kickers, and they all missed. Although some players show great hope that they can do it, as of 2023, they have yet to attempt it and score.

Most NFL games are tighter in the final minutes in contrast to other sports, and consequently, most matches often end up in ties. The best NFL kickers of all time have always been able to break the tie and determine the winner despite mostly lagging at the sidelines during the match.

READ ALSO: Which is the best NBA draft class of all time?

Sports Brief has posted a top 10 list detailing the best NBA draft class ever. The NBA draft is one of the most anticipated annual events in its history since most teams go scouting for the best players from various parts of the world to join them in contesting for the title or, instead, staying at the top of the league.

Top 10 longest field goals: A ranked list of the longest field goals attempted and made

NFL

Building a competitive NBA squad that can bring home trophies requires the coach to understand the team's needs and, thus, the kind of players to draft. Click on the link above to find the best NBA draft class.