NFL Kicker

An NFL Kicker scores more points than any other player on most rosters. Over a 17-game season, a reliable kicker converts 85–95% of field goal attempts and virtually all extra points, contributing between 100 and 160 points in an average year. In a league where games are frequently decided by single scores, that output is foundational to a team's performance.

The visible work — the kick itself — takes about three seconds. The preparation for those three seconds is the actual job. Practice sessions involve hundreds of kicks per week at varying distances, angles, and wind conditions. Mechanics are refined through film review with the special teams coach, who analyzes approach cadence, plant foot placement, and the precise contact point on the ball that produces the desired trajectory.

Game day involves specific routines developed over years. Most kickers have a structured warmup sequence, a pre-attempt visualization process, and a trigger routine — a specific physical or mental cue that initiates their approach. These routines are not superstition; they are psychological anchors that produce consistent physical performance when the stadium is loud, the score is close, and 70,000 people are watching.

Beyond field goals, the kickoff is a strategic tool. Coaches use kickoff targeting — directional kicks to the boundary, pooch kicks to a specific return player, or power kicks aimed at touchback — to limit return yardage and create favorable field position. The kicker implements those strategies based on weekly game planning with the special teams coordinator, varying placement and trajectory according to the game situation.

Player development pathway: The vast majority of NFL kickers were collegiate kickers at the FBS level. A smaller number came through soccer backgrounds with limited college football experience. Private kicking instruction from specialized coaches — separate from the college staff — is nearly universal among players who reach the professional level.

Physical benchmarks:

• Consistent field goal range of 55+ yards at practice altitude
• Kickoff touchback rate exceeding 70% on standard kickoffs
• Hang time of 3.8+ seconds on kickoffs outside the end zone
• Approach consistency: repeatability of 3, 4, or 5-step approach from various hash positions

Technical mastery:

• Soccer-style technique fundamentals: hip rotation mechanics, locking ankle at contact, follow-through direction
• Plant foot positioning relative to the ball — the single greatest determinant of kick direction
• Adjusting technique for weather: wet balls, cold temperatures, crosswinds, and altitude changes
• Onside kick execution: end-over-end tumble technique and directional pooch

Mental preparation:

• Established pre-kick routine that functions under noise and time pressure
• Ability to refocus after a miss — the next kick must be approached without carryover from the previous one
• Positive visualization practice, commonly supported by a mental performance coach

Special teams knowledge:

• Coverage concepts on kickoff — understanding where gaps develop so ball placement can influence them
• Field goal protection: what a blocked kick means for approach timing
• Game situation awareness: when to attempt a touchback vs. directional kick based on return personnel

There are 32 active roster spots for kickers in the NFL, plus 32 practice squad roster spots — a total of 64 kicking jobs at the highest level of the sport. Competition for those spots is intense, and the turnover rate varies widely by tenure. Elite kickers with established track records can hold their roster spots for a decade or more; younger kickers without significant sample sizes are at risk of being replaced after a single poor performance stretch.

The market for kickers has become stratified. Elite performers — Justin Tucker is the career field goal percentage record holder at over 90% — command top-of-market contracts because their margin over replacement is demonstrably large. Teams with reliable kickers consistently win more close games than their underlying performance would predict, and analytics-oriented front offices have come to price that accurately.

Rule changes have affected the position. NFL kickoff rules were modified in recent seasons to reduce returns and encourage touchbacks, changing how kickoffs are valued tactically. Rule evolution is ongoing and can affect how much emphasis teams place on kickoff distance versus accuracy, influencing which skill profile is prioritized in personnel decisions.

For players who do not sustain NFL careers, the adjacent path is college coaching — kicking coaches at major programs can earn $200K–$400K at top schools — or work in the private kicking instruction industry, which has expanded significantly as college recruiting for specialists has grown more competitive and families invest more in position-specific development.

The position is not threatened by technology or automation — it is one of the few positions in professional sports that will require a human athlete as long as football is played in its current form.

Note: NFL players do not submit cover letters in the traditional sense. The following is written from the perspective of a college kicker seeking a tryout with an NFL team as an undrafted free agent.

Dear [General Manager / Special Teams Coordinator],

I'm reaching out to request a tryout opportunity as a kicker following the conclusion of my college eligibility at [University]. I understand the competition for kicking spots is as difficult as any position in the league, and I'm not asking for anything other than the chance to kick in front of your staff.

Over four years at [University] I made 82% of field goal attempts, including 14-of-18 attempts from 45 yards and beyond. My senior season I converted a 57-yarder in a conference game under cold, windy conditions and made all 36 of my extra point attempts. I consistently hit touchbacks at 65% or better in practice and performed directional kicks on demand when the coaching staff requested specific coverage scenarios.

I've worked with [Kicking Coach] privately for three years on technique refinement — we've addressed my plant foot positioning on right-hash attempts that was producing a consistent left miss tendency, and my accuracy from the right hash has improved from 71% to 89% over the past 18 months. I have film on that improvement if it's useful for your evaluation.

I'm available to travel for a private workout at your facility at any point in the offseason. I've prepared for this conversation for four years, and I'm grateful for any time your special teams staff is willing to invest.

[Player Name]