The competition to be named among the best NFL players of all time has never been fiercer. Sure, many of the greatest football players in NFL history exist in the past, but some of the most successful football players in the NFL are playing now.
This creates a huge dilemma when it comes to comparing players from different eras and creating a list of the best American football players of all time.
Best NFL Kickers of All Time
But what makes a great kicker? Is it kicking one of the longest field goals and gaining glory that way? Does she have the highest field goal percentage in NFL history? There was a lot to take into consideration, but we thought about consistency, longevity, and overall level of difficulty when compiling our rankings of the 10 best NFL players of all time.
10. George Blanda
George Blanda's incredible longevity helps place him among the best kickers of all time. He didn't retire until he was 48, which is an old age, even for a football player.
He retired holding the record for the most points ever scored, at 26 seasons. This makes Blanda one of two players in NFL history to compete in four different decades. It is worth noting that Blanda has also made waves as a midfielder. But as a kicker, he converted 98.3% of his field goals and 52.4% of his field goals, playing in an era when field goals were much more difficult.
9. Lou Groza
Technically, Lou Groza also played as a lineman, but he is best known for his kicking exploits. Why else would he be called a “toe”? Groza was the pioneer who made NFL teams realize they needed a spot-kicking specialist on their roster.
At one time, he held all the records for kicking accuracy and distance. If we're splitting hairs, Groza only made 57.8% of his field goals and his longest field goal was 52 yards. But his impact on the game was too profound to be listed among the greatest kickers of all time.
8. Jason Elam
For a while, Jason Elam was tied for the longest field goal ever when he made a 63-yarder. But his career was much more than that.
He has made over 80% of his career field goal attempts and 99.4% of his field goal attempts. At times, he benefited greatly from kicking in the thin Denver air. However, Elam was also accurate enough to help the Broncos win two Super Bowls and be selected to the Pro Bowl three times.
7. Jason Hanson
Based on loyalty and longevity alone, Jason Hanson deserves to be mentioned among the greatest kickers of all time. He spent all 21 seasons of his career with the lowly Lions when he certainly could have found a home with a more competitive franchise.
Playing in Detroit likely cost him exposure, limiting him to just two Pro Bowl selections. Despite the lack of interest, Hanson converted 82.4% of his field goals over 21 NFL seasons while missing just seven points. Also, although his team did not always win, Hanson made nine game-winning field goals in overtime, which tied the all-time record.
6. Matt Prater
When it comes to kicking from distance, few in NFL history are better than Matt Prater. He owes part of that to the years he spent in Denver's thin air. But even after leaving the Broncos, Prater continued to be one of the best long-distance kickers of all time.
For many years, he held the NFL record for a 64-yard field goal. Prater also made more field goals from 50 yards or longer than any other player. He's a two-time Pro Bowler with a career conversion rate of 83% on field goals, putting him in rare company.
5. Gary Anderson
Gary Anderson was born in South Africa, and played football and soccer during his college days at Syracuse. But he wisely focused on football during his junior and senior seasons, eventually becoming one of the best football players of all time.
In 1998, he became the first kicker to convert every field goal and PAT for an entire regular season. Of course, Vikings fans only remember his miss in the NFC Championship Game. That low point aside, Anderson was a four-time Pro Bowler and a member of both the All-Decade teams of the 1980s and 1990s, where he was one of the league's best players for 23 seasons.
4. Stephen Gostkowski
One shouldn't ignore the role Stephen Gostkowski played with the Patriots during their dynasty, as he was New England's kicker from 2006 to 2019. During that span, he led the NFL in scoring five times, including four Back-to-back years from 2012 to 2015 earned him a spot on the NFL's 2010 All-Decade Team.
While he had plenty of opportunities due to Tom Brady and set the record for PATs returned 35 yards, Gostkowski holds the NFL record with 479 extra points converted. It's safe to say that this record will never be broken. He finished his illustrious career with four Pro Bowl invitations and three Super Bowl rings.
3. Adam Vinatieri
One could say it was Adam Vinatieri who “started” the New England dynasty. He kicked the game-winning field goal when the Patriots won their first Super Bowl, not to mention the field goal in the snow he kicked to tie the Division Round game in the infamous Tuck Rule.
Vinatieri was clearly a shot-stopper who excelled in big moments, but he is so much more than that. After 10 seasons with the Patriots, he spent another 14 seasons with the Colts, eventually setting the NFL's all-time record for points scored. Vinatieri also holds several other records, including most consecutive field goals made and most field goals made. He is truly one of the most iconic kickers in NFL history.
2. Morten Andersen
Who would have expected a left-handed Danish kid to become one of the best kickers in NFL history?
The former NFL player had an unexpected journey to the NFL, but once he got there, he was always among the best. Morten Andersen would eventually earn the title of Mr. Automatic, as he kicked 565 field goals during his career at a rate of nearly 80%.
Andersen was a seven-time Pro Bowler and was named to the First Team All-Pro five times during his career that spanned a quarter-century, helping him set the NFL record for games played. He was also among the first players to kick a field goal from 60 yards or more during an era when that was even rarer than it is now. More importantly, Andersen was the second player to earn a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
1. Justin Tucker
His career may not be over but it should already be clear that Justin Tucker is the greatest football player the NFL has ever seen. Statistically speaking, he is the second most accurate player in league history. He also holds the record for the longest field goal at 66 yards, which is far from the only field goal from over 60 yards he has made in his career.
Since coming into the league in 2012, he has been close to achieving automatic results, even when the distance has been pushed back. Tucker was almost automatic on field goals, often among the top players in both field goal percentage. When you see Tucker on the field, you know the kick is going to be good no matter the situation, and that's what makes him the best of all time.
Who is the most accurate NFL player of all time?
Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker is the most accurate kicker ever in the NFL, hitting 89.2% of his field goals.
Are there any kickers in the HOF?
Yes, there are four kickers — Morten Andersen, Jan Stenerud, George Blanda and Lou Groza — in the Hall of Fame.
Is Justin Tucker still the most accurate player in NFL history?
No, Justin Tucker is no longer the most accurate player ever. Tucker's numbers declined toward the end of his career, leading to him being passed over by Harrison Butker.
Did the kicker win the MVP award?
Yes, Washington's Mark Moseley won the 1982 regular season MVP award. Moseley is the only player in NFL history to win the award. He made 23 consecutive field goals during the 1981 and 1982 seasons and went 20-for-21 on field goals in the 1982 regular season.
Did the kicker win the Super Bowl?
No, a kicker has never won a Super Bowl MVP award.
Has a kicker ever scored a goal?
Yes, many kicks have been scored for touchdowns as either a passer, receiver or rusher. Fred Cone holds the record for kickoff returns with four (two rushing and two receiving).
