Imagine a time when a 50-yard field goal was the stuff of legends, a rare feat that left fans on the edge of their seats. Those days are gone. Today, these long-distance kicks are practically routine, and the numbers prove it. This NFL season, kickers have nailed 77 out of 108 attempts from 50 yards or more—a staggering 71.3% success rate. But here's where it gets even more fascinating: these attempts are happening twice as often per game compared to a decade ago. In 2015, teams averaged about 0.2 of these long kicks per game; now, it’s up to 0.4. And if you go back 20 years? They were so uncommon that only 48 were attempted all season—less than 0.1 per team per game.
But focusing solely on 50-yard field goals doesn’t capture the full picture. Coaches are pushing the limits, letting kickers attempt distances that were once considered absurd. Take 60-yard field goals, for example. Just six weeks into this season, kickers are 4-for-8 from that range. To put that in perspective, in 2014, not a single 60-yard field goal was made the entire season. And this is the part most people miss: the NFL’s long-standing records are being shattered. Tom Dempsey’s iconic 63-yard field goal, once thought untouchable, has already been surpassed this year. Chase McLaughlin booted a 65-yarder, and Brandon Aubrey hit a 64-yarder.
To drive the point home, consider this: in the NFL’s first 86 seasons, there were only four 60-yard field goals in total. This season alone? There have already been four. The league is witnessing a revolution in long-distance kicking, and it’s raising some controversial questions. Are kickers simply getting better, or is it the equipment and training methods that have evolved? And what does this mean for the future of the game? Will we soon see 70-yard field goals become the new norm? Let’s hear your thoughts—is this progress, or are we losing the thrill of the rare achievement? Sound off in the comments!
