Longest Field Goals Ever Made in an NFL Game
Field goals have always been a strange mix of math and muscle in football. For decades, most attempts came from short range, and anything beyond 50 yards felt like a gamble. Then the game changed. Better training, stronger legs, and new kicking styles pushed the limits of distance, and the once-impossible 60-yard mark became a real target.
Today, only a handful of kickers have joined the exclusive club of record-breakers who pushed the ball farther than anyone thought possible in an actual NFL game. Here’s a countdown of the 10 longest field goals in league history, with one that still sits at the top of the record books.
10. Tom Dempsey – 63 Yards (1970)
The story of long-range field goals in the NFL always circles back to Tom Dempsey. On November 8, 1970, the New Orleans Saints kicker launched a 63-yarder at Tulane Stadium to beat the Detroit Lions. Dempsey was born with a partial right foot and wore a custom shoe that struck the ball with incredible force. His record stood unmatched for nearly three decades and set the standard for what kickers aimed to achieve.
9. Jason Elam – 63 Yards (1998)
Jason Elam tied Dempsey’s legendary mark on October 25, 1998, while playing for the Denver Broncos. Kicking at Mile High Stadium’s thin altitude certainly helped, but that didn’t make the feat less impressive. Elam’s kick was the first to prove that Dempsey’s number wasn’t untouchable, and it fueled the modern era of power kicking.
8. Sebastian Janikowski – 63 Yards (2011)
Sebastian Janikowski of the Oakland Raiders matched the 63-yard milestone in 2011. His kick came in Denver, where the air often works in a kicker’s favor, but it showcased the raw strength that made him one of the most feared specialists of his generation.
7. David Akers – 63 Yards (2012)
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Kevin Burkett
In 2012, David Akers of the San Francisco 49ers nailed a 63-yarder against the Green Bay Packers. The ball clanged off the crossbar before bouncing through, so there was a touch of drama to the record. Akers was already considered one of the league’s most consistent kickers, and this kick gave him a spot in NFL history.
6. Graham Gano – 63 Yards (2018)
Image via Wikimedia Commons/Jeffrey Beall
Graham Gano hit a 63-yard field goal in 2018 to beat the New York Giants. The kick came as time expired, so it gave the Carolina Panthers a 33–31 win and secured his place on the list of the NFL’s longest field goals.
5. Brett Maher – 63 Yards (2019)
In 2019, Brett Maher of the Dallas Cowboys tied the 63-yard record during a game against the Philadelphia Eagles. Maher later added multiple 60-plus-yard kicks to his résumé and built a reputation as one of the few kickers who regularly attempt long-distance shots.
4. Joey Slye – 63 Yards (2024)
Image via Wikimedia Commons/All-Pro Reels
Joey Slye drilled a 63-yarder for the New England Patriots in 2024. His ability to strike from such distance added to his career highlight reel and continued the modern trend of kickers stretching the boundaries of what’s possible.
3. Matt Prater – 64 Yards (2013)
Before the record was broken in 2021, Matt Prater held the top spot with a 64-yard field goal for the Denver Broncos against the Tennessee Titans in 2013. Mile High Stadium once again played host to history, and Prater’s kick set a new bar for the longest successful attempt in a regular-season game.
2. Brandon Aubrey and Chase McLaughlin – 65 Yards (2024, 2025)
Two different kickers currently share second place. Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys drilled a 65-yarder in 2024. A year later, Chase McLaughlin of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers matched him with a 65-yard bomb against the Philadelphia Eagles. McLaughlin’s kick set two extra marks: the longest outdoor field goal in NFL history and a new Buccaneers franchise record. Aubrey also holds a 64-yarder made against the Giants in 2025.
1. Justin Tucker – 66 Yards (2021)
The crown belongs to Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens. On September 26, 2021, he delivered a 66-yard field goal against the Detroit Lions inside Ford Field. The ball bounced off the crossbar before falling through and gave the Ravens a 19–17 win as time expired. Tucker already had a reputation as the most accurate kicker in NFL history, but this record-breaking kick made him the benchmark for greatness.
Honorary Mention – Cam Little
While the longest regular-season mark remains Justin Tucker’s 66 yards, a noteworthy 70-yard field goal was successfully drilled by Cam Little for the Jacksonville Jaguars during a 2025 preseason game. This kick, although clearly documented by statistical services, is not officially included in the NFL’s record book because preseason results are excluded from league records.