The journey of professional football can be quite odd, especially when it comes to kickers. Unlike players in other positions, kickers often have unpredictable paths to success. Take Jason Myers, for example. Over his 11-year career, he has made quite a name for himself, recently setting a Super Bowl record by converting all five of his field goals. This feat not only helped the Seattle Seahawks win but also pushed his scoring season ahead of legends like LaDainian Tomlinson.
It’s fascinating to think about how kickers are often overlooked. In fact, even exceptional talent like Cam Little went in the sixth round of the 2024 draft, while Justin Tucker, widely regarded as one of the best ever, was undrafted. This highlights a key issue in the NFL: teams struggle to evaluate and value kickers correctly.
Myers’ own story illustrates this. He wasn’t highly recruited coming out of high school and had a mediocre college career at Marist College. After a call from an Arena League team, he played for a while, then took up a job as a valet to afford kicking lessons from a former NFL kicker, Michael Husted. In 2014, after completely reworking his technique, he caught the eye of NFL scouts and eventually signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Kickers often face intense scrutiny and can be easily replaced after a few misses, regardless of their potential. This volatility makes their position one of the most uncertain in football. Changes in kickers can be dramatic; teams will drop a player quickly and pick up someone new in hopes of finding stability.
Myers himself faced pressure when he struggled during his time with the Jaguars, even humorously acknowledging the situation with a candid quote about the stress of his job: “It feels great, dude. It’s f***ing awesome, man.” This light-hearted response reflects the crazy expectations on kickers and how they often handle immense pressure.
This unpredictability in the kicking game remains a puzzle for NFL teams, as skills can emerge from seemingly nowhere. The search for reliable kickers often leads teams to discover hidden talents through combines and showcases, run by former professionals who understand the technical aspects of kicking better than most.
The world of kicker evaluation can seem random, and despite ongoing efforts, it’s still one of football’s great mysteries. Seeing someone like Myers excel after overcoming so many odds is a testament to the talent and hard work many kickers put in, even when the NFL continues to struggle with how to properly scout and utilize this unique position.
For those interested in deeper insights, you can check out more about Jason Myers’ journey in the article from Center Field Marist or explore how the NFL is evolving in its approach to kickers in this New York Times article.
