In American football, the placekicker (PK), or simply kicker (K), is the player responsible for attempts at scoring field goals and extra points. In most cases, the placekicker also serves as the team's kickoff specialist. The term derives from the attempted scorer kicking the ball "from placement" of a teammate holding the ball rather than by individually drop-kicking the ball through the goal posts.
Jason Hanson is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker who spent his entire 21-year career with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football with the Washington State Cougars, he was selected by the Lions in the second round of the 1992 NFL draft with the 56th overall pick. Hanson holds the NFL record for the most seasons played with one team and also holds multiple kicking and scoring records. Due to his longevity and statistical success, even on many non-playoff teams, Hanson is often cited as one of the most-loved players in Detroit Lions franchise history.
Mark DeWayne Moseley is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He played for Philadelphia Eagles (1970), the Houston Oilers (1971–72), the Washington Redskins (1974–86), and the Cleveland Browns (1986). A native of Livingston, Texas, Moseley played quarterback at Texas A&M University and Stephen F. Austin State University before switching to kicker for his senior season at Stephen F. Austin.
Steven Richard Little was an American professional football player who was a kicker and punter in the National Football League (NFL) for the St. Louis Cardinals. He is the third-highest drafted kicker in NFL history, behind Charlie Gogolak of Princeton and Russell Erxleben of Texas. Little was drafted higher than future NFL greats Ozzie Newsome and Todd Christensen.
Dustin Hopkins is an American professional football placekicker for the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Florida State and was drafted by the Buffalo Bills in 2013.
Taylor Rowan is a former American football placekicker. He has also played in the AF2 with the Arkansas Twisters, and played with the United Football League (UFL)'s New York Sentinels.
Randy Bullock is an American professional football placekicker. He played college football at Texas A&M, and was recognized as the nation's best college football kicker and a consensus All-American. He was selected by the Houston Texans in the fifth round of the 2012 NFL draft, after winning college football's Lou Groza Award.
Zach Hocker is an American former professional football placekicker. He was selected by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Chris Sailer is an American football trainer of kicking specialists. He works with high school placekickers and punters and evaluates them for college football programs. Sailer was named an All-American as both a kicker and a punter while playing college football for the UCLA Bruins. He played professionally in the Arena Football League (AFL).
Nick Rose is an American former professional football placekicker. He played college football at Texas and was signed by the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2016.
Joseph Bulovas is an American football placekicker. He played for the Alabama Crimson Tide where he was a part of two College Football Playoff national championship teams. He also played for the Vanderbilt Commodores.
Timothy Alan Lashar is an American former professional football placekicker in the National Football League (NFL).
Matthew Wright is an American professional football placekicker for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). Wright played college football at UCF where he was a member of the undefeated 2017 team that was selected as National Champions by the Colley Matrix. He was a member of the 2022 Kansas City Chiefs team who won Super Bowl LVII over the Philadelphia Eagles by a score of 38–35.
Chris Naggar is a former American football placekicker. He played college football for Texas and SMU before being signed by the New York Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2021. He played in one game in the National Football League (NFL) for the Cleveland Browns in 2021.
Will Reichard is an American professional football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he became the all-time NCAA Division I FBS scoring leader.
Mitchell Fineran is a former American college football placekicker for the Purdue Boilermakers of the Big Ten Conference. Prior to enrolling at Purdue as a graduate transfer in 2021, he attended and played football at Samford University in the Southern Conference (SoCon) of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS).
Anders Bjorn Carlson is an American professional football placekicker, who most recently played for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. As a placekicker, he has been recognized as both a high school and collegiate All-American, as well as an All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) First Team and Lou Groza Award semifinalist selection.
Blake GrupeGROOP-ee; is an American professional football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish and was signed by the Saints as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL draft.
Cameron Little is an American professional football placekicker for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Arkansas, where he holds the highest field goal percentage of any kicker in program history and finished his college career without having missed an extra point. He also drew media attention for his charity work with Down Syndrome Connection of Northwest Arkansas, which led to an appearance on Good Morning America. Following his junior season, he declared for the 2024 NFL draft; he was ranked as the top kicking prospect in his class by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.
