Greg Joseph

Last updated

Greg Joseph
Greg Joseph NFL Blitz at DPTA 2. 4. 2022 (cropped).jpg
Joseph in 2022
No. 46 – Washington Commanders
Position: Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1994-08-04) August 4, 1994 (age 30)
Johannesburg, South Africa
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:208 lb (94 kg)
Career information
High school: American Heritage School (Delray Beach, Florida)
College: Florida Atlantic (2013–2017)
Undrafted: 2018
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status: Practice squad
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 14, 2024
Field goals:113
Field goal attempts:137
Field goal %:82.5
Longest field goal:61
Touchbacks:267
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Greg Joseph (born August 4, 1994) is a South African professional football placekicker for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Florida Atlantic Owls and signed with the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2018. Joseph has also been a member of several other NFL teams, most notably with the Minnesota Vikings.

Contents

Early life

Joseph was born in Johannesburg, South Africa, to Glen and Ilana Joseph. [1] In 2001, he and his family moved to West Boca Raton, Florida, as his family sought to leave South Africa, and his mother had family in Florida. Joseph has two younger brothers, Marc and Dylan. [2] [3] [1] [4] Joseph is Jewish, and says that Judaism has "absolutely" guided him during his life. [5] [4]

Joseph played football and soccer at Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, Florida (and was named all-county and all-state) and high school football (in which he was named all-county, all-state, and All-America by MaxPrep.com) at American Heritage School in Delray Beach, Florida. [6] [7] [4] [8] He decided to focus on football after recognizing that he stood a much better chance of getting a college scholarship and going pro in football than in soccer. [9]

College career

Joseph spent five years at Florida Atlantic University (FAU) in Boca Raton after walking onto the football team and redshirting his freshman year, and graduated in 2017 with a degree in exercise science and health promotion. [10] [1] [11] [4] He graduated as the Owls’ all-time leader in field goals made (57), points scored (336), points after touchdown (PATs) made (165; in 170 attempts), and field goals attempted. [12] [1] [13] [4] He also set the university's single-game records for PATs, field goals, points scored by kicking, and the Owls’ longest field goal (54 yards). [4] [14]

As of February 2019, Joseph was working towards finishing his MBA at FAU. [10]

College statistics

Florida Atlantic Owls
YearGXPMXPAXP%FGMFGAFG%Pts
2014 11343597.1142070.076
2015 122828100.0182766.782
2016 123939100.0101471.469
2017 14646894.1152171.4109
Career4916517097.1578269.5336

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span
6 ft 0+14 in
(1.84 m)
210 lb
(95 kg)
31+12 in
(0.80 m)
9+14 in
(0.23 m)
All values from Pro Day [15]

Miami Dolphins

After going undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft, Joseph was signed as a free agent by the Miami Dolphins. [4] He made all three of the kicks he attempted in the preseason. [16] Joseph was released on September 1, 2018. [17]

Cleveland Browns

Joseph was signed by the Cleveland Browns on September 17, 2018. [4] He replaced Zane Gonzalez, who was cut from the team after missing two field goals and two extra points the previous day against the New Orleans Saints. [13] During a Week 5 12–9 overtime victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Joseph made a game-winning 37-yard field goal in overtime. [18]

In his lone season with the Browns, Joseph made 17 of 20 field goal attempts, with a long of 51 (his misses were beyond 40 yards), and made 25-of-29 extra points. [19] Joseph was 4-of-4 from 20-to-29 yards, 7-of-7 from 30-to-39 yards, 5-of-7 from 40-to-49 yards and 1-of-2 from 50-plus yards. [20] In 2018, he handled 69 total kickoffs and achieved a touchback on 68.1% of them. [20]

On August 31, 2019, Joseph was released during final roster cuts after losing the kicker job to rookie Austin Seibert. [21]

Joseph was drafted in the fifth round of the fifth phase of the 2020 XFL Draft by the Seattle Dragons in October 2019, but did not sign with them. [22] [23] [24]

Carolina Panthers

On November 25, 2019, Joseph was signed to the practice squad of the Carolina Panthers. [25]

Tennessee Titans

Joseph with the Tennessee Titans in 2020 Greg Joseph (49373799513) (cropped).jpg
Joseph with the Tennessee Titans in 2020

On December 18, 2019, the Tennessee Titans signed Joseph to a three-year contract off Carolina's practice squad, after waiving kicker Ryan Santoso and placing kicker Ryan Succop on injured reserve. [26] [27] He made his Titans debut on December 22, kicking four extra points in a 38–28 loss to the Saints. [28] In the next game against the Houston Texans, Joseph went 5-for-5 on extra points as the Titans won on the road by a score of 35–14. [29]

Joseph did not attempt a field goal until his fifth game with the Titans when he made a 30-yard kick in the first quarter of the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs. Joseph went 15-for-15 on extra points before his first field goal attempt. [30]

Joseph was waived by the Titans on September 3, 2020, after the team signed Stephen Gostkowski to assume kicking duties. [31]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On September 8, 2020, Joseph signed to the practice squad of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. [32] He was elevated to the active roster on December 18 for the team's Week 15 game against the Atlanta Falcons, and reverted to the practice squad after the game. [33]

Minnesota Vikings

Joseph with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023 Broncos Salute to Service Game (8158649) (cropped).jpg
Joseph with the Minnesota Vikings in 2023

On February 11, 2021, Joseph signed with the Minnesota Vikings to replace a struggling Dan Bailey. [34] During a Week 2 33–34 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Joseph missed a game-winning 37-yard field goal attempt. Three weeks later, he made a game-winning 54-yard field goal against the Detroit Lions. A week later, Joseph missed another game-winning field goal against the Carolina Panthers, but the Vikings would go on to win the game in overtime. On November 21, 2021, he made his second game-winning field goal of the season, a 29-yarder against the Green Bay Packers. [35]

During a Week 4 28–25 victory over the Saints in London in 2022, Joseph converted all five field goal attempts, including a 47-yard game-winner, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. [36] During a Week 15 39–36 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts, he was able to kick a 40-yard field goal in overtime despite an attempt to ice him, helping the Vikings achieve the biggest comeback in NFL history. [37] In the next game against the New York Giants, Joseph hit a 61-yard game winning field goal in a 27–24 victory, [38] also setting a Vikings franchise record for longest made field goal. [39]

On March 14, 2023, Joseph signed a one-year contract extension with the Vikings. [40]

Green Bay Packers

On March 28, 2024, Joseph signed with the Green Bay Packers. [41] Joseph made the initial 53–man roster, but was released on August 28, 2024. [42]

Detroit Lions

On September 11, 2024, Joseph was signed to the Detroit Lions practice squad. [43]

New York Giants

On September 17, 2024, the New York Giants signed Joseph to their active roster from the Lions practice squad after Graham Gano got injured. [44] In Week 6, versus the Cincinnati Bengals, Joseph missed 2 field goals in the fourth quarter, including one that would have kept them in the game with under a minute left in regulation, which resulted in a 17–7 loss. [45] On November 7, he was waived with an injury settlement. [46]

Washington Commanders

Joseph signed with the Washington Commanders' practice squad on December 13, 2024. [47]

NFL career statistics

Legend
BoldCareer high

Regular season

YearTeamGPOverall FGsPATsKickoffsPoints
BlkLngFGAFGMPctXPAXPMPctBlkKOAvgTBRet
2018 CLE 14051201785.0292586.206963.5472076
2019 TEN 2000099100.001162.6659
2020 TB Did not play
2021 MIN 17055383386.8403690.009463.97618135
2022 MIN 17261332678.8464087.008963.45434118
2023 MIN 17154302480.0383694.717964.46118108
2024 NYG 405211872.766100.001965.015430
Total7136113210881.816815290.5136164.025981476
Source: pro-football-referencecom

Postseason

YearTeamGPOverall FGsPATsKickoffsPoints
BlkLngFGAFGMPctXPAXPMPctBlkKOAvgTBRet
2019 TEN 303011100.099100.001462.55912
2022 MIN 103811100.033100.00664.7416
Total403822100.01212100.002063.291018
Source: pro-football-referencecom

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References

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