Is the Football Juiced? Ex-NFL Kickers Weigh in on Spike in Long Field Goals
Updated Oct. 25, 2025, 11:54 p.m. ET
When Tampa Bay Buccaneers kicker Chase McLaughlin successfully kicked field goals from 58 and 65 yards against the Philadelphia Eagles in September, Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio drew an intriguing parallel between the rise of long field goals in the NFL this season and Major League Baseball’s steroid era. “These kicking balls that they changed this year have drastically changed the kicking game,” Fangio shared. “Field goals, in particular. It’s almost like they need an asterisk era, similar to the live ball era or the asterisk for those home runs hit by [Barry] Bonds, [Sammy] Sosa, or [Mark] McGwire. The way they have modified the ball has significantly affected field goals in the NFL.”
Fangio’s remarks stem from a change in how kicking balls, or K-balls, are managed by teams as they prepare for games. In the past, equipment managers would select new balls from the package on game day, having a window of 45 to 90 minutes to break them in, which resulted in varying ball conditions week to week. However, following a new rule passed during the offseason, the league now provides each team with 60 Wilson kicking balls for the entire season. Equipment managers now have a full week to prepare these balls for games, using a wet towel or a Wilson ball brush before presenting three K-balls for inspection by NFL officials two hours and fifteen minutes prior to kickoff.
Former NFL kicker Nick Novack, who currently trains pro, college, and high school kickers in San Diego, highlighted Ravens senior special teams coach Randy Brown as a key advocate for the new procedure, lobbying the NFL for years for changes in how kicking balls are handled. This eventually led to the NFL approving the rule change by a vote of 31-1 in March. “All the kickers really should be thanking Randy Brown for this,” Novak remarked. “He’s the pioneer. He fought for it, and it will be a lasting legacy that he leaves with the game.”
Despite the new rules allowing specialists more flexibility in preparing K-balls, not all statistics support Fangio’s assertion that the ball is ‘juiced’. The league-wide field goal percentage of 84.7% through seven games is slightly down from last season’s average of 85.6%. However, Fangio points out that NFL coaches are now more inclined to let kickers attempt longer field goals, with this season’s 70.6% field goal success rate from beyond 50 yards on track to set a record if it continues. As of Week 8, kickers have successfully landed 6 of 10 field goals from 60 yards or more. For context, kickers made just 19 of 56 attempts (33.9%) from 60-plus yards between 2020-2024, according to FOX Sports Research. Justin Tucker’s NFL record 66-yard field goal in 2021 was a standout during that period, yet kickers averaged only 11 attempts per year from that distance back then. They’ve already tried 10 within the first seven weeks of the current season.
All-Pro and former UFL player Brandon Aubrey has already made two field goals over 60 yards this season for the Dallas Cowboys. Notably, his 61-yard field goal in the Cowboys’ victory over the Washington Commanders in Week 7 marked his fifth successful 60-yard kick in his career, earning him the NFL record.
Novak noted, “Like shaping a baseball glove or using a basketball that feels right, familiar equipment builds confidence, giving you an edge on game days. I don’t believe it adds distance like that. For me, it’s about the balls being perfect, and ‘perfect’ can vary from kicker to kicker based on their preferences. To achieve this, I would compress the ends of the ball and smooth out the seams, which is why you see kickers hitting the ends of the ball on a kickoff tee to compress the air evenly in the ball, making it a fuller ball.”
Novak further explained, “This adjustment fosters confidence. Before, with only 45 minutes to work on the K-balls, you were pressed for time. Now, having more time to fine-tune the balls gives you additional assurance. If I were an active kicker, knowing I have balls that are perfect in color, smoothness, and shape would give me that confidence before stepping onto the field.”
Another factor contributing to the increase in long field goals is the new kickoff rules, which have improved field position at the start of drives, bringing teams closer to field goal range. With kickers demonstrating they can achieve longer field goals, head coaches have developed a trust in their kickers to execute when called upon. Additionally, the focus on long field goal attempts has led teams to prioritize blocking efforts, treating it as a defensive strategy and incorporating their more athletic starters in the attempt to prevent these longer kicks. As of Week 7, 12 field goals have been blocked compared to a total of just 18 for the entire previous season.
Former NFL kicker and current UFL’s St. Louis Battlehawks kicker Rodrigo Blankenship expressed that he wasn’t surprised by McLaughlin’s long kicks, having firsthand experience of his leg strength while competing for the Indianapolis Colts as a rookie in 2020. “Seeing Chase make one from 65 yards did not surprise me because I witnessed him nail a 68-yarder five years ago,” Blankenship said. “Many kickers in the NFL possess the leg power to make a kick of that distance, even under the previous conditions. Justin Tucker set the NFL record in 2021 under those conditions, indoors and with no wind aid. Now that many kickers are consistently making longer kicks in practice, coaches feel more confident sending them out to attempt these longer kicks in games bet.999.com.login.”
The 65-yard field goal made by McLaughlin set the record for the longest successful kick in outdoor settings. Blankenship has even recreated McLaughlin’s kick in his weekly social media series, where he replicates the three longest field goals made in the NFL after each week of games. “I’m currently focused on demonstrating that I have the leg power to make these long kicks that players attempt weekly,” Blankenship shared regarding his kicking series, which he aims to maintain until he secures a spot on an NFL team. “I want to continue promoting myself and shine a positive light on athletes performing at a high level.”
Punters are also reaping the benefits of well-broken-in K-balls. So far this season, 23 punters have averaged at least 47 yards per kick, a significant rise from just a decade ago when only eight players achieved that average. Ty Long, who spent eight years in the NFL and CFL as a punter and kicker, now runs a training business for kickers in Alabama. Long noted the notable difference in the calibre of athletes now entering the kicking scene compared to when he started. jili369 casino 56 wowph “First off, kickers and punters are the best they’ve ever been. The comparison isn’t even close. Over the last decade, there’s been a remarkable transformation. I recall averaging 47 yards in my first year with the [Los Angeles] Chargers, ranking third in the league. If you hit 47 nowadays, you’re at the bottom of the rankings.”
“The dynamics of the game have shifted. If you provide the top kickers in the world with a well-broken-in football, they’ll maximize it. Moreover, coaches have also started taking risks they would have never considered before. It’s becoming commonplace for people to say, ‘Oh, these guys can hit 65-yarders.’ I’m not asserting that everyone can do it, but I could hit from 65 in college. bonus bonus ph365 Players were capable of this before, but now coaches have the courage to allow it in games.”
Long also mentioned that the surge in kickers making long field goals may lead to increased contracts for specialists. “As the salary cap continues to rise, it can’t solely benefit quarterbacks. Other positions deserve a look too. If Brandon Aubrey can consistently nail a 63-yard field goal, he deserves to be compensated eight to nine million dollars annually. He’s a competitive edge for any team.”
Eric D. Williams has covered the NFL for over a decade, reporting on the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN, and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on X at @eric_d_williams. casino plus color game login
What do you think about the changes in the kicking game this season?
