Longest Field Goal Ever Kicked: The Shocking Distance
- 01. The 68-yard record kick: Cam Little's bomb
- 02. Historical context: how the record climbed into the 60s
- 03. Comparison of the longest official NFL field goals
- 04. Preseason vs. regular-season: the 70-yard vs. 68-yard distinction
- 05. Kicking in the CFL and other leagues
- 06. Engineering and technique of a 60-yard+ field goal
- 07. Legendary kicks that shaped the game
- 08. Why the 68-yard record matters for strategy
- 09. Frequently asked questions
- 10. Future outlook: where will the record go next?
The 68-yard record kick: Cam Little's bomb
On November 2, 2025, with 1 second remaining on the clock at the end of the first half, Cam Little lined up a 68-yard attempt at Allegiant Stadium, boosted by the thin air at about 2,184 feet of elevation. The kick cleared the crossbar with room to spare and gave the Jaguars a 30-29 halftime lead; it was a right-footed, field-goal kick that immediately became the longest official make in NFL history. Analysts noted that the high altitude and dome-like conditions at Allegiant contributed to the ball staying in the air several extra yards, but the distance still shattered the long-standing ceiling of the 60s that had defined the outer edge of elite kickers for over a decade.
The 68-yard make also highlighted how much the training and technique of modern placekickers have evolved. Full-time specialists now use swing-path analysis, biomechanics tracking, and strength programs tailored specifically to leg drive and hip rotation, which together help rotate the ball with tighter spin and a higher trajectory. Commentators frequently cite Little's core stability and follow-through as the key factors that turned a previously "impossible" distance into a live, game-usable option for his offensive coordinator.
Historical context: how the record climbed into the 60s
For most of the 20th century, anything beyond 50 yards was considered an extreme long strike. The first true barrier to fall was the 60-yard threshold, broken by Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints in 1970, when he drilled a 63-yard field goal with a modified shoe, a distance that stood for years as the psychological limit of what seemed possible. Dempsey's kick, made in a relatively low-elevation environment, helped NFL coaches and fans accept that kickers could reasonably be asked to attempt field goals from the opponent's 40-yard line.
Over the next several decades, makers like Jason Elam, Sebastian Janikowski, and Jason Hanson each pushed into the 60-yard neighborhood, but none broke Dempsey's 63-yard ceiling in a regular-season game. That barrier finally gave way in 2013 when Matt Prater of the Denver Broncos connected on a 64-yard field goal at Mile High Stadium, a combination of technique and elevation that nudged the record into the mid-60s. By 2021, technology and training had advanced enough that Justin Tucker could one-up Prater with a 66-yard, game-winning kick, setting the pre-Little standard for the modern era.
Comparison of the longest official NFL field goals
The table below illustrates the progression of the longest field goals in NFL history, including the current record-holders and some of the most notable long strikes that helped redefine kicking range.
| Distance (yards) | Kicker | Team | Date | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 68 | Cam Little | Jacksonville Jaguars | November 2, 2025 | Allegiant Stadium |
| 67 | Cam Little | Jacksonville Jaguars | January 4, 2026 | EverBank Stadium |
| 66 | Justin Tucker | Baltimore Ravens | September 26, 2021 | Ford Field |
| 65 | Brandon Aubrey | Dallas Cowboys | September 22, 2024 | AT&T Stadium |
| 64 | Matt Prater | Denver Broncos | December 8, 2013 | Empower Field at Mile High |
| 63 | Multiple kickers | Various | 1970-2025 | Multiple venues |
This table of distances shows how the ceiling has moved upward in 1- to 2-yard increments over the last decade, reflecting improvements in both human performance and the kicking environment such as stadium elevation and turf quality. Several of these long kicks occurred in controlled, indoor or dome-like stadiums, while others took advantage of the thin air at high altitudes, which reduces drag on the ball and prolongs its flight.
Preseason vs. regular-season: the 70-yard vs. 68-yard distinction
During the 2025 preseason, Cam Little also connected on a 70-yard field goal at EverBank Stadium, a distance that would have been the longest in organized football if it counted in the official record books. However, NFL rules and recordkeeping primarily track statistics accumulated in regular-season and postseason games, so the 70-yard kick is treated as a notable exhibition achievement rather than the official record field goal.
The difference between preseason and regular-season usage is important for how coaches treat distance-tested field goals in practice. In exhibition games teams are more willing to experiment with extreme ranges because the stakes are lower, whereas in the regular season each attempt from 60 yards or more is weighed against the risk of surrendering possession near midfield. Still, the 70-yard preseason kick illustrated that the physical ceiling for human kickers is now somewhere in the low 70-yard range under ideal conditions.
Kicking in the CFL and other leagues
In the Canadian Football League (CFL), the official record is 63 yards, jointly held by Sergio Castillo and Paul McCallum. Castillo matched McCallum's mark in 2025, reviving a kick that had long been thought to be only 62 yards before video evidence and field measurements confirmed it was closer to 63. The wider CFL field and deeper goal posts create a different geometry for placekickers, which some analysts argue makes clean-struck 55- to 60-yard attempts feel more routine than their NFL counterparts.
Across other pro and semi-pro leagues, 60-yard field goals have become increasingly common, though none have surpassed the 68-yard mark set by Cam Little in the NFL. College football and indoor leagues occasionally see experimental or "circus" kicks from beyond 70 yards, but these are not recognized in official league record books and are typically used for promotional or practice-drill purposes rather than real-game strategy.
Engineering and technique of a 60-yard+ field goal
A 60-yard or longer field-goal attempt is no longer just raw power; it is a blend of biomechanics, timing, and environmental factors. Modern kickers focus on a short, whip-like approach and a locked ankle to maximize the speed of the kicking leg at the moment of contact, which can translate into exit velocities approaching 70-75 miles per hour on the ball. The ball is typically struck as close to the center of the foot as possible to minimize wobble and keep the trajectory efficient, which helps the kick maintain height and distance.
Environmental variables also play a measurable role in the realized distance of a long field goal. At higher elevations, such as in Denver or Las Vegas, the reduced air density means the ball experiences less drag, allowing it to travel several yards farther than the same kick at sea level. Indoor stadiums largely eliminate crosswinds, which can destabilize long kicks and cause them to veer wide; this is why several of the longest makes in the last decade have occurred in domed or enclosed rooftop venues.
Legendary kicks that shaped the game
Sixty-plus-yard field goals are rare, but a small group of iconic kickers have helped normalize them. Tom Dempsey's 63-yard bomb in 1970 remains one of the most talked-about kicks in NFL lore, both for its unprecedented distance and for the modified shoe he used, which sparked later rule changes about kicking shoes. His kick demonstrated that a single successful long strike could permanently alter head-coaches' risk-reward calculus on fourth-and-long situations.
Jason Elam and Sebastian Janikowski each sneaked into the 60-yard range in the 1990s and 2000s, cementing the idea that some kickers could reliably push into the 50s and occasionally beyond. Then in 2013, Matt Prater's 64-yard kick at Mile High, aided by elevation, signaled that the 60s were no longer a mythical threshold but a realistic offensive weapon. By the time Justin Tucker drilled his 66-yard game-winner in 2021, the league had already accepted that top-tier kickers could operate as legitimate long-distance weapons on short-field drives.
Why the 68-yard record matters for strategy
The 68-yard record fundamentally changes how offensive play-callers think about field position and fourth-down decisions. Where coaches once shied away from attempting anything beyond 50 yards, some now view the 60-yard line as a viable "tie-breaker" or game-ending option, especially in indoor or high-altitude stadiums. This shift has also led to a rise in what analysts call "attack kicks," where teams forgo the conservative punt in order to push the ball into deeper territory and still maintain a chance at a long game-winning field goal.
Defensive units are forced to adjust as well. If the average placekicker's** effective range has expanded from 50 to 65 yards over two decades, defenses must prioritize stopping the opposing offense from reaching the 40-yard line, not just the 30. As a result, the line between "safe" and "dangerous" field position has moved back by several yards, reshaping the strategic calculus in close, late-game situations.
Frequently asked questions
Future outlook: where will the record go next?
Analysts widely expect the record field goal distance to continue creeping upward as training and technology evolve. With more kick-specific analytics entering training regimens-such as launch-angle sensors, GPS tracking of leg speed, and video-based swing analysis-teams are systematically squeezing out speed and efficiency gains that could push the realistic ceiling into the high 60s or even low 70s in regular-season play.
At the same time, the NFL may eventually revisit rules around field-goal distance, goal-post height, or even kicking-shoe specifications if extremes become too frequent, reflecting a balancing act between preserving the spectacle of the long bomb and maintaining competitive fairness. For now, the 68-yard kick by Cam Little stands as the latest benchmark in a century-long evolution of how far human legs can carry a football through the uprights.
Everything you need to know about Longest Field Goal Ever Kicked The Shocking Distance
What is the longest field goal ever kicked in the NFL?
The longest field goal ever kicked in the NFL is 68 yards, achieved by Cam Little of the Jacksonville Jaguars on November 2, 2025, in a regular-season game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Does the 70-yard preseason kick count as the official record?
No, the 70-yard preseason field goal by Cam Little does not count as the official NFL record because the league's record books primarily track statistics from regular-season and postseason games.
Who held the record before Cam Little?
Before Cam Little set the 68-yard mark, the longest field goal in NFL history was a 66-yard kick by Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens on September 26, 2021.
What is the longest field goal in CFL history?
The longest field goal in CFL history is 63 yards, jointly held by Sergio Castillo and Paul McCallum.
How many 60-yard or longer field goals have been made in NFL history?
There have been only a small number of 60-yard or longer field goals in NFL history; estimates suggest fewer than 20 makes from 60+ yards even after accounting for the recent explosion in long-range attempts.
What conditions make a long field goal easier?
High stadium elevation, low humidity, calm or tail winds, and indoor or domed environments all make a long field-goal attempt easier by reducing drag and stabilizing the ball's flight.
Can a 70-yard field goal ever be attempted in a regular-season game?
Yes, some NFL teams have already attempted kicks from around 70 yards in practice and training-camp environments, and the physical data suggest that under ideal conditions a 70-yard regular-season make is within the realistic range of today's top kickers.