Will Reichard Long Field Goals History Isn't What You Think
Will Reichard's long field goal history reveals a pattern
Will Reichard's long field goal history points to a clear pattern: he has steadily turned long-range attempts into a weekly weapon, first in college at Alabama and then with the Minnesota Vikings, where his 59-yard kick in Week 1 and 62-yard franchise-record strike in Week 3 of 2025 put him among the NFL's elite long-distance kickers. The most important takeaway is simple: Reichard is not just a reliable kicker, he is a high-end deep-range specialist whose biggest kicks often arrive in pressure moments.
What the record shows
Reichard's long field goal timeline is built on consistency, range, and a willingness to attack tough attempts rather than avoid them. In 2025, he opened with a 59-yard field goal at Soldier Field, followed by a 51-yarder in Week 2 and then a 62-yarder against Cincinnati that broke the Vikings' franchise record for longest field goal. By the end of the season, Vikings team materials credited him with 57 made field goals in 65 attempts and 69 consecutive extra points, underscoring that the deep kicks were part of an otherwise efficient profile.
"Guys are just getting too good," Reichard said after his 62-yard field goal, a remark that reflects both his confidence and the modern range of NFL kickers.
Career-long progression
Reichard's progression on deep kicks began before he reached the NFL, where he was already one of the most productive and accurate kickers in college football history. At Alabama, he left as the Crimson Tide's career leader in points scored by kicking and later became the NCAA's career scoring leader after converting a 43-yard field goal in the SEC championship game. That collegiate résumé matters because it shows that his NFL range did not come from a single breakout game; it came from years of volume, discipline, and pressure reps.
In the NFL, Reichard's rookie season in 2024 already hinted at a long-range profile, with the Vikings noting he made eight field goals from 50-plus yards, the second most in a single season in franchise history. That context makes his 2025 start less surprising and more like an extension of an established pattern. The history suggests he is comfortable when the ball is well outside ordinary field-goal range, especially in stadiums and game states that reward confidence and leg strength.
Key long kicks
The following chart of Reichard's best-known long makes shows how his range has developed across levels of competition and why analysts now treat him as a genuine deep-threat kicker.
| Date | Team/Level | Distance | Opponent/Context | Why it mattered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-12-01 | Alabama | 43 yards | SEC Championship vs. Georgia | Became NCAA career scoring leader on the kick |
| 2025-09-08 | Minnesota Vikings | 59 yards | At Chicago | Tied Soldier Field's long-standing benchmark and signaled early range |
| 2025-09-14 | Minnesota Vikings | 51 yards | Vs. Atlanta | Showed the 59-yarder was not a one-off |
| 2025-09-21 | Minnesota Vikings | 62 yards | Vs. Cincinnati | Set the Vikings franchise record for longest field goal |
| 2025 season | Minnesota Vikings | 50+ yard makes | Season-long output | Made eight from 50+ yards, second most in team history |
Why the pattern stands out
The pattern is not just that Reichard can hit from distance; it is that his long attempts come with repeatable mechanics and game-to-game confidence. He said he does not even practice beyond 59 yards in-season, yet he still produced a 62-yard make in a real game, which suggests his live-game ceiling may be higher than his typical practice range. That gap between practice limits and in-game output is exactly what makes his long field goal history so notable.
Another part of the pattern is timing: his biggest kicks have often arrived when teams need points before halftime or when momentum matters most. The 59-yarder at Chicago came at the end of the first half, while the 62-yarder against Cincinnati came as time expired in the second quarter, turning a strong Vikings start into a runaway lead. In other words, Reichard's long kicks are not just statistical curiosities; they have had direct game impact.
NFL context
Reichard's 62-yard field goal tied for the fifth-longest in NFL history at the time of the kick, placing him in a small group of kickers who can convert from extreme distance. ESPN later listed Reichard among the kickers with 62-yard makes in NFL history, alongside Matt Prater, Harrison Butker, Brett Maher, Stephen Gostkowski, and Matt Bryant. That puts him in a historical lane usually reserved for established veterans, not a young kicker still building his pro résumé.
His historical significance also grew because the Vikings had already seen the franchise record move from 56 yards to 61 yards before Reichard pushed it to 62. In that sense, his long field goal history is a story about escalation: he inherited an already strong team kicking standard and quickly raised it again. For a franchise that has often depended on special teams in close games, that upgrade matters a lot.
Career snapshots
- Alabama dominance: Reichard finished as Alabama's career leader in points scored by kicking and helped set the NCAA career scoring record.
- Rookie power: In 2024, he made eight field goals from 50-plus yards, the second-most in a Vikings season.
- Early 2025 burst: He opened with a 59-yard make at Soldier Field and followed with a 62-yard franchise record against Cincinnati.
- Historical tier: His 62-yarder placed him among the longest kickers in NFL history and tied for the fifth-longest made field goal in league annals at that point.
What it means now
Reichard's long field goal history suggests a kicker who has already moved past the "can he?" stage and into the "how far can he really go?" stage. The combination of college production, rookie-season deep makes, and franchise-record distance in 2025 indicates that his range is not a novelty but a durable part of his value. If the modern NFL continues stretching kicking range, Reichard looks like one of the players most likely to keep pace.
That matters because deep-range kicking changes play-calling, late-half strategy, and fourth-down decisions across an entire game. A coach who trusts a kicker from 55 to 62 yards gains real flexibility, and Reichard's recent history shows Minnesota can treat long distance as a live scoring option rather than a desperation throw.
Historical pattern
In historical terms, Reichard's profile follows a familiar arc: elite college accuracy, immediate NFL translation, and then a quick expansion of range once pro conditions and confidence align. The difference is that his long kicks are arriving early in his career and at a pace that already places him inside franchise and league history. That is why his field-goal history is drawing attention now: it reads like the start of a long-distance specialist's prime, not the peak of a veteran's late-career run.
- He built the base in college by stacking accuracy, volume, and pressure kicks at Alabama.
- He proved the range in the NFL with 50-plus-yard success as a rookie.
- He turned that range into history in 2025 with a 62-yard franchise record.
- He now profiles as a kicker whose long attempts are part of the game plan, not a surprise.
What are the most common questions about Will Reichard Long Field Goals History Isnt What You Think?
How long is Reichard's longest NFL field goal?
Reichard's longest NFL field goal is 62 yards, which he made for the Vikings against Cincinnati in 2025 and which set the franchise record.
Did Reichard make a long kick in college?
Yes, Reichard's college career at Alabama was defined more by consistency than one single monster kick, but his biggest college moments included record-setting scoring milestones and pressure field goals in championship environments.
Why is his long-field-goal history important?
It matters because it shows repeatable range across college and pro football, not just one lucky kick, and it gives teams real scoring options from beyond 55 yards.
Is Reichard among the best long kickers ever?
On pure distance, his 62-yard make places him in a historically elite group, though the broader "best ever" debate still depends on career longevity, accuracy, and future seasons.
What is the biggest takeaway from his history?
The biggest takeaway is that Reichard has consistently extended his effective range, and his long kicks have already affected record books, game outcomes, and how coaches view his upside.