It's long enough ... it's good!

63-yard field goal nailed by three kickers

The Oakland Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski kicked a record-tying 63-yard field goal in his team's 23-20 victory over the Denver Broncos in the final game of Kickoff Weekend on Monday Night Football. His long kick came on the final play of the first half to give the Raiders a 16-3 lead. A bit of foreshadowing of the long field goal came in pregame warmups when Janikowski drilled a 70-yarder with distance to spare.

Janikowski's field goal came 13 years after the NFL's last successful 63-yard field goal. Like on Monday night, that kick also took place in Denver. On October 25, 1998, Broncos’ placekicker Jason Elam booted a 63-yard field goal at the end of the first half against the Jacksonville Jaguars to tie the 28-year record first set by Tom Dempsey of the New Orleans Saints. 

Dempsey’s record kick occurred in New Orleans' 19-17 win over the Detroit Lions on November 8, 1970 at Tulane Stadium.  Dempsey connected on the the game-winning field goal with just two seconds remaining in the game.

The shoe worn by Tom Dempsey during the 1970 NFL season is on exhibit in the Hall’s exhibition rotunda that chronicles the first century of professional football. The shoe worn by Elam as well as the ball he kicked for the record-tying field goal was added to the Hall’s collection days after the historic moment.  Both are currently on display in the Hall’s Pro Football Today Gallery.

On November 8, 1970, the New Orleans Saints were a dismal 1-5-1. The team’s head coach Tom Fears had just been fired and the playoff-bound Detroit Lions were heading into town. But as the saying goes, “just when you least expect it, expect it.” And that is exactly what happened, as the Saints would go on the beat the Lions in record fashion.

60-yard field goals

63   

Tom Dempsey, New Orleans vs. Detroit, Nov. 8, 1970
Jason Elam, Denver vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 25, 1998
Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland vs. Denver, Sept. 12, 2011

62   

Matt Bryant, Tampa Bay vs. Philadelphia, Oct. 22, 2006

61   

Sebastian Janikowski, Oakland vs. Cleveland, Dec. 27, 2009

60

Steve Cox, Cleveland vs. Cincinnati, Oct. 21, 1984
Morten Andersen, New Orleans vs. Chicago, Oct. 27, 1991

Progression of a Record – Longest Field Goal

Tom Dempsey's 63-yarder in 1970 broke the NFL mark held by the Baltimore Colts Bert Rechichar who had a 56-yarder against the Bears on Sept. 27, 1953. His record kick snapped the two-decade old record of 54 yards by Glenn Presnell of the Detroit Lions on Oct. 7, 1934.