Longest Field Goal in NFL History

The longest field goal in NFL history is Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder for the Baltimore Ravens on September 26, 2021. The kick clanged off the crossbar and dropped over as time expired, beating the Detroit Lions and rewriting the record book.

Long field goals combine leg power, perfect technique and nerve, and only a tiny group of kickers have ever cleared 63 yards in a real game. The record has crept upward over the decades, from Tom Dempsey’s iconic 63 in 1970 to Tucker’s 66. Here is the full leaderboard of the longest field goals in NFL history, the stories behind the biggest kicks, and why 66 yards has proven so hard to beat. All figures are as of the 2025 season.

The record holder: Justin Tucker’s 66 yards

Justin Tucker, widely regarded as the most accurate kicker in NFL history, produced the longest make on the game’s biggest possible stage: the final play. With the Ravens trailing the Lions, Tucker lined up from 66 yards, and his kick barely had the distance, striking the crossbar before bouncing through. The improbable ending made it one of the most memorable field goals ever, and it extended the record to a distance no one has matched.

The full leaderboard of the longest field goals

The table below ranks the longest field goals in NFL history. Active players are noted, and several kickers share the 63-yard mark.

Rank	Yards	Kicker	Team	Year
1	66	Justin Tucker	Ravens	2021
2	65	Brandon Aubrey*	Cowboys	2023
3	64	Matt Prater	Broncos	2013
4	63	Tom Dempsey	Saints	1970
4	63	Jason Elam	Broncos	1998
4	63	Sebastian Janikowski	Raiders	2011
4	63	David Akers	49ers	2012
4	63	Graham Gano	Panthers	2018
4	63	Brett Maher	Cowboys	2019

Only Tucker, Aubrey and Prater have cleared 63 yards, while a cluster of kickers share the 63-yard mark that stood as the record for four decades. Improvements in kicking technique, specialized coaching and stronger legs have pushed the ceiling higher in recent years.

Brandon Aubrey and the modern power kickers

The most striking newcomer is Brandon Aubrey, a former professional soccer player who joined the Dallas Cowboys and immediately made a 65-yard field goal as a rookie in 2023, the second-longest in NFL history. His arrival is part of a broader trend of kickers routinely attempting distances that once seemed impossible, and it hints that Tucker’s 66-yard record may not last forever. Kickers like Aubrey and Tucker often anchor the same rosters that chase the most Super Bowl MVPs.

Tom Dempsey and the record that lasted 43 years

No kick on the list is more legendary than Tom Dempsey’s 63-yarder in 1970. Born without toes on his kicking foot, Dempsey wore a specially built shoe and stunned the football world with a game-winner that held the record for 43 years. That longevity is why his name remains synonymous with long field goals, even after Prater and Tucker surpassed the distance. The endurance of great kickers also lands them on our oldest NFL players in history leaderboard.

Why the record matters

A record-breaking field goal is a rare blend of athletic power and precision, often decided by inches at the crossbar. Justin Tucker’s 66-yarder captured all of it, a buzzer-beater that bounced through to make history. As leg strength and technique keep improving, the distance record has become one of football’s most quietly competitive, echoing the speed chase seen in the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

The short version: Justin Tucker holds the NFL record with a 66-yard field goal in 2021, ahead of Brandon Aubrey (65) and Matt Prater (64). As of the 2025 season, no one has kicked a longer field goal in an official game.