Age isn't supposed to work like this in the NFL. Honestly, by the time a kicker hits 41, most of them are either on a golf course or doing color commentary for local radio. Not Matt Prater.
When the Buffalo Bills signed him to the practice squad back in September 2025, it felt like a classic "break glass in case of emergency" move. Tyler Bass was dealing with some nasty hip and groin issues that eventually landed him on IR, and the Bills needed a steady hand. Or a steady foot, kinda. They didn't just get a backup; they got a guy who stepped off a couch and immediately nailed a 32-yard game-winner as time expired against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.
That 41-40 thriller wasn't just a fluke. It was the start of a wild 2025 season where the Buffalo Bills kicker Matt Prater basically defied the laws of biology. He’s 19 years into a career that’s seen him wear jerseys for the Broncos, Lions, and Cardinals, but this late-career resurgence in Western New York is something nobody really saw coming.
Why the Buffalo Bills Kicker Matt Prater Is a Statistical Outlier
People love to talk about the "leg" power of younger guys like Justin Tucker or Brandon Aubrey. But Prater holds a record that’s arguably harder to maintain: most field goals made from 50+ yards in NFL history. He’s got 82 of them now. That’s not just about strength; it’s about surviving long enough to get those chances.
Look at his 2025 stats with Buffalo. He’s 18-of-20 on field goals. That’s 90%. At 41 years old! He’s been more reliable than guys half his age who are currently struggling with the "yips" across the league. He did miss a few games in December because of a quad injury—which, let's be real, at 41, a quad strain probably feels like a car wreck—but he came back for the playoffs.
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In the Wild Card win against the Jaguars, he was perfect. Two field goals, three extra points. It’s that veteran "ice in the veins" thing that coaches like Sean McDermott obsess over.
The Tyler Bass Situation and the "Foreseeable Future"
The elephant in the room has always been Tyler Bass. He’s been "the guy" in Buffalo for years. He even hit a franchise-record 61-yarder earlier in 2024. But when the injuries piled up, the Bills had to make a choice. McDermott famously said Prater would hold the job for the "foreseeable future," and honestly, it’s hard to argue with the results.
The locker room dynamic is interesting here. You've got Josh Allen—the face of the franchise—literally hoisting Prater onto his shoulders after that Ravens win. Prater has gone on record saying this is the best locker room he’s ever been in. That's a huge statement from a guy who’s been in the league since 2007.
- 2007: Started with the Falcons (didn't go great).
- 2008-2014: The Denver years (where he set the then-record 64-yarder).
- 2014-2020: The Detroit era (ultra-reliable indoors).
- 2021-2024: Arizona (still hitting 50-yarders like they're layups).
- 2025-Present: Buffalo (the veteran savior).
What Most Fans Get Wrong About Kicking in Buffalo
Orchard Park is a nightmare for kickers. The wind at Highmark Stadium doesn't just blow; it swirls in directions that don't make sense. Most fans think you just need a big leg to survive there. That’s wrong. You need to know how to "flight" the ball.
Prater has talked about how much he’s had to adjust his technique for the Buffalo weather. He isn't just swinging as hard as he can. He's playing the angles. In that Week 18 win against the Jets, he didn't even have to attempt a field goal because the Bills were dominant, but his kickoffs were strategic—aiming for corners to force returns rather than just booming touchbacks into the wind.
He’s currently 13th in NFL history for total field goals made. He’s only a few behind Nick Folk for the most among active players. Every time he steps on the field, he’s basically rewriting the record books.
Managing the 41-Year-Old Leg
One thing the Bills have done brilliantly is managing his workload. They brought in punter Mitch Wishnowsky to handle some of the kickoff duties while Prater was nursing that quad injury. It’s smart. If you have a Ferrari from 1984, you don’t take it on a cross-country road trip every weekend. You save it for the track.
For the Bills, the "track" is the fourth quarter.
The quad injury in Week 15 against the Patriots was a scare. He missed two games. Many thought that was the end, especially with the playoffs looming. But the Bills didn't panic and sign a bunch of random free agents. They waited for him. That tells you everything you need to know about his value to this roster.
The Actionable Reality for Bills Fans
If you're following the Bills through this playoff run, don't expect the kicking game to be a liability. Usually, when a team loses their starter (Bass), fans freak out. But with Buffalo Bills kicker Matt Prater, they actually upgraded in terms of raw experience.
Here is what to watch for in the coming weeks:
- The 50+ Yard Line: If the Bills stall at the 35-yard line, McDermott won't hesitate. Prater still has the distance.
- The Wind Factor: Watch his pre-game warmup. He spends more time watching the flags on top of the uprights than almost any other kicker.
- The Holder Synergy: His relationship with Sam Martin (and later Mitch Wishnowsky) has been seamless. Kicking is a trio sport—snap, hold, kick.
Prater isn't a long-term solution because, well, time is undefeated. But for right now? He’s exactly what a Super Bowl contender needs. He’s a specialist who has seen every possible scenario a game can throw at him.
To really track his impact, keep an eye on the "points after touchdown" (XP). In a high-scoring offense like Buffalo's, those "gimme" points are where games are won or lost. Prater is sitting at nearly 94% on XPs this year, a slight dip from his career average but still elite given the conditions he's playing in.
As the Bills push deeper into January 2026, the leg of a 41-year-old might just be the most important factor in whether they finally hoist the Lombardi Trophy. It’s a weird reality, but in the NFL, the weird stuff is usually what matters most.