The ball didn't just fly; it hung there. It felt like an eternity for the fans in Detroit back in September 2021 as they watched Justin Tucker’s leg swing through a piece of history. When that 66-yard field goal hit the crossbar and bounced over, it shattered the previous NFL record. But almost immediately, the conversation shifted. If 66 is possible, is a 68 yard field goal next? Honestly, it sounds like madness. Sixty-eight yards is nearly seven-tenths of a football field. You're basically asking a human being to kick a prolate spheroid through a 18-foot-wide target from a distance where most people can't even see the uprights clearly.
Physics says it’s possible. Leg strength in the modern NFL is reaching levels we’ve never seen. But there is a massive gap between hitting a ball in pre-game warmups with no rush and doing it when the game is on the line.
Why a 68 Yard Field Goal is the New Everest
To understand why we're even talking about a 68 yard field goal, you have to look at the evolution of the kicker. Decades ago, kickers were an afterthought. They were often soccer players who stayed on the sidelines until they were needed for a chip shot. Now? They are elite athletes with specialized strength programs.
The current NFL record stands at 66 yards, held by the Baltimore Ravens' Justin Tucker. Before that, Matt Prater held it at 64 yards for nearly a decade. The jump from 64 to 66 was huge. The jump to 68 is a different beast entirely.
Think about the math. Every yard added to a kick requires an exponential increase in foot speed and a more perfect "sweet spot" strike. A 68-yarder requires the ball to stay in the air for a long time. In that time, wind resistance—the "drag"—starts to eat away at the ball's velocity. If you don't have a tailwind or the thin air of Denver, the ball is going to die at the 5-yard line. Most kickers can hit the distance in practice. I've seen videos of Brandon McManus and Justin Tucker booming kicks from 70+ in empty stadiums. But practice isn't the league. In a game, you have 6-foot-5 linemen jumping with their hands up. You have to kick the ball at a higher trajectory to clear the line, which naturally robs you of distance. It’s a catch-22.
The Denver Factor and Atmospheric Help
If a 68 yard field goal ever happens, it’s probably happening at Empower Field at Mile High. Science backs this up. At 5,280 feet above sea level, the air is significantly thinner than at a coastal stadium like Miami or Seattle.
Less air resistance means the ball travels further with the same amount of force. Matt Prater’s 64-yarder happened in Denver. Sebastian Janikowski’s 63-yarder? Denver. It’s the "cheating" code of the kicking world. If you put a kicker like Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys in Denver with a 15 mph tailwind, 68 yards moves from "impossible" to "probable."
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But even then, you need the perfect scenario. The coach has to trust you. Most coaches would rather punt or try a Hail Mary than risk giving the opponent the ball at their own 42-yard line after a miss. That’s the real barrier. It’s not just the leg; it’s the risk management of NFL head coaches who are terrified of losing their jobs over a "stupid" decision.
The Biomechanics of the Long-Distance Strike
How do you actually generate that much power? It’s not just about the quads. Most people think a kicker just has massive legs. While that helps, the power for a 68 yard field goal actually comes from the hips and the "whip" of the lower leg.
Kickers like Justin Tucker use a specific plant-foot technique that allows their hips to rotate like a golfer’s swing. The foot speed at impact for a kick of this magnitude has to be roughly 30 meters per second. If you’re off by even a millimeter on the contact point, the ball will hook or slice. At 20 yards, a slight miss doesn't matter. At 68 yards, a one-degree deviation sends the ball wide of the uprights by several feet.
Then there’s the snap and hold.
- The snap must be perfect (laces out).
- The hold must be stable.
- The kicker’s timing must be within 1.2 to 1.3 seconds.
Any slower, and the edge rushers will block it. You’re trying to perform a precision feat of engineering while 300-pound men are trying to tackle you. It’s a miracle any long field goals go in at all.
Record-Breaking Kicks in Football History
We should look at the context of how we got here.
Tom Dempsey held the record at 63 yards for 28 years. He did it with half a foot and a modified shoe. People thought 63 was the absolute limit of the human body. Then Jason Elam tied it in 1998. Then Janikowski tied it in 2011.
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Then the dam broke.
- Matt Prater (2013): 64 yards.
- Justin Tucker (2021): 66 yards.
- Brandon Aubrey (2024): Hit a 66-yarder in a game that was called back due to a penalty, then later hit a 65-yarder easily.
The trajectory is clear. We are getting closer to the 70-yard mark. High school and college kids are now hitting 60-yarders with regularity. The "leg talent" pool is deeper than it has ever been in the history of the sport.
High School and College: Where 68 Already Lives
Believe it or not, a 68 yard field goal has actually happened—just not in the NFL. In 1985, a high schooler named Reno Meheze hit a 68-yarder for Don Antonio Lugo High School in California. Now, he was using a kicking tee, which makes a massive difference. In the NFL, you kick off the ground. A tee allows you to get under the ball and create a much higher launch angle without losing forward momentum.
In college, the record is actually 67 yards, shared by three players: Russell Erxleben, Steve Little, and Joe Williams. Again, these were often done in an era where tees were permitted or under specific conditions. The NFL is the ultimate test because of the "off the ground" rule and the sheer speed of the defenders.
But these lower-level records prove that the human leg can propel a ball that far. It’s just a matter of the stars aligning in a professional game.
The Psychology of the Long Kick
Kicking is 90% mental. If you ask a kicker to try a 68 yard field goal, you’re asking them to fail. Statistically, the odds are against them. If they miss, their field goal percentage—a key metric for their next contract—takes a hit.
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Some kickers love the challenge. Justin Tucker thrives on it. He has a swagger that most kickers don't. He views a 60-yarder the same way a point guard views a three-pointer. It’s just another shot. But for a rookie, a 68-yard attempt could be a career-ender if it's blocked and returned for a touchdown.
What it Takes to See 68 Yards in the NFL
So, when will it happen? For a 68 yard field goal to become a reality in an NFL game, we need three things. First, we need a game-ending situation. No coach is attempting this in the second quarter. It has to be the end of the half or the end of the game where a "miss" doesn't hurt you because the clock is at zero.
Second, we need the right stadium. If the Cowboys are playing in Denver, or even in their own "Jerry World" with the air conditioning creating a controlled environment, the odds go up.
Third, we need the right kicker. Right now, there are only a handful of humans on earth who can do this:
- Justin Tucker (Ravens): The GOAT.
- Brandon Aubrey (Cowboys): The new challenger with a massive leg.
- Matt Prater (Cardinals): The veteran who still has the distance.
- Harrison Butker (Chiefs): Consistently deep and accurate.
Honestly, it’s only a matter of time. The athletes are too good. The science of kicking is too advanced. We are one cold October night in Colorado away from seeing 68.
Actionable Insights for Football Fans
If you're watching a game and wondering if your team's kicker has a shot at a 68 yard field goal, keep these factors in mind:
- Watch the Pre-game: Broadcasters usually report how far the kicker was hitting during warmups. If they are hitting 70 with room to spare, keep an eye on them.
- Check the Altitude: Games in Denver or Mexico City are the prime spots for record-breaking kicks. The ball flies 10% further in thin air.
- Monitor the Wind: A 10-15 mph tailwind adds about 3-5 yards of "carry" to a football.
- Surface Matters: Natural grass can be "slow" or slippery. Firm, indoor turf allows for a better plant foot, which leads to more power.
- The "End of Half" Strategy: Pay attention to the last 10 seconds of the second quarter. This is when coaches are most likely to "take a shot" at a record-breaking distance because the risk of a return is lower as the clock expires.
The 66-yard barrier felt unbreakable for years. Now that it's gone, 68 is the new benchmark. It will take a perfect snap, a perfect hold, and a leg that moves like a lightning bolt, but it’s coming. When it happens, it won't just be a highlight—it will be a testament to how far human performance has shifted in the modern era of sports.