September 26, 2021. Ford Field.
Most people remember the sound. It wasn't the clean thwack of a perfectly struck ball. It was a duller, more violent thud. When Justin Tucker lined up for a 67 yard field goal against the Detroit Lions, nobody actually thought it was going in. You could see it on the faces of the fans in the front row. They were already celebrating a Lions victory. They shouldn't have been.
Tucker stepped into the kick with every ounce of force his frame could muster. The ball didn't soar; it sort of labored through the air, hanging for what felt like an hour. When it finally reached the uprights, it didn't clear the crossbar. It hit it. Hard. The ball bounced upward, hesitated for a fraction of a second, and then tumbled backward over the bar.
History.
Why a 67 Yard Field Goal Defies Football Logic
To understand why this kick is the gold standard, you have to look at the numbers. Before Tucker’s miracle in Detroit, the record belonged to Matt Prater, who nailed a 64-yarder in the thin air of Denver back in 2013. Three yards doesn't sound like much. In the world of NFL kicking, three yards is a lifetime. It’s the difference between a high-trajectory kick and a ball that has to be driven so low it risks being blocked at the line of scrimmage.
Kicking a ball 67 yards requires a "pure" strike. If the foot is off by a millimeter, the energy transfer fails. At that distance, the wind resistance acts like a wall. Most kickers can hit 70 yards in practice with a 15-mph breeze at their backs, but doing it in a dome, off turf, with 11 guys trying to break your ribs? That's different.
The Detroit Lions were basically victims of a statistical anomaly. According to Next Gen Stats, the "Expected Field Goal Probability" for a 67 yard field goal is essentially zero. It’s a "Hail Mary" with a foot.
The Mechanics of the Longest Kick in History
Justin Tucker isn't the biggest guy on the field. He’s 6'1" and weighs about 180 pounds. So how does he generate that much force? It’s all in the hip snap.
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Think of a golfer like John Daly. It’s not just raw strength; it’s the whip-like motion of the body. Tucker uses a specific plant-foot technique where he builds momentum through a very aggressive three-step approach. His plant foot has to withstand hundreds of pounds of pressure without slipping on the Ford Field turf. If he slips even an inch, the ball falls short.
He also caught a bit of a break with the "bounce." Most balls that hit the crossbar dead-on will bounce straight back. Because Tucker put so much topspin and power into the kick, the kinetic energy forced the ball upward upon impact. It was basically a physics experiment televised to millions.
Breaking Down the All-Time NFL Distance Leaders
For decades, the record was 63 yards. Tom Dempsey set it in 1970 with a half-foot. It stood for 28 years until Jason Elam tied it in 1998. Then Sebastian Janikowski hit it. Then David Akers. It felt like 63 was the absolute limit of the human leg.
- Matt Prater (64 yards): Set in 2013. Denver’s altitude played a massive role here. The air is thinner, meaning less drag on the ball.
- Brett Maher (63 yards): He’s actually done this multiple times. Maher is known for having a "heavy" leg but struggles with shorter, high-pressure kicks.
- Graham Gano & Tom Dempsey (63 yards): Classic kicks that showed the 60-plus club was becoming more crowded.
But 67? That shifted the goalposts—literally. Since Tucker’s kick, we’ve seen Brandon Aubrey and others flirt with the 65 and 66-yard range in pre-season or warm-ups, but the regular season pressure is a different animal.
The Psychology of the Long Ball
You've gotta be a little crazy to even try this. Most coaches would just throw a lateral or try a "Hail Mary" pass. John Harbaugh, the Ravens' coach, had a specific reason for trusting Tucker: he’s the most accurate kicker in NFL history.
If Tucker misses, the Lions get the ball at the spot of the kick. That’s usually around midfield. It’s a huge risk. If he misses, the game is over, and the coach looks like an idiot. But Tucker has this weird, calm energy. He sings opera. He doesn't get rattled. When he walked out there, he wasn't thinking about the record; he was just trying to hit the "sweet spot" on the leather.
Honestly, the Lions fans probably deserve an apology from the universe. They’ve been on the receiving end of so many weird NFL records, but being the victim of a 67 yard field goal that hit the crossbar and bounced in? That’s just cruel.
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The Equipment and the Environment
The ball matters. In the NFL, "K" balls (kicking balls) are taken right out of the box. They are notoriously hard and slick. They aren't worked in like the balls the quarterbacks use. Kicking a brand-new, rock-hard Wilson football 67 yards is like trying to kick a brick.
Then there’s the turf. Ford Field uses an artificial surface. It’s fast. This allowed Tucker to get a clean plant. If this were on the chewed-up grass of Soldier Field in December, that ball doesn't go 50 yards, let alone 67.
- Temperature: 70 degrees (Indoor). Perfect for ball travel.
- Wind: 0 mph. No resistance, but no help either.
- Pressure: The game clock was at 0:00. This is the ultimate "sink or swim" moment.
Is 70 Yards Actually Possible?
We've seen Justin Tucker hit 75 yards in practice during Pro Bowl warm-ups. But practice isn't reality. In a game, you have a defensive line jumping with their arms up. To clear the line, the ball has to come off the foot at a certain angle.
The "perfect" angle for distance is usually 45 degrees, but if a kicker hits it that low, it gets blocked. So they have to kick it higher, which eats into the distance.
For someone to hit a 70-yarder, they would need:
- High altitude (Mexico City or Denver).
- A massive tailwind.
- A "dead" clock so the coach is willing to take the risk.
- A freak-of-nature leg like Aubrey or Tucker.
It’ll happen eventually. The athletes are getting stronger. Training is more specialized. Kids are coming out of college now with "NFL legs" before they even sign a contract. But for now, that 67-yard mark is the peak of the mountain.
Impact on the Game of Football
This kick changed how teams manage the end of halves. You see it now—teams aren't content to just sit on the ball if they reach their own 45-yard line with 4 seconds left. They know that if they have a "leg," they have a chance.
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It has also increased the value of kickers in the draft. You see guys like Jake Moody getting picked in the third round. Why? Because a guy who can reliably hit from 60+ is a scoring threat the moment you cross midfield. It changes the geometry of the field for the offensive coordinator.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Kick
A lot of people think it was a "lucky" bounce. Sure, the bounce was lucky. But getting the ball to the crossbar from 67 yards away isn't luck. That’s 100% power and technique.
If Tucker hits that ball with 99% of his power instead of 100%, it hits the bar and falls forward. Game over. Ravens lose. The margin of error was probably less than half a percent. That’s what makes it the greatest kick ever. It wasn't just long; it was exactly as long as it needed to be, down to the inch.
How to Watch for the Next Record-Breaker
If you're looking for the next person to challenge the 67 yard field goal, keep an eye on Brandon Aubrey of the Dallas Cowboys. He’s shown a terrifying amount of leg strength recently. Also, watch games played in high-altitude stadiums or stadiums with notorious "wind tunnels" that might provide a tailwind.
When a team is down by 2 points at the end of the game and they are stuck at the opponent's 49-yard line, get your phone out. You might be about to see history.
Practical Takeaways for Football Fans
- Don't leave early: If your team has a top-tier kicker and there's time on the clock, the game isn't over at midfield.
- Watch the plant foot: If you want to see if a long kick has a chance, look at the kicker's plant. If it's firm and the follow-through is straight, the ball has a shot.
- Understand the "K" ball: Remember that kickers are playing a different game with harder, slicker balls than the rest of the offense.
- Check the Vegas lines: Sportsbooks now regularly offer props on "Longest Field Goal Over/Under," usually set around 45.5 yards. Knowing who can hit 60+ is a huge advantage for bettors.
The record will fall one day. Someone will hit from 68 or 69. But they likely won't do it as the clock hits zero to win a game after a controversial non-call (the missed delay of game) just seconds before. That’s what made Tucker’s kick legendary. It wasn't just the distance; it was the drama.
To stay ahead of the curve on NFL kicking trends, monitor the "Standard Elevation" charts for NFL kickers. These charts track the average height of a ball at the point it crosses the line of scrimmage. Kickers with a lower "Standard Elevation" are the ones most likely to break distance records, as they are sacrificing height for pure horizontal force. Keep an eye on the weather reports for games in Denver or Phoenix, where the air density is lowest, providing the perfect conditions for the next historic boot.