Honestly, if you'd asked any football fan five years ago if we’d ever see a ball clear the uprights from 68 yards out, they probably would have laughed. They would have told you that the human leg has a ceiling. That physics simply won't allow it. But here we are in 2026, and the record books look completely different than they did even a few seasons ago.
The current longest NFL field goal belongs to Cam Little.
On November 2, 2025, the Jacksonville Jaguars kicker stepped onto the turf at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and did the unthinkable. With just four seconds left in the first half against the Raiders, Little lined up for a 68-yard attempt. He didn't just squeak it over the bar; he nailed it.
It was a clean strike. The ball soared through the thin desert air—Allegiant is a dome, but Vegas sits at about 2,000 feet of elevation—and cleared the crossbar with room to spare. This moment officially ended the reign of the legendary Justin Tucker, whose 66-yard miracle had held the top spot since 2021.
The Day Cam Little Rewrote History
What makes Little’s feat even more ridiculous is that he didn't stop there. Just a few weeks ago, on January 4, 2026, he hit a 67-yarder against the Titans. While that’s one yard shorter than his own world record, it actually set a different mark: the longest field goal ever kicked in an outdoor stadium.
EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville is basically at sea level. There’s no "thin air" to help the ball travel further. That 67-yarder was pure, unadulterated leg strength. You’ve got to realize how much the game has changed. For decades, Tom Dempsey’s 63-yarder was the gold standard, a record that stood for 43 years because nobody thought it could be beaten. Now, we have guys like Little and Dallas’s Brandon Aubrey treating 60-yarders like they’re routine Sunday afternoon chip shots.
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The Top 5 Longest Field Goals Ever
- Cam Little (Jacksonville Jaguars): 68 yards vs. Las Vegas Raiders (Nov 2, 2025)
- Cam Little (Jacksonville Jaguars): 67 yards vs. Tennessee Titans (Jan 4, 2026)
- Justin Tucker (Baltimore Ravens): 66 yards vs. Detroit Lions (Sept 26, 2021)
- Brandon Aubrey (Dallas Cowboys): 65 yards vs. Baltimore Ravens (Sept 22, 2024)
- Chase McLaughlin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): 65 yards vs. Philadelphia Eagles (Sept 28, 2025)
The Science of the "Super Kick"
Why is this happening now? Is the air getting thinner? Are the balls harder? Not exactly.
It’s a mix of biomechanics and specialized training. In the old days, kickers were often just former soccer players who "gave it a go." Today, kickers are elite athletes who train specifically for "explosive hip internal rotation."
Justin Tucker changed the game when he admitted he uses a "crow-hop" style for his longest attempts. He basically abandons traditional form and attacks the ball like he’s launching a kickoff. When he hit that 66-yarder in Detroit, the ball actually hit the crossbar and bounced up before falling over. It was a heart-stopper. Little, on the other hand, seems to have a more consistent, high-velocity swing that generates more "launch speed."
Physics plays a massive role here. To hit from 68 yards, a kicker needs a launch angle of roughly $45^\circ$. If the angle is too low, the defensive line blocks it. If it’s too high, the ball loses horizontal distance. According to sports science data, a 70-mph launch speed is roughly the minimum requirement to even have a prayer from that distance.
Altitude vs. Skill: The Denver Factor
For a long time, the longest NFL field goal was synonymous with Denver. Matt Prater held the record at 64 yards for eight years, and he did it at Mile High. Jason Elam hit his 63-yarder there too.
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The logic was simple: thinner air equals less drag. At 5,280 feet, the air is about 17% less dense than at sea level. This allows a football to travel about 5 to 6 yards further than it would in a place like Miami or New Orleans.
But the "Denver Advantage" is becoming less relevant. Look at the recent records:
- Little (68 yards): Las Vegas (Moderate altitude, indoor)
- Little (67 yards): Jacksonville (Sea level, outdoor)
- Tucker (66 yards): Detroit (Low altitude, indoor)
- Aubrey (65 yards): Dallas (Low altitude, indoor)
The sheer power of the modern kicker has basically negated the need for a mountain range to help them out.
What Most People Get Wrong About Long Kicks
You’ll often hear announcers say, "He’s got the wind at his back, he can hit this from 70!"
Wind is a double-edged sword. A strong tailwind helps distance, but it also creates turbulence that can make the ball "nose-dive" or drift wide. Most kickers actually prefer a calm, indoor environment where they can trust their swing perfectly.
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Also, distance isn't everything. Accuracy at these ranges is still abysmal for most of the league. While Cam Little and Justin Tucker make it look easy, the league average for field goals over 60 yards is still well below 50%. It’s a high-risk, high-reward play. If you miss, the opposing team gets the ball at the spot of the kick, which usually means they’re already in scoring position.
Why the Record Might Fall Again Soon
We are in the era of the "Mega-Kicker."
Brandon Aubrey, who didn't even play college football (he was a pro soccer player), has already hit multiple 60+ yarders in his short career. He even hit a 66-yarder in the 2024 preseason that didn't count for the official record books.
The league is getting younger and stronger. Coaches are also getting ballsier. Analytics now suggest that if you have a kicker like Little or Tucker, attempting a 65-yarder at the end of a half is a statistically sound move.
What to Watch For Next
If you want to see if the record will be broken again, keep an eye on these specific conditions:
- The End of the First Half: This is when most record attempts happen because there's no risk of giving the opponent good field position for the second half.
- Domed Stadiums: Specifically Allegiant Stadium (Vegas) and State Farm Stadium (Arizona). They offer the perfect mix of slight altitude and zero wind.
- The "Pre-Season" Phenomenon: Kickers often attempt 70-yarders in the preseason to show off for scouts. If someone hits one there, you can bet their coach will let them try it in a real game.
The 70-yard barrier is the next "four-minute mile" of the NFL. Twenty years ago, it was a fantasy. Today, with the way Cam Little is swinging his leg, it feels like an inevitability.
To stay ahead of the curve, start paying attention to the kickers' warm-ups during pre-game broadcasts. Often, the sideline reporters will mention if a guy is hitting from 65 or 70 in practice. That’s your signal that history might be about to happen. Keep a close watch on the Jaguars' schedule—specifically their indoor games—as Little is clearly hunting for that 70-yard milestone.