If you asked any football fan a year ago who held the record for the deepest kick in league history, they’d tell you Justin Tucker. Most people still think that. They remember the ball hitting the crossbar in Detroit, that sickening thud, and the improbable hop that sent the Baltimore Ravens into a frenzy. It was 66 yards of pure, unadulterated luck mixed with the leg of a Hall of Famer.
But honestly? That record is history.
As of early 2026, the nfl record longest fg belongs to a kid named Cam Little. The Jacksonville Jaguars kicker didn't just break the record; he basically rewrote the physics of the position over the last few months. In November 2025, Little blasted a 68-yarder against the Las Vegas Raiders. Then, just to prove it wasn't a fluke, he hit a 67-yarder against the Titans in the 2025-2026 regular-season finale.
The game has changed. We’re not in the "63 yards is a miracle" era anymore. We are living in the era of the 70-yard threat.
How Cam Little Took the Crown
For decades, the 63-yard mark set by Tom Dempsey in 1970 was the North Star. It stood for 43 years. Then Matt Prater hit 64 in the thin Denver air. Then Tucker hit 66. But Cam Little’s 68-yard bomb in 2025 felt different.
First off, it happened in Vegas, not at sea level, but not at Mile High altitude either. The Jaguars were out of timeouts, five seconds left in the half, and Trevor Lawrence just spiked the ball at midfield. Most coaches call for a Hail Mary there. You throw it up, pray for a pass interference call, or hope your 6'4" receiver grows an extra three inches. Instead, the Jags sent out Little.
The ball didn't just clear the crossbar. It had room. If you watch the replay, that ball probably would have been good from 70. It’s wild because Little was only 20 years old when he got drafted out of Arkansas. He’s got this weirdly explosive leg that doesn't require the massive "crow hop" that Justin Tucker used for his 66-yarder.
The Top of the Record Books (As of 2026)
- 68 Yards: Cam Little (Jaguars vs. Raiders, 2025)
- 67 Yards: Cam Little (Jaguars vs. Titans, 2026)
- 66 Yards: Justin Tucker (Ravens vs. Lions, 2021)
- 65 Yards: Brandon Aubrey (Cowboys vs. Ravens, 2024)
- 65 Yards: Chase McLaughlin (Buccaneers vs. Eagles, 2025)
Why are we suddenly seeing 68-yarders?
It isn't just that kickers are hitting the gym harder. There’s a whole bunch of science and strategy shifting under the surface.
For one, the "operation" is faster. Snap-to-kick times are down to about 1.2 seconds. This allows kickers to focus more on the kinetic chain of the swing rather than rushing to beat a block. Then there's the ball itself. While the NFL claims the "K-balls" (the ones used specifically for kicking) are the same, kickers and special teams coordinators like John Harbaugh have noted that modern specialists treat the ball like a golf ball. They have specific impact points that maximize "smash factor"—the efficiency of energy transfer from the foot to the pigskin.
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Altitude still matters, though. You’ll notice Matt Prater’s old 64-yard record happened in Denver. But the new nfl record longest fg happened in a dome. Domes are the new altitude. No wind, controlled humidity, and a fast turf that allows for a perfect plant foot.
The Brandon Aubrey Factor
We can't talk about long field goals without mentioning the Cowboys' Brandon Aubrey. He’s a former soccer player who basically walked onto an NFL field and decided he wouldn't miss. He’s hit 65 and 64 multiple times. In fact, he had a 66-yarder negated by a penalty in 2024 that looked like a chip shot.
The reason Aubrey and Little are pushing these limits is that NFL coaches are finally trusting the analytics. It used to be that a missed 60-yarder was a "fired coach" offense because it gave the opponent the ball at midfield. Now, the math says if you have a guy who can hit it 40% of the time, the reward outweighs the risk in end-of-half scenarios.
What Most People Get Wrong About Long Kicks
You've probably heard someone say, "I saw a guy hit a 75-yarder in practice on Instagram!"
Yeah, we all have. Justin Tucker has been filmed hitting 75-yarders in warmups for years. But the nfl record longest fg is a different beast because of the "climb." In practice, there’s no defensive line. You can kick the ball with a much lower trajectory. In a game, you have 6'6" monsters like Calais Campbell leaping at the line of scrimmage.
If you kick it too low to get the distance, it gets swatted. If you kick it high enough to clear the line, you lose the distance. The 68-yarder by Cam Little was the "Goldilocks" of kicks—low enough to carry, but high enough to clear the outstretched hands of the Raiders' defensive interior.
The Future: Is 70 Yards Possible?
Honestly, yeah.
We’ve already seen Cam Little hit a 70-yarder in a 2025 preseason game. It didn't count for the official record books, but the leg is there. We’re reaching a point where the only thing stopping a 70-yarder is the opportunity. You need a specific set of circumstances:
- End of the 2nd or 4th quarter.
- Ball spotted exactly at the 40-yard line.
- A coach with enough "guts" to try it instead of a Hail Mary.
Next time you’re watching a game and the offense stalls at the 45, don't just head to the kitchen for more wings. If Cam Little or Brandon Aubrey is on the sideline, you might be about to see the nfl record longest fg get shattered again.
How to Track the Record Yourself
If you want to keep up with these specialists, stop looking at just the "Longest FG" stat on ESPN. Look at "Kickoff Touchback Percentage." It sounds boring, but it's the best indicator of raw leg strength. A guy who consistently kicks the ball out of the back of the end zone is the guy who eventually breaks the 68-yard barrier. Keep an eye on the Jaguars' schedule—anytime they play in a dome or a high-altitude stadium, the record is officially on "Watch."
Go check the current league leaders on Pro Football Reference to see if Little has added any more 60-plus bombs to his resume this season.