If you’ve followed the Minnesota Vikings for more than a week, you know the drill. It's the "Kicker Curse." From Gary Anderson in '98 to Blair Walsh’s "Wide Left" in the freezing cold of 2016, this franchise has a history of heartbreak that usually starts with a ball flying off a foot and ending up anywhere but between the uprights.
Then came Will Reichard.
Honestly, people were skeptical when the Vikings used a sixth-round pick on him in 2024. Why draft a kicker? Especially when the team had so many other holes to fill? But Reichard wasn't just some college kid with a decent leg. He arrived in Eagan as the NCAA’s all-time leading scorer. He left Alabama with 547 points and a level of poise that most veterans would kill for.
Fast forward to the end of the 2025 season, and the narrative has completely flipped. Reichard didn't just survive the "curse"—he basically nuked it.
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There was this weird knock on him during the draft process. Scouts said he had "average" leg strength. They worried he couldn’t hit the deep ones in the swirling winds of the NFC North.
They were wrong.
On September 21, 2025, against the Cincinnati Bengals, Reichard lined up for a 62-yard field goal. Most kickers don't even try that unless it’s a Hail Mary situation. Reichard stepped up, swung, and drilled it. Not only did it clear the crossbar, but it set a new Vikings franchise record.
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Think about that for a second. In a franchise that has employed Hall of Famers like Morten Andersen and Gary Anderson, a kid from Hoover, Alabama, now owns the longest kick in team history.
The 2025 Breakdown
By the time the 2025 regular season wrapped up, Reichard’s stats were borderline ridiculous:
- Field Goals Made: 33
- Field Goals Attempted: 35
- Success Rate: 94.3%
- Extra Points: 31 for 31 (100%)
- Season Long: 62 yards
He wasn't just accurate; he was a machine. In 2025, he earned First-Team All-Pro honors. That’s not a "good rookie" award. That's a "you are the best in the world at your job" award.
The Oblique Injury and the Mental Game
It hasn't all been sunshine and 60-yarders, though. Back in his rookie year (2024), Reichard hit a wall. He started the season perfect—14 for 14. Then, during a Week 9 game against the Colts, things got weird. He missed two kicks.
It turned out he was playing through a minor injury to his oblique muscle.
The Vikings had to put him on IR. For a lot of young kickers, that’s where the "yips" start. You get hurt, you miss a few, you lose your confidence, and suddenly you’re out of the league. Minnesota fans were terrified. They’d seen this movie before.
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But Reichard is built differently. Maybe it’s the Nick Saban influence. Maybe it’s just the way he’s wired. He came back from that injury and didn't blink. By the time 2025 rolled around, he was even better.
Why he actually makes them
If you watch him closely, his technique is incredibly compact. There’s no wasted movement. He’s 6'1" and about 190 pounds, which is pretty standard, but his ball flight is pure "end-over-end."
Vikings special teams coach Matt Daniels has gone on record saying Reichard’s "get-off" (how fast the ball leaves his foot) is elite. When you have a fast get-off, it’s much harder for the defense to block the kick. In 2025, he didn't have a single field goal blocked. Not one.
The Contract: Why He’s a Massive Steal
Let’s talk money, because in the NFL, that’s what defines "value." Reichard is currently playing on a four-year rookie contract worth roughly $4.19 million.
His cap hit for 2026 is scheduled to be around $1.1 million.
To put that in perspective, the top-tier kickers in the league are making $5 million to $6 million per year. The Vikings are getting All-Pro production for about 20% of the market rate. That extra $4 million in cap space is the difference between being able to afford a starting cornerback or having to start a backup.
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What This Means for the Vikings Future
For decades, the Vikings' strategy at kicker was basically "close your eyes and pray." They cycled through veterans on their last legs and undrafted free agents who couldn't handle the pressure.
Now, they have a cornerstone.
Reichard gives head coach Kevin O’Connell a weapon. When you know your kicker can hit from 60, you don't have to panic on 4th-and-5 at the opponent's 42-yard line. You don't have to force a throw into double coverage. You just send out #16 and take your three points.
It changes how you call a game. It changes how the defense plays, knowing that every yard they give up is potentially a scoring opportunity.
Actionable Insights for Vikings Fans and Analysts
If you're watching the Vikings moving forward, keep an eye on these specific details regarding Reichard:
- The 50+ Yard Success Rate: Reichard is currently on pace to challenge Blair Walsh’s franchise record for most 50+ yard field goals in a career. If he stays healthy, he could own every kicking record in the book by 2028.
- Kickoff Placement: One of the few "weaknesses" scouts mentioned was his kickoff depth. However, in 2025, he significantly improved his touchback rate. Watch how the Vikings use him on kickoffs—he’s started to master the "hang time" needed to pin returners inside the 20.
- Pressure Situations: Reichard is rarely "iced" by opposing coaches because he doesn't seem to care. His heart rate stays flat. If the game is on the line in the playoffs, he is the guy you want on the field.
The "Kicker Curse" in Minnesota might not be dead, but Will Reichard is certainly making it look like a myth. He’s young, he’s cheap, and he’s arguably the most accurate kicker the North has seen in a generation.