There’s pressure—and then there’s being an NFL kicker with the game on the line, the clock ticking down, and 70,000 fans holding their breath. While most of us would crumble in that moment, these guys thrived in it, casually splitting the uprights like they were practicing in their backyard.
These are the kickers who turned high-stakes kicks into routine drills. From walk-offs in the playoffs to icy boots in the snow, they didn’t just make kicks—they owned the moment.
15. Stephen Gostkowski
Gostkowski may have followed a legend, but he built his legacy with big-time playoff kicks for the Patriots. He was money when it mattered most, even if his early-career nerves briefly showed.
14. Mason Crosby
Crosby had some ups and downs, but when the Packers needed a game-winner, he usually came through. Just ask Cowboys fans about that 2016 playoff dagger in Dallas.
13. Lawrence Tynes
Two NFC Championship games. Two overtime game-winners. Tynes made cold-blooded kicking an art form—literally, in sub-zero temps.
12. Doug Brien
He didn’t always have a long leash, but when it came to clutch kicks in tight games, Brien had nerves of steel. He hit game-winners in both regulation and overtime, and always seemed unfazed by the moment.
11. Jake Elliott
Elliott went from rookie question mark to clutch legend in Philly after drilling a 61-yarder as a rookie and then nailing massive kicks during the Eagles’ Super Bowl run. The bigger the moment, the better he kicked.
10. Jason Elam
Elam was reliable, accurate, and had ice water running through his veins in pressure spots. He also booted one of the longest field goals ever in an era where altitude was the Broncos’ secret weapon.
9. Robbie Gould
“Robbie Gold” wasn’t just a nickname—it was a lifestyle. The man never missed a postseason kick in his career, and his playoff consistency was borderline ridiculous.
8. Jim Breech
Breech might not be a household name, but he was automatic for the Bengals when it counted. Whether it was overtime or the final seconds, he delivered over and over.
7. Nick Folk
Folk reinvented himself late in his career and became one of the most dependable closers in the league. He nailed pressure kicks like he was brushing his teeth.
6. Matt Prater
Prater had a rocket leg and never shied away from the moment. Game-winner? No problem. Forty-yards-plus? Even better.
5. Ryan Succop
He might’ve had a quiet regular season here and there, but when it came down to crunch time, Succop was nails. He helped clinch playoff wins and nailed Super Bowl points like it was just another Sunday.
4. Gary Anderson
Before that miss, Anderson was the gold standard for clutch kicking in the regular season and playoffs. One mistake doesn’t erase a decade-plus of big-time boots.
3. Justin Tucker
Tucker is a technician with an extraordinary range and an unnaturally calm demeanor under pressure. Game on the line? You might as well start celebrating if he’s lining it up.
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2. Adam Vinatieri
Snow. Super Bowls. Sudden death. Vinatieri built an entire career on making the impossible look automatic in the biggest moments in NFL history.
Read More: The 10 Most Clutch Field Goal Kickers in NFL History
1. Tom Dempsey
With a literal half-foot and a whole heart, Dempsey drilled a 63-yard game-winner that rewrote the record books. He didn’t just make clutch kicks—he made history.
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