Kickers in the NFL are having a field day—literally. In 2024, they’re drilling long-range field goals like it’s no big deal, and it’s starting to raise eyebrows. Some are even wondering if the league should make things a little tougher by narrowing the goalposts. Could kickers really be too good? While it sounds like something straight out of a video game, there’s actual chatter about changing the rules to make kicking more challenging.
So, let’s break it down: will these superstar kickers face slimmer uprights in the future? Here’s a closer look!
NFL Kickers’ Accuracy Is Reaching New Heights
So far in the 2024 season, kickers have already set records, especially with their long-range attempts. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic, there’s been “chatter” about changing the goalposts, particularly because of how automatic these players have become from 50 yards and beyond. To put this into perspective, NFL kickers have made 77 field goals from 50 yards or longer in just the first six weeks of the season. This is a new record and a massive increase from previous years.
Also, the total number of field goals made through six weeks—339—is the second-highest in NFL history, right behind last year’s record of 342. The league has also seen three 60-plus-yard field goals this season, with 12 such kicks over the past three seasons. This kind of success has sparked serious discussions about adjusting the game to make things tougher for kickers.
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Could Narrowing The NFL Goalposts Happen Soon?
While this sounds like a big change, Russini doesn’t expect any adjustments this season or even next. However, if these trends continue, a change might be on the horizon. NFL executive Jeff Milner hinted that the Competition Committee could consider the proposal at the end of the season. But for now, kickers are still enjoying their success without any immediate obstacles.
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Brandon Aubrey: A Cheat Code For The Cowboys
One kicker who’s been grabbing headlines this season is Dallas Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey. A former soccer player, Aubrey has been nothing short of a cheat code for head coach Mike McCarthy. So far, he’s made 17 of 19 field goal attempts, including eight from 50 yards or more. Last season, Aubrey went 36-for-38, which only adds to his reputation as a top-tier kicker in the league.
His performance exemplifies why some within the league are debating the need to make kicking harder. If athletes like Aubrey keep improving, narrowing the goalposts could become a serious consideration.
Opposition To The Change
Not everyone is on board with this idea. An anonymous NFL head coach voiced strong opposition to making the uprights narrower. He told Russini, “It doesn’t make sense to penalize the improved accuracy of these kickers. This reminds me of the U.S. Open when they brought the fairways in to make them harder to hit… The kickers? Well, they just have a foot. We need to embrace the outstanding performances, not penalize them for their improvements.”
The coach’s sentiment reflects a belief that kickers should be celebrated for how far they’ve come rather than punished. Comparing it to how golf courses make their hardest tournament even more challenging, he argues that football doesn’t need to follow the same path.
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A History Of Changing The Kicking Game
The NFL has tweaked the rules around kicking before, so narrowing the goalposts wouldn’t be the first time they’ve made life harder for kickers. In 2015, the league moved the extra point spot back to the 15-yard line, making what used to be a gimme kick much more of a challenge. But despite the change, kickers have adapted. This season, 21 out of 32 teams haven’t missed an extra point, showing that kickers are resilient, even when the league changes the rules.
In 1974, the NFL made the most drastic change to the goalposts by moving them from the goal line to the end line to reduce the number of field goals. This adjustment significantly impacted the game, making it harder to score and allowing for more passing and punting plays in the end zone.
Could We See Narrower Goalposts In The Future?
If the goalposts were narrowed from their current 18.5-foot width, it would completely change how coaches decide whether to kick or go for it on fourth down. This could also result in far fewer field goals and more strategic play calls during games.
Interestingly, the NFL already experimented with this idea in 2015 during the Pro Bowl, narrowing the uprights from 18 feet to 14 feet. While it was just a one-time experiment, it showed what could happen if the league decides to make this change permanent.
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