An elite kicker can do a lot for an NFL squad. When they’re reliable enough to consistently nail field goals from long distances, give their team good field position and come up in clutch moments, kickers can entirely dictate the outcome of a game.
Oftentimes, though, top-notch kickers aren’t appreciated or valued as much as players from other football positions. To break through as a Hall of Fame-level kicker, players usually have to display excellence at the position over a long period.
Soon, Adam Vinatieri could join the exclusive list of Hall of Fame kickers — the former Colt and Patriot, who played in the NFL for 24 seasons, is among the 15 finalists for the 2025 Pro Football Hall of Fame class. Vinatieri has a strong case to be the sixth Hall of Fame kicker and the first selected for Canton since 2017.
With Vinatieri potentially being on the verge of joining the Hall of Fame, here’s everything to know about the short list of five kickers that are already enshrined in Canton.
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How many kickers are in the NFL Hall of Fame?
There are five kickers currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, including four placekickers and one punter.
Morten Andersen, Class of 2017
Andersen is the most recent kicker selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He played 25 seasons in the NFL, from 1982-2007, competing with five different franchises: the Saints, Falcons, Giants, Chiefs and Vikings.
Born in Denmark, Andersen came to the United States in 1977 as an exchange student and was later nicknamed “Great Dane.” He was a fourth-round selection by New Orleans in the 1982 NFL Draft, and he went on to become the league’s all-time points leader before Vinatieri broke his record.
Andersen is the all-time franchise points leader for both the Saints and Falcons. Over 382 career games, he made 565 field goals while accumulating 2,544 total points. Andersen is also a seven-time Pro Bowler, three-time First-Team All-Pro selection and the NFL’s all-time games played leader.
20 years ago today, Morten Andersen made the kick heard around ATL. #TBT pic.twitter.com/n8sKp3LLpi
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) January 17, 2019
When Andersen was enshrined in Canton in 2017, he became only the second exclusive placekicker to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
MORE: Sporting News’ 2024 NFL award winners
Ray Guy, Class of 2014
Guy is the lone punter to be selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame — and he was also once the first punter to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft, which happened in 1973.
Playing all 14 of his NFL seasons (1973-86) with the Raiders, Guy led the league in punting in 1974, 1975 and 1977. He won three Super Bowls with the Raiders, also being named to seven Pro Bowls.
Over his NFL career, Guy had 44,493 punting yards, with 20% of his punts landing inside the 20-yard line. He now has a collegiate award in his name, given annually to the nation’s top punter.
Guy, who remains the only punter in the Hall of Fame, was selected to Canton in 2014.
Jan Stenerud, Class of 1991
Next to Andersen, Stenerud is the other exclusive placekicker in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. After originally coming to the United States as a ski jumper on scholarship at Montana State, Stenerud eventually became the NFL’s first Norwegian player.
He played in the league from 1967-85, a 19-year tenure in which he was a member of the Chiefs, Packers and Vikings. Stenerud was one of the first NFL players to be used only as a placekicker.
Stenerud made 373 field goals in his career, racking up 1,699 points. He was selected to six Pro Bowls.
The Hall of Fame sends happy birthday wishes to @Chiefs Legend Jan Stenerud! The Class of 1991 member turns 82 today. 🎂🥳 #HBD pic.twitter.com/7Sdrx0O0Kd
— Pro Football Hall of Fame (@ProFootballHOF) November 26, 2024
In 1991, Stenerud became the first exclusive placekicker elected to Canton.
George Blanda, Class of 1981
Blanda still owns the longest career in NFL history: 26 years. While he was a kicker, he was also a quarterback — playing between the AFL and NFL from 1949-75, Blanda logged 26,920 yards, 236 touchdowns and 277 interceptions as a passer.
As a kicker, he made 335 field goals and accounted for 2,002 total points. Blanda played for the Bears, Raiders, Oilers and Baltimore Colts.
Blanda initially retired in 1958 but returned in 1960 and remained in the league for another 15 years. Among the hardware Banda earned over his 26 playing seasons were the 1961 AFL Player of the Year, the 1970 Sporting News Player of the Year and the 1974 Walter Payton Man of the Year.
Banda ranks fifth in NFL history in total games (340) and first in extra points made (943). He was selected to the Hall of Fame in 1981.
Lou Groza, Class of 1974
Like Blanda, Groza wasn’t only a placekicker; he also played offensive tackle.
Playing all 21 of his seasons with the Browns from 1946-67, Groza lined up at both positions. As a kicker, he finished his career with 264 field goals made and 810 extra points made, accounting for 1,608 points.
A nine-time Pro Bowler, four-time First-Team All-Pro selection and four-time Super Bowl champion, Groza displayed a versatility rarely seen in the current age of football. His No. 76 jersey is retired with the Browns.
Groza was the first kicker of any kind selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1974. Like Guy, Groza now has a collegiate award in his name, which is annually given to the nation’s top placekicker.
MORE: Why Eli Manning is a deserving Hall of Fame candidate
Adam Vinatieri Hall of Fame case
Considering Andersen was once selected to the Hall of Fame as the NFL’s all-time leading point scorer, Vinatieri should also have a strong case. He took Andersen’s top spot on the leaderboard in 2018, finishing his career with 2,673 points.
Vinatieri joined the Patriots in 1996 as an undrafted free agent. He soon became a key piece of their early dynasty under Bill Belichick, winning three Super Bowls with New England in four appearances. In the famous Patriots vs. Raiders “Tuck Rule game” in the 2001 AFC playoffs, Vinatieri connected on a 45-yard field goal in blizzard-like conditions to send the game to overtime, then later won it with another field goal.
In Super Bowl 36, Vinatieri gave the Patriots the title with his game-winning field goal against the Rams. He would do the same just a few years later, kicking a 41-yard field goal that sealed New England’s 32-29 win over the Panthers in Super Bowl 38.
Adam Vinatieri hits a 48-yard field goal as time expires giving the #Patriots their first Super Bowl title.
The only #SuperBowl decided on the final play of regulation
SUPER BOWL XXXVI
February 3, 2002 pic.twitter.com/ShE50QenWt— Kevin Gallagher (@KevG163) February 3, 2025
Vinatieri joined the Colts in 2006, and he won his fourth Super Bowl title with Indianapolis that season as the team beat the Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI. He did not play in Super Bowl XLIV when the Colts lost to the Saints.
As Vinatieri’s career continued into his 40s, he began to accumulate plenty of NFL records; with his final season coming in 2019, Vinatieri ranks first in all-time field goal attempts (715), field goals made (599), regular season wins by a kicker (226), seasons with 100-plus points (21), career postseason points (238), overtime field goals (12) and more.
On top of the collection of records Vinatieri still holds, with the most prestigious being the all-time points title, he was also a three-time Pro Bowler and three-time First-Team All-Pro selection.
