A Wild New Kicker Proposal for the nfl
Week 3 in the NFL reminded us of one thing: kicking matters.
From the Eagles and Jets having kicks blocked late, to the Bucs and Chargers winning on last second field goals, special teams dominated the headlines (The Commanders also had a punt return touchdown, shoutout Jaylin Lane). And then came Sunday night, when the Giants lost Graham Gano to injury. They had to turn to their punter who drilled his own lineman in the helmet in his lone extra point attempt. From then on, New York had no choice but to keep going for it on fourth down in plus territory, as Gano could only kick from 30 and in.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs had the luxury of Harrison Butker, as steady as ever, drilling five field goals. While the game was largely decided by Russel Wilson’s incompetence, the contrast in kickers was apparent. A reliable kicker can absolutely be the difference between winning and losing.
Why Special Teams Are the Best (and the Worst)
Special teams are what make football uniquely football. Nothing in any other sport compares to a blocked punt, an onside kick, or a 60-yard game winner. The plays are completely different than normal offense or defense, and the specialists look like children compared to their teammates (other than Joey Slye who is more jacked than his lineman).
But here’s the problem: a kicking disadvantage can absolutely sink a team. The Giants may have had a shot to kick a field goal down 10 late, but without Gano, that option was off the table. One injury, and the entire strategy collapses. This got me thinking about a way to revolutionize kicking in the NFL.
The Proposal: A Kicker Raffle
Here’s my idea. The NFL signs 20 kickers to league-wide contracts. None of them belong to specific teams.
Every Tuesday, there’s a televised drawing to decide which kickers will work which games that week. Each game gets one kicker, and he kicks for both teams. Four or more, depending on bye weeks, won’t get drawn and will sit that week.
Sometimes the league’s best will land on Monday Night Football. Other times, Brandon Aubrey might find himself in Jaguars vs. Panthers in Week 16, or Chris Boswell will have to catch a last second red-eye for a game in Dublin. That’s the fun of it.
The Benefits
1. Midweek Intrigue
Tuesday nights are a dead zone for NFL content. Imagine tuning in to watch a kicker lottery, hosted by celebrities, ex-players, or even some of the current kickers. Suddenly on a random Tuesday we are talking about how Austin Seibert is kicking for the Packers and Chiefs in a meaningful December game.
2. Nationwide Kicker Legends
Right now, kickers are beloved in their own cities. Matt Prater, David Akers, and Blair Walsh (before he missed the 23 yarder in the playoff game). But with this system, a kicker could become a hero for multiple fanbases in the same season. Seahawks and Dolphins fans uniting over Chad Ryland? Beautiful chaos.
3. Playoff Security
In the playoffs, only the top kickers make the draw, and each team gets its own. That way, no one can accuse one kicker of sabotaging one team. And crucially, no all-time great playoff performance gets spoiled because Dustin Hopkins missed from 38.
4. Reality-TV Drama
What about the guys ranked 21–30? Simple: a Wednesday night primetime show, a “Last Chance Kitchen” for kickers. They compete to fight their way back into the top 20. I’m not sure how, but we will absolutely get some betting odds for this event, which will draw in fans. Everyone will tune in when they find themselves with nothing to do on a Wednesday night
The Drawbacks
1. The Risk of Dishonesty
Could a kicker throw a game by missing on purpose for one side? Maybe. But stats don’t lie. Employment depends on performance, and prolonged slumps (Jake Moody) would get a kicker demoted to “last chance” status, which is accompanied by a major pay decrease.
2. Lack of Team Control
This is the big one. Teams hate losing control. Having your season hinge on a kicker not even on your roster would drive coaches insane. I have no real counterpoint here. I am fully aware my idea is dumb.
A new kicker every week. Legends made in random cities. Fanbases uniting over specialists. And no more teams getting crushed because their kicker got hurt in the first quarter. Yes, this is stupid. But it would also be fun.
