The Vikings Must Find a Reliable Kicker
Brett Peterson
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In the NFL, few positions hold as much weight and pressure as that of the kicker.
The Minnesota Vikings, unfortunately, have a long and storied history of struggles when it comes to finding a reliable and consistent kicker. The current kicker for the team, Greg Joseph, has been decent, but far from consistent, and the Vikings must find a reliable kicker in 2024.
One painful memory etched in the minds of Vikings fans is Gary Anderson’s missed field goal in the 1998 NFC Championship game. Anderson, who had been perfect throughout the season, missed a crucial 38-yard field goal attempt that could have sealed the win and sent them to the Super Bowl.
The miss not only cost the team a shot at the championship but also highlighted the vulnerability of relying on a kicker in high-pressure situations. Fans of the Vikings have been scarred from that moment on, and the kickers since then haven’t done the best job of healing those wounds.
Fast forward to 2015, Minnesota’s playoff hopes were dashed by another infamous kicking blunder. Blair Walsh, known for his accuracy during the regular season, missed a 27-yard field goal against the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card round. The miss occurred in the closing seconds of the game, denying the Vikings a chance to advance in the postseason.
This moment further solidified the franchise’s reputation for struggling in critical kicking situations. Although the temperature was below freezing, Walsh was already a perfect three for three on kicks heading into the potential game-winning attempt.
The Vikings Must Find a Reliable Kicker
The teams’ kicking woes extend beyond these notable misses. Over the years, the team has gone through a revolving door of kickers, struggling to find a consistent and reliable option. The constant turnover not only disrupts the team’s stability but also erodes the confidence of both the coaching staff and the fans.
The Vikings have often found themselves scrambling to sign and release kickers throughout a season, leading to missed opportunities for success. A few notable kickers the Vikings have cycled through in the recent years are Dan Bailey, Kai Forbath, and Daniel Carlson. Carlson has gone on to be one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL as a Las Vegas Raider.
The Vikings’ struggles with kickers have not only affected their playoff aspirations but have also resulted in numerous missed points throughout the regular season. Failed field goal attempts and missed extra points have significantly impacted the outcomes of Vikings’ games, often leaving the team on the wrong side of close contests. It’s a running joke in the community that every time a kicker lines up for the Vikings, he is going to miss, no matter the distance.
The Vikings Need Consistency from Their Kicker
Minnesota must prioritize finding a solution at the kicker position. The team needs a reliable leg who can consistently convert field goals and extra points, instilling confidence in the coaching staff and players. By investing in a proven and established kicker, the Vikings can finally put an end to the cycle of uncertainty and missed opportunities. Greg Joseph continues to not be the answer for the Vikings are looking for, as he ranked 28th in field goal percentage in 2023, according to Pro Football Reference.
The Vikings’ history with kickers has been marred by missed opportunities, heartbreaking moments, and a lack of consistency. From Gary Anderson’s infamous miss in the NFC Championship game to Blair Walsh’s playoff meltdown, the Vikings have endured their fair share of kicking woes. To achieve sustained success, the team must prioritize stability and invest in a reliable kicker who can deliver in high-pressure situations. One potential free agent the Vikings could look to bring in, is kicker Nick Folk.
Folk led the league in field goal percentage nailing 29 of 30 attempts on the season. He is 39 years old but he’s a veteran who has kicked for a number of teams in the postseason and most recently with the New England Patriots. Signing Folk will help ease the inconsistency in Minnesota’s special teams unit.
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