Anders Carlson Bio
Anders Bjorn Carlson is an American professional football placekicker who currently plays for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL). He rose to national attention as a kicker for the Auburn Tigers in the Southeastern Conference (SEC) before being selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. Over the course of his football journey, Carlson has been recognized as a high school and collegiate All-American, a First-Team All-SEC selection, and a Lou Groza Award semifinalist. He is widely respected for his powerful leg, his accuracy from long range, and his resilience after a turbulent start to his professional career.
Early Life and Background
Anders Bjorn Carlson was born on June 16, 1998, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to parents Hans and Jodie Carlson. He grew up alongside two brothers, Nils and Daniel, in a household that valued academics, athletics, and faith. Colorado Springs, situated at the foot of the Rocky Mountains, provided a strong training environment for a young athlete who would eventually reach the highest level of professional football.
Carlson attended The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, where he lettered in football, soccer, and basketball. As a sophomore in 2014, he converted four of six field goal attempts with a long of 44 yards, and he continued to develop as a junior and senior, eventually earning an invitation to the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game. He was rated the top high school kicker recruit in the nation and a top-10 overall prospect in the state of Colorado by ESPN, choosing Auburn over scholarship offers from Oklahoma State and Vanderbilt.
Beyond football, Carlson was an accomplished soccer player who helped The Classical Academy Titans reach the 2014 and 2015 Class 4A State finals. This multi-sport background helped him build the coordination, leg strength, and composure that later defined his kicking style at the collegiate and professional levels.
Path to Professional Football
Carlson committed to play college football for the Auburn Tigers, joining a program with a proud tradition of producing elite kickers. In 2017, he redshirted his true freshman season while serving as the backup placekicker to his older brother, Daniel Carlson, who would go on to become the kicker for the Las Vegas Raiders. That mentorship shaped Anders’s early development and gave him a front-row view of what professional preparation looked like.
By his redshirt freshman year in 2018, Carlson was ready to take over the role. He gained attention after drilling a 62-yard field goal at Auburn’s practice facility, then went on to convert 15 of 25 field goal attempts, including two 53-yarders, and all 44 of his extra-point tries. He forced 51 touchbacks on 70 kickoffs and even recorded a 3-yard reception on a fake field goal against Alabama, a play that demonstrated his athleticism beyond kicking.
Anders Carlson Career
Auburn Tigers (2017–2022)
Carlson spent six seasons in Auburn’s program, gradually building a reputation as one of the most accurate and powerful kickers in the Southeastern Conference. During his redshirt sophomore year in 2019, he was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after making all four field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder, in Auburn’s 48–45 upset win over Alabama in the Iron Bowl. He also set an NCAA record for consecutive successful PATs by Auburn kickers, helping extend a streak that began in 2013.
His 2020 redshirt junior campaign was his most decorated. Carlson converted 20 of 22 field goal attempts and 24 of 25 PATs, earning Lou Groza Award semifinalist honors, AFCA Coaches’ All-America Second Team recognition, Associated Press All-SEC First Team honors, and Second-Team All-American status. He later suffered a torn ACL against Mississippi State in 2021, ending his senior season, and finished his Auburn career ranked among the program’s all-time leaders in points, field goals made, and PATs made.
Green Bay Packers (2023–2024)
Carlson was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round (207th overall) of the 2023 NFL draft and signed his rookie contract on May 5, 2023. His first season proved difficult, as he led the NFL in missed kicks with thirteen, including a costly miss in the Divisional Round playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Despite the struggles, head coach Matt LaFleur and teammates publicly supported him.
In 2024, the Packers added competition in the form of Jack Podlesny and Greg Joseph, but none of those kickers made the final roster. Green Bay ultimately released Carlson on August 27, 2024, and he remained a free agent for the first six weeks of the season.
San Francisco 49ers (2024)
On October 15, 2024, the San Francisco 49ers signed Carlson to their practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 20, where he made both of his field goal attempts, including a then career-long 55-yarder, though he also missed an extra point. The 49ers released him on November 5, 2024.
New York Jets (2024–2025)
The New York Jets signed Carlson to their practice squad on November 8, 2024, and elevated him for a game against the Indianapolis Colts on November 17. In that contest, he set a new personal record with a 58-yard field goal. He remained the Jets’ kicker through most of December before being designated inactive and released on December 30, 2024. He later signed a reserve/futures contract with the Jets on January 14, 2025, before being released on June 18, 2025.
Birmingham Stallions (2026–Present)
On April 14, 2026, Carlson signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League, joining a franchise that has won multiple spring football championships. The move gave him an opportunity to reset his professional career and compete for a championship at the UFL level.
Driving Style and Strengths
Carlson is recognized for his exceptional leg strength, having connected from as far as 58 yards in an NFL game. He is a reliable directional kicker with a high percentage of touchbacks on kickoffs, and his experience working with multiple special-teams coordinators has helped him refine his approach. Coaches have praised his calm demeanor in pressure situations, including his willingness to attempt long field goals late in close games.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Carlson’s most memorable moments are his 52-yard field goal in the 2019 Iron Bowl against Alabama, his 58-yard career long with the Jets in 2024, and his NCAA-record contribution to a 303-consecutive-PAT streak at Auburn. His bounce-back from being released by the Packers to making field goals for two more NFL teams within months has been a defining story of his young career.
Anders Carlson Career Wins
Carlson has notched a steady stream of game-winning or game-extending field goals at the NFL and UFL levels. Across his time with the Green Bay Packers, San Francisco 49ers, and New York Jets, he converted 34 of 40 career field goal attempts (85 percent), with a long of 58 yards, and recorded 38 touchbacks on kickoffs.
NFL Highlights
Carlson appeared in regular-season and postseason games for the Green Bay Packers in 2023 and made both of his field goal tries during his one active appearance with the San Francisco 49ers in 2024. His most productive stretch came with the New York Jets late in the 2024 season, when he set a personal best with a 58-yard field goal against the Indianapolis Colts and provided stability at the position during a difficult stretch for the team.
Other Wins and Performances
At the high school level, Carlson was the highest-rated prep kicker in the nation in 2017, and at Auburn he earned Second-Team All-American and First-Team All-SEC honors. He has also been named Special Teams MVP of Auburn’s A-Day spring games in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Anders Carlson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Carlson was raised in Colorado Springs by his parents, Hans and Jodie Carlson, alongside two brothers, Nils and Daniel. His older brother, Daniel Carlson, is the placekicker for the Las Vegas Raiders and was an All-American kicker at Auburn, a connection that gave Anders a built-in mentor throughout his development.
Personal Life
Carlson is a Christian and has spoken openly about how his faith shapes his identity and his approach to professional football. He graduated from Auburn in 2020 with a degree in aviation from the College of Business and has spoken about pursuing a master’s degree.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 calendar year proved to be a transitional period for Anders Carlson. After being released by the New York Jets on December 30, 2024, he signed a reserve/futures contract with the team on January 14, 2025, which kept him in the organization through the offseason. He spent the spring and early summer in the Jets’ kicking competition, providing him time to refine his mechanics and consistency.
On June 18, 2025, the Jets released Carlson, making him a free agent heading into the rest of the year. While he did not appear in regular-season NFL games in 2025, he remained active in training and waited for his next opportunity.
Looking ahead, Carlson’s signing with the Birmingham Stallions of the UFL on April 14, 2026, positioned him for a fresh start in spring football. With his proven leg strength, his history of clutch kicks, and his renewed focus, Carlson enters the next phase of his career determined to add a spring league championship to his resume and continue pursuing a return to a full-time NFL roster.