Chase McLaughlin Bio
Chase Joseph McLaughlin, born April 9, 1996, in Cypress, Texas, is an American professional football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds, McLaughlin has built a reputation as one of the league’s most traveled kickers, suiting up for nine franchises since 2019, including second stints with two organizations. He played college football at Illinois, where he transformed from a walk-on into one of the Big Ten Conference’s most decorated kickers.
Despite going undrafted in 2019, McLaughlin has pieced together a long professional career through persistence and steady production. Through the 2025 season, he has converted 158 of 186 career field goal attempts, a success rate of 84.9 percent, while making 207 of 212 extra point attempts. He has also been a reliable source of touchbacks, recording 105 for his career.
Early Life and Background
Chase Joseph McLaughlin was born on April 9, 1996, in Cypress, Texas, a fast-growing suburb northwest of Houston. He grew up in a supportive household that encouraged athletics, and from an early age he gravitated toward football, eventually specializing as a placekicker during his youth. His upbringing in Southeast Texas exposed him to the sport’s deep roots in the region, and he developed his kicking technique through years of dedicated practice at home and on local fields.
McLaughlin attended Cypress Woods High School, where he emerged as a reliable kicking prospect. His performance at Cypress Woods drew the attention of college programs, and although he did not arrive at Illinois with a scholarship, his senior high school season gave him the confidence to pursue Division I football. He balanced his athletic development with his academic responsibilities, graduating before enrolling at the University of Illinois.
Path to Professional Football
McLaughlin joined the University of Illinois in 2014, initially as a walk-on with the Fighting Illini. His college career developed gradually, with steady improvement in both accuracy and range. By his senior year, he had become a centerpiece of the Illinois special teams unit, going 4 for 6 on field goals beyond 50 yards and converting all 79 of his career extra point attempts without a miss. That dependability earned him the 2018 Big Ten Kicker of the Year award and First-team All-Big Ten Conference honors, recognition that confirmed his readiness for the next level.
Heading into the 2019 NFL draft, McLaughlin was widely regarded as a project prospect with a strong leg and a proven record of clutch kicking. He was not selected during the seven-round draft, but his college production and his elite accuracy on extra points convinced several teams to invite him to training camp. That opportunity launched an unusual and remarkably resilient professional journey across the league.
Chase McLaughlin Career
Early Career (2019)
Chase Joseph McLaughlin began his NFL career as an undrafted free agent with the Buffalo Bills in 2019. He was waived on August 31, 2019, during final roster cuts, and quickly signed to the Minnesota Vikings practice squad on September 1, 2019. His stay in Minnesota lasted only nine days before he was released, but his next opportunity came swiftly. On October 1, 2019, McLaughlin signed with the Los Angeles Chargers to cover for injured kicker Michael Badgley and to give relief to punter Ty Long, who had been handling kicking duties.
After being waived by the Chargers on October 29, 2019, McLaughlin signed with the San Francisco 49ers on November 7, 2019, following a quad injury to longtime kicker Robbie Gould. He made an immediate impression, drilling a 47-yard kick with one second left in regulation to force overtime in a Monday Night Football loss to the Seattle Seahawks, though he missed a field goal in overtime that would have won the game. He was waived on December 3, 2019, but was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts the next day to fill in for the injured Adam Vinatieri, and on December 30, 2019, the Colts signed him to a one-year extension. Across the 2019 season with the Chargers, 49ers, and Colts, he converted 18 of 23 field goal attempts and all 26 of his extra point attempts.
Wandering Veteran Years (2020-2022)
McLaughlin’s journeyman phase continued in 2020. He was waived by the Colts during final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and signed to the Vikings practice squad three days later. On November 10, 2020, the Jacksonville Jaguars signed him off the Vikings’ practice squad to replace the injured Josh Lambo. He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on November 24, 2020, and activated six days later before being waived on December 12, 2020, when the Jaguars promoted Aldrick Rosas. Two days later, on December 14, 2020, McLaughlin was claimed off waivers by the New York Jets, and on January 2, 2021, he was promoted to full-time starter after the Jets released Sam Ficken. In his time with the Jaguars and Jets in 2020, he converted four of five field goal attempts and five of six extra point attempts.
The 2021 season brought McLaughlin his longest stretch of opportunity. He was claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns on May 10, 2021, and took over the starting kicking job. In a Week 3 game against the Chicago Bears, he drilled all four field goal attempts, including a 57-yarder, and both extra points. He finished the 2021 season converting 36 of 37 extra point attempts and 15 of 21 field goal attempts. After re-signing with the Browns on April 5, 2022, he was waived on May 2, 2022, and signed with the Colts practice squad on September 13, 2022, after the team released Rodrigo Blankenship. He was promoted to the active roster on October 4, 2022, and in Week 5 he went 4 for 4 on field goals, including two over 50 yards, in a 12-9 overtime win at Denver, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He closed 2022 with all 21 extra point attempts made and 30 of 36 field goal attempts converted.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Era (2023-Present)
On March 30, 2023, McLaughlin signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and he was named the team’s starting placekicker at the start of the 2023 season following the release of Rodrigo Blankenship. He finished that first Buccaneers campaign converting 29 of 31 field goal attempts and all 33 of his extra point attempts, immediately becoming a stabilizing force for the special teams unit. On March 11, 2024, McLaughlin signed a three-year, $12.3 million contract extension with the Buccaneers, a deal that runs through the 2026 season, signaling the franchise’s long-term confidence in his leg.
The 2024 season was another strong year for McLaughlin, as he converted 30 of 32 field goal attempts and 54 of 56 extra point attempts while serving as one of the league’s most accurate kickers. His most memorable moment came on September 28, 2025, when he drilled a 65-yard field goal to end the first half of a Week 4 home game against the Philadelphia Eagles, setting a new Buccaneers franchise record and tying the longest field goal ever made in an outdoor NFL stadium. In Week 8 of the 2025 season, he added three more field goals over 50 yards in a 23-3 win over the New Orleans Saints, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He finished the 2025 season converting 32 of 38 field goal attempts and 32 of 33 extra point attempts.
Driving Style and Strengths
McLaughlin has built his reputation on accuracy and range. He has been one of the NFL’s most consistent extra point kickers, missing only five attempts across his career, and his success rate of 84.9 percent on field goals places him among the league’s top specialists. His standout performances, including a 65-yarder in 2025 and a 57-yarder in 2021, demonstrate a powerful leg capable of converting from well beyond 50 yards. Coaches have valued his poise under pressure and his ability to handle the kicking workload in any climate or stadium environment.
Notable Events and Milestones
McLaughlin’s 65-yard field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles on September 28, 2025, stands as the signature moment of his NFL career, setting the Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise record and matching the longest field goal ever made in an outdoor NFL stadium. He also became the first Illinois kicker to make 50-plus yard field goals in three consecutive games during a 2018 contest against South Florida, a school record he later extended to five career 50-plus yarders.
Chase McLaughlin Career Wins
Although individual placekickers are rarely measured by traditional win totals, Chase Joseph McLaughlin has produced several game-winning or game-saving kicks throughout his NFL career. His 47-yard field goal with one second left in regulation to force overtime in a 2019 Monday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks is among his most memorable moments. In 2022, his four-field-goal performance against the Denver Broncos earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week and helped secure a 12-9 overtime road victory. Across his career, McLaughlin has accumulated 681 total points, 158 made field goals, and 207 made extra points, all while playing for nine different franchises.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Highlights
Since joining Tampa Bay in 2023, McLaughlin has been one of the NFL’s most productive kickers. He earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in 2025 after drilling three field goals of 50-plus yards in a 23-3 win over the New Orleans Saints. He also set the Buccaneers franchise record for the longest field goal in team history with a 65-yarder against the Philadelphia Eagles. Across three seasons in Tampa Bay, he has converted the vast majority of his attempts and earned a contract extension that keeps him in place through 2026.
Other Wins and Performances
Before arriving in Tampa Bay, McLaughlin earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors with the Indianapolis Colts in 2022 after his four-field-goal effort at Denver. In 2021 with the Cleveland Browns, he set a personal best with four made field goals, including a 57-yarder, against the Chicago Bears. At the college level, he was a First-team All-Big Ten selection in 2018, the same year he won Big Ten Kicker of the Year honors for the Illinois Fighting Illini.
Chase McLaughlin Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Chase Joseph McLaughlin is married to his wife, Jess, with whom he has three children. The couple currently resides in Tampa, Florida, having relocated to be near the Buccaneers’ headquarters. McLaughlin grew up in Cypress, Texas, and has spoken about how his family has been a steady source of support throughout his winding professional journey across multiple NFL cities.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season was a milestone campaign for Chase Joseph McLaughlin, highlighted by his record-setting 65-yard field goal against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 4. That kick not only set a Tampa Bay Buccaneers franchise record but also tied the longest field goal ever made in an outdoor NFL stadium, cementing his place among the league’s most powerful kickers. He earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 8 after drilling three field goals over 50 yards in a 23-3 win over the New Orleans Saints.
Across the 2025 regular season, McLaughlin converted 32 of his 38 field goal attempts and 32 of his 33 extra point attempts, providing consistent production for the Buccaneers’ special teams unit. His accuracy on extra points, missing only one attempt all season, reflected the same dependability that has defined his career. The Buccaneers continued to rely on him in high-leverage situations, and his strong finish to the regular season helped position the team for a deep postseason push.
With a contract extension that runs through 2026, McLaughlin remains a central figure in the Buccaneers’ long-term plans. His combination of accuracy, range, and experience makes him a valuable asset for a Tampa Bay team with championship aspirations. Heading into 2026, McLaughlin is expected to continue as the team’s primary placekicker and to build on the franchise-record benchmarks he set during the 2025 campaign.