Graham Gano Bio
Graham Gano (gÉ™-NOH; born April 9, 1987) is a Scottish-American professional football placekicker known for his powerful leg and steady accuracy across more than a decade in the National Football League (NFL). A former Lou Groza Award winner at Florida State University, Gano has built a reputation as one of the league’s most reliable kickers, highlighted by a Pro Bowl selection in 2017 and a tied NFL record 63-yard field goal in 2018. He has suited up for the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Locomotives, Washington Redskins, Carolina Panthers, and New York Giants during a professional career that began in 2009.
Early Life and Background
Gano was born on a military base in Arbroath, Scotland, and is of Scottish descent through his mother. His father, Mark, was a United States Navy Master Chief Petty Officer and Vietnam veteran who was stationed at Canadian Forces Base Gander in Newfoundland at the time of Gano’s birth. The family has a long line of military ancestors, including his great-grandfather Richard Gano and his grandfather Raymond of Martinsburg, West Virginia.
Gano grew up in Cantonment, Florida, near Pensacola, and attended J. M. Tate High School, where he starred in both football and track. On the gridiron, he was a USA Today All-American first-team selection and was ranked the nation’s third-best kicker by Rivals.com. He played in the CaliFlorida All-Star Game, connecting on a 50-yard field goal, and during his senior season he booted three field goals of more than 55 yards.
As a track and field athlete, Gano was one of Florida’s top sprinters, capturing three state titles at the 2005 FHSAA 3A District 1 meet in the 100-meter, 200-meter, and 400-meter dashes. Those sprinting roots helped shape the explosive leg strength that has become a hallmark of his kicking career.
Path to American Football
Gano attended Florida State University from 2005 to 2008, serving as both kicker and punter for the Florida State Seminoles. In his senior season, he finished first in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) in field goals made, field goal percentage, and 50-yard field goals, earning the prestigious Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top collegiate kicker.
He converted 24 of 26 field goal attempts for a 92.3 percent success rate in 2008, leading the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) in scoring with 105 points. He was a consensus All-American, a four-time ACC Specialist of the Week, and a two-time Lou Groza Star of the Week. He remains the only kicker in Florida State history to convert more than 90 percent of his field goals in a single season, and he was named Most Valuable Player of the 2008 Champs Sports Bowl.
Graham Gano Career
Early Career (2009)
Following the 2009 NFL Draft, Gano signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent. After the Ravens named Steve Hauschka their kicker, Gano was waived on September 5, 2009. He quickly caught on with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League (UFL), where he scored the first points in league history with a 32-yard field goal and set a then-UFL record with a 53-yard make. His winning field goal delivered the Locomotives the first-ever UFL championship, and he finished the season as the league’s leading scorer.
On December 8, 2009, the Washington Redskins signed Gano to replace veteran Shaun Suisham. He made his NFL debut on December 13, 2009, drilling a 46-yard field goal against the Oakland Raiders. He appeared in three games to close out his rookie season, setting the stage for a larger role in 2010.
Washington Redskins Breakthrough (2010-2011)
Gano cemented himself as a clutch kicker in 2010, drilling three overtime game-winning field goals against the Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars. His effort against Jacksonville earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, and he finished the year a perfect 28-for-28 on extra points and 24-for-35 on field goals.
In 2011, Gano broke the Redskins’ franchise record with a 59-yard field goal against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9. He went 31-for-41 on field goals that season, with five of his misses blocked. Despite a strong preseason showing in 2012, the Redskins surprisingly released Gano after signing veteran Billy Cundiff.
Carolina Panthers Breakthrough (2012-2019)
Gano joined the Carolina Panthers on November 20, 2012, replacing Justin Medlock and converting 9 of 11 field goal attempts down the stretch. He signed a four-year, $12.4 million extension in 2014 and quickly became one of the most consistent kickers in the league. In 2015, he set a Panthers single-season scoring record with 146 points, broke John Kasay’s franchise record, and earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November. He also converted a game-winning 52-yard field goal in overtime against the Indianapolis Colts, helping the Panthers start 14-0.
In Super Bowl 50, Gano went 1-for-2 on field goals and 1-for-1 on extra points as the Panthers fell to the Denver Broncos 24-10. He signed a four-year, $17 million extension in March 2018, then delivered one of the most memorable moments of his career on October 7, 2018, drilling a 63-yard game-winning field goal as time expired against the New York Giants. That kick tied the non-altitude-assisted NFL record set by Tom Dempsey in 1970 and matched by David Akers in 2012. Gano was named to his first Pro Bowl that same year as an injury replacement for Greg Zuerlein, and he earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October 2018. A late-season injury landed him on injured reserve, and after another injury ended his 2019 campaign, the Panthers released him in July 2020.
New York Giants Era (2020-Present)
Gano signed with the New York Giants on August 19, 2020, and immediately set a franchise record in Week 5 by drilling three field goals of 50-plus yards at Dallas. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice during the 2020 season, and on November 15, 2020, he signed a three-year, $14 million extension through 2023. He finished the year 31-for-32 on field goals and 21-for-23 on extra points.
He remained steady in 2021 and 2022, earning another NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award in 2022 after going 4-for-4 on field goals against the Panthers. On September 8, 2023, Gano signed a three-year extension with the Giants, though a November injury landed him on injured reserve. In 2024, he appeared in ten games, hitting all 15 extra-point attempts and 9 of 11 field goals before a groin injury in warmups against the Kansas City Chiefs forced another injured-reserve stint.
Driving Style and Strengths
Gano’s sprinting background gives him exceptional leg speed and the ability to consistently drive the ball deep on kickoffs, while his accuracy has ranked among the league’s best. His mental toughness in pressure situations, evidenced by multiple overtime game-winners, has made him a trusted option in late-game scenarios. His veteran poise and consistency make him a steady presence for coaching staffs and special teams coordinators.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gano’s 63-yard field goal for the Panthers in 2018 tied the non-altitude-assisted NFL record and remains one of the signature moments of his career. He also tied Pete Stoyanovich for the longest postseason field goal in NFL history with a 58-yard make in the 2017 Wild Card Round. His Pro Bowl selection in 2017, Lou Groza Award in 2008, and UFL championship in 2009 round out a resume packed with milestones.
Graham Gano Career Wins
Across his professional career, Graham Gano has earned recognition as one of the NFL’s most dependable kickers, with Pro Bowl and All-American honors to his name. He has converted more than 340 career field goals in the regular season and has been a finalist for multiple conference player-of-the-week awards. His long-distance leg and accuracy in clutch situations have produced a series of highlight-reel wins.
Carolina Panthers Highlights
Gano spent the prime of his career with the Carolina Panthers from 2012 through 2019, earning his lone Pro Bowl nod in 2017 and setting the franchise record for the longest field goal at 63 yards in 2018. He set the Panthers’ single-season scoring record in 2015 with 146 points and delivered multiple game-winning kicks, including overtime winners against Indianapolis and the New York Giants.
Other Wins and Performances
Gano’s first professional championship came in 2009 with the Las Vegas Locomotives of the UFL, where he delivered the winning field goal in the league’s first title game. With the Washington Redskins, he drilled three overtime game-winning field goals in 2010 alone, and with the New York Giants he has continued his strong late-game accuracy, including a 4-for-4 performance against Carolina in 2022.
Graham Gano Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Although best known for his football career, Graham Gano comes from a family with deep military roots on both sides. His father, Mark, was a United States Navy Master Chief Petty Officer and Vietnam veteran, and his great-grandfather Richard Gano and grandfather Raymond of Martinsburg, West Virginia, also served in the armed forces. He is also related to Stephen G. Gano, a member of the Rutgers squad that played in the first-ever collegiate football game against Princeton University.
Personal Life
Gano is a Christian and is married to Brittany Gano. The couple has five children. He maintains an active presence on social media and is widely regarded as a family man and a respected locker-room leader throughout his NFL stops.
2025 Season Performance
Gano’s 2025 season with the New York Giants was significantly disrupted by injuries, limiting his availability and production. He appeared in a small number of games before a groin injury suffered in warmups of the Week 3 contest against the Kansas City Chiefs forced a stint on injured reserve in late September. He was activated ahead of the Giants’ Week 8 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles on October 25, only to be placed back on injured reserve on November 12 due to a neck injury.
Through his limited 2025 appearances, Gano continued to demonstrate accuracy when healthy, converting all of his extra-point attempts and most of his field goal tries. His veteran presence and the trust of the coaching staff remained evident despite the injury setbacks, and the Giants leaned on his experience as they navigated a turbulent special-teams year.
On March 30, 2026, the New York Giants waived Gano with a failed physical designation, bringing an end to his long tenure with the franchise. As he evaluates potential next steps, his track record of clutch kicks, record-breaking leg strength, and proven accuracy make him an intriguing option for teams in need of a veteran placekicker entering the next league year.
