Greg Zuerlein Bio
Gregory Zuerlein, born on December 27, 1987, in Lincoln, Nebraska, is an American professional football placekicker recognized throughout the National Football League for his powerful right leg and accuracy from long range. Known across the league by the nicknames “Greg The Leg” and “Legatron,” he has built a reputation as one of the most consistent kickers of his era. Zuerlein currently plays in the NFL and previously served as a premier scoring option for the St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams, the Dallas Cowboys, and the New York Jets.
Selected in the sixth round of the 2012 NFL Draft by the St. Louis Rams, Zuerlein has spent more than a decade in professional football, appearing in regular-season games for multiple franchises. His career has been defined by dramatic game-winning kicks, franchise-record field goals, and a 2017 season in which he was named First-team All-Pro, selected to the Pro Bowl, and finished as the NFL’s scoring leader.
Early Life and Background
Gregory Zuerlein was born and raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he developed an early interest in kicking and football. He graduated from Lincoln Pius X High School in 2006, after a standout prep career that earned him statewide recognition. As a junior in 2004, he set a Nebraska state record for field goals in a single season, converting 12 of 16 attempts with a long of 52 yards.
His strong high school play earned him Nebraska All-State and All-Class honors as both a junior and a senior. Zuerlein was also a talented youth soccer player, and his background in that sport was later credited with sharpening his leg strength and technique. In 2005, he was recognized as a Sports Illustrated preseason high school All-American, foreshadowing the success that would follow at the collegiate level.
Path to American Football
Following high school, Zuerlein accepted a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska Omaha, an NCAA Division II program. He quickly developed into one of the most reliable kickers in the conference, earning All-MIAA recognition and setting multiple school records along the way. After a medical redshirt as a senior in 2010, his path changed dramatically when UNO canceled its football program in 2011.
Zuerlein transferred to Missouri Western State University, another Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association school, where he played his final collegiate season. There, he set the NCAA Division II record of 21 consecutive field goals made, nine of which came from beyond 50 yards. He converted 23 of 24 field goal attempts for a .952 percentage, the highest of any NCAA player in any division with at least 12 attempts in 2011. His dominant senior season earned him Little All-American honors, MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year, and a place on the Division II Coaches All-America Team, paving the way for his entry into the NFL.
Greg Zuerlein Career
Early Career (2012-2014)
Zuerlein was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the sixth round, 171st overall, of the 2012 NFL Draft, becoming one of the rare kickers drafted out of a non-Football Bowl Subdivision program. He made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Detroit Lions, and by Week 4 he had already broken the franchise’s longest field goal record with a 60-yard kick against the Seattle Seahawks, becoming the first player in NFL history to make a 60-yard field goal and a 50-plus yarder in the same game. He finished his rookie season converting all 26 extra point attempts and 23 of 31 field goal attempts.
Over the next two seasons, Zuerlein continued to develop into one of the most accurate kickers in the league. In 2013, he converted all 34 extra point attempts and 26 of 28 field goal attempts as the Rams finished 7-9. In 2014, he earned his third career NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award after converting all five field goal attempts against the Denver Broncos, finishing the year 34 of 35 on extra points and 24 of 30 on field goals.
St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams Era (2012-2019)
After the Rams relocated to Los Angeles ahead of the 2016 season, Zuerlein signed a one-year contract to remain with the team on April 15, 2016. Although the offense struggled that year and Zuerlein scored a career-low 80 points, he remained accurate, converting all 23 extra point attempts and 19 of 22 field goal attempts. The following offseason, on March 14, 2017, he signed a three-year contract extension that would set the stage for his finest professional season.
The 2017 campaign marked Zuerlein’s peak. He tied for the league lead in Week 1 scoring, broke the Rams franchise record with seven field goals made in a single game against the Dallas Cowboys, and earned multiple NFC Special Teams Player of the Week and Month awards. He finished the year as the NFL scoring leader with 158 points and 11.3 points per game, earning First-team All-Pro honors and his first Pro Bowl selection despite a late-season back injury that placed him on injured reserve.
In 2018, Zuerlein helped the Rams win the NFC West and earn the No. 2 seed in the playoffs. The following postseason proved unforgettable, as he went a perfect 4-for-4 on field goal attempts in the 2019 NFC Championship Game against the New Orleans Saints, hitting a 48-yard kick to force overtime and a 57-yard kick to win the game and send the Rams to Super Bowl LIII. He later converted a 53-yard field goal in that Super Bowl against the New England Patriots, though the Rams ultimately fell 13-3.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2020-2021)
On March 30, 2020, Zuerlein signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys, reuniting with former Rams special teams coordinator John Fassel. His Cowboys debut was highlighted by a 46-yard game-winning field goal against the Atlanta Falcons on a memorable comeback, with the kick later nicknamed the “Watermelon Kick” for its distinctive technique. He finished the 2020 season converting 34 of 41 field goal attempts, a career-high in attempts, and 33 of 36 extra point attempts.
Back surgery limited Zuerlein during the 2021 preseason, and he struggled with consistency throughout the year, missing both field goals and extra points at key moments. He was placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list in November and missed additional time with injuries. Over two seasons in Dallas, he appeared in 32 regular-season games and missed at least one kick in 15 of them before being released on March 11, 2022, in a salary cap move.
New York Jets Era (2022-2024)
Zuerlein signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets on March 26, 2022, and beat out Eddy Piñeiro for the placekicker job in the preseason. He quickly set club records, including a franchise-long 60-yard field goal against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 13, and finished the year 30 of 37 on field goals and 28 of 29 on extra points. In March 2023, he re-signed with the Jets on another one-year contract.
The 2023 season was the best statistical year by a kicker in Jets history. Zuerlein converted 35 of 38 field goal attempts, including 5 of 6 from 50-plus yards, and set a club record with 26 consecutive field goals made. He tied for the NFL lead with four game-tying or game-winning field goals and was named a Pro Bowl alternate. On March 16, 2024, he signed a two-year extension with the Jets.
The 2024 campaign, however, was the most difficult of Zuerlein’s career. A left knee injury limited him to just eight games before he was placed on injured reserve in October, activated briefly in late December, and then shut down for the season on December 31. He converted only 9 of 15 field goal attempts and 13 of 14 extra point attempts before being released by the Jets on May 16, 2025.
Driving Style and Strengths
Zuerlein is widely regarded as one of the strongest-legged kickers of his generation, with a career-long field goal of 61 yards and multiple successful kicks from beyond 55 yards in pressure situations. His background in youth soccer contributes to a smooth, consistent approach and quick leg swing. He has also built a reputation as a clutch performer, capable of executing onside kicks and game-winning attempts in adverse conditions, including rain and cold weather.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Zuerlein’s signature moments, his 57-yard overtime field goal against the New Orleans Saints in the 2019 NFC Championship Game stands out, as it tied the record for the longest successful field goal in NFL postseason overtime history. Other milestones include the 2017 First-team All-Pro selection, the NFL scoring title that same year, and the franchise records he set with both the Rams and the Jets for longest field goal made.
Greg Zuerlein Career Wins
Although placekickers are not typically credited with “wins” in the traditional sense, Zuerlein’s career has been defined by a series of game-winning and game-tying kicks across multiple franchises. His game-winning field goals against the San Francisco 49ers in 2012, the Atlanta Falcons in 2020, and the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021 rank among the most dramatic of his career.
NFL Highlights
Throughout his NFL career, Zuerlein has converted 338 of 411 field goal attempts for an 82.2 percent success rate, with a career-long of 61 yards and 668 touchbacks. He led the NFL in scoring in 2017 with 158 points and tied for the league lead with four game-tying or game-winning field goals in 2023. He has earned six NFC or AFC Special Teams Player of the Week awards and multiple monthly honors.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, Zuerlein earned three All-MIAA selections (2008, 2009, 2011), the MIAA Special Teams Player of the Year award in 2011, and two Division II Coaches All-America Team nods. He also received Little All-American recognition in 2011 after his record-setting final season at Missouri Western State University.
Greg Zuerlein Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Zuerlein was raised in Lincoln, Nebraska, and credits his early environment for shaping his work ethic and competitive drive. His family’s support through his high school, college, and professional career has been a consistent theme throughout his time in football.
Personal Life
Zuerlein and his wife, Megan, are devout Catholics and have five children together. His family has remained a central part of his life throughout his nomadic NFL journey, providing stability as he moved from St. Louis to Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York during his professional career.
2025 Season Outlook
Following his release by the New York Jets on May 16, 2025, after three seasons with the franchise, Zuerlein entered the 2025 offseason as a free agent. With more than a decade of NFL experience and a career 82.2 percent field goal success rate, he remains an attractive option for teams seeking veteran stability at the kicker position.
Throughout his career, Zuerlein has consistently delivered from long range and in high-pressure situations, including the 57-yard overtime kick that sent the Rams to Super Bowl LIII. Teams evaluating him in 2025 will likely consider both his proven track record of clutch performance and the durability concerns that limited him to eight games during the 2024 season due to a left knee injury.
Should Zuerlein secure a roster spot for the 2025 season, he would enter a familiar role as a reliable veteran presence, capable of handling kickoff duties, long-range field goal attempts, and game-winning situations. His future in the NFL will depend on his recovery from injury and the needs of contending teams seeking an experienced leg.
