Jason Sanders Bio
Jason Thomas Sanders is an American professional football placekicker who currently plays for the New York Jets of the National Football League. Born on November 16, 1995, in Orange, California, he built a reputation for accuracy and consistency across multiple seasons in the league. He spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Miami Dolphins, where he developed into one of the most reliable kickers in the AFC. Over the course of his career, Sanders has earned First-team All-Pro honors, been named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team, and tied for the NFL scoring title in 2020.
Early Life and Background
Jason Thomas Sanders was born on November 16, 1995, in Orange, California, a city in Orange County known for producing a steady stream of athletic talent. He grew up in the surrounding area and attended Villa Park High School, where he joined the football program and took on kicking duties for the Spartans. His high school career helped establish the foundation for the technique and confidence that would later define his professional profile.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and listed at 186 pounds during his NFL career, Sanders developed the compact, repeatable kicking motion that scouts would later praise. Villa Park High School provided him with the platform to attract college attention, and his accuracy on field goals and extra points quickly became his signature trait. Family and hometown details beyond his birthplace and schooling are not widely documented in public sources.
Path to American Football
Sanders continued his playing career at the University of New Mexico, where he suited up for the New Mexico Lobos from 2014 to 2017. Over four collegiate seasons, he converted 111 of 112 extra point attempts and 25 of 35 field goal attempts, with a career long of 53 yards. That near-perfect mark on extra points stood out to professional scouts evaluating his consistency under pressure.
Coming out of college, Sanders was regarded as one of the top pro kicking prospects in the country by kicking coach Brent Grablachoff of Kicking World. His blend of accuracy, range, and mental toughness positioned him as a strong candidate for the 2018 NFL Draft. The Miami Dolphins ultimately selected him in the seventh round, 229th overall, making him one of two kickers drafted that year alongside Daniel Carlson of the Minnesota Vikings.
Jason Sanders Career
Early Career (2018)
Sanders won the Dolphins’ starting kicking job out of training camp in 2018, taking over after the release of undrafted rookie Greg Joseph. He made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans, converting all three field goal attempts and both extra point attempts in a 27–20 victory. Later that season, against the Chicago Bears in Week 6, he drilled the game-winning field goal in overtime to announce his arrival.
Across 16 games as a rookie, Sanders made 18 of 20 field goals and 35 of 36 extra point attempts. His 90 percent field goal conversion rate ranked fifth in Dolphins history, and his strong play earned him a spot on the Pro Football Writers of America 2018 All-Rookie Team. He also earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after a 10-point performance against the Indianapolis Colts in Week 10.
Dolphins Breakthrough (2019–2020)
In Week 13 of the 2019 season, Sanders caught a one-yard touchdown pass from punter Matt Haack against the Philadelphia Eagles, the first touchdown reception by an NFL kicker since October 16, 1977. He followed that with a franchise-record seven field goals in a single game against the New York Jets in Week 14, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December. He finished 2019 with 23 of 30 field goals and 29 of 30 extra points made.
The 2020 season represented Sanders’ breakthrough year. He went 36 of 39 on field goals and a perfect 36 of 36 on extra point attempts, tying Daniel Carlson and Younghoe Koo for the NFL scoring title. He was named First-team All-Pro, cementing his status as one of the league’s elite kickers. On February 16, 2021, he signed a five-year, $22 million contract extension, ranking among the highest-paid kickers in the NFL at the time.
Late Dolphins Era (2021–2024)
Sanders continued to deliver strong performances across the 2021, 2022, and 2023 seasons. In Week 3 of 2022, he set the NFL record for most converted extra points in a single game, going 10 for 10 against the Denver Broncos in a 70–20 victory and breaking a record that had stood since 1966. In Week 16 of 2023, he went 5 for 5 on field goals against the Dallas Cowboys, including a career-long 57-yarder and three made field goals from 50-plus yards, a franchise record.
He played a full 2024 campaign, converting 26 of 28 extra points and 37 of 41 field goal attempts, including a five-field-goal performance against the San Francisco 49ers that earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. On August 26, 2025, however, the Dolphins placed him on injured reserve due to a hip injury, forcing him to miss the entire 2025 season. On March 6, 2026, Miami released him after eight years, making him the longest-tenured Dolphin at the time of his departure.
New York Giants and Jets Era (2026)
On March 11, 2026, Sanders signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants in an attempt to revive his career elsewhere. That stint was short-lived, as the Giants released him on June 2, 2026. The very next day, on June 3, 2026, the New York Jets claimed him off waivers, giving him a fresh opportunity to compete for a roster spot.
Notable Events and Milestones
Sanders’ career is highlighted by several signature moments, including his 2019 touchdown reception, the franchise-record seven field goals in a single game, and the 2022 NFL record for extra points in a game. His 2020 scoring title and First-team All-Pro selection further anchor his resume as one of the most productive kickers of his era.
Jason Sanders Career Wins
As a placekicker, Sanders’ win totals are tied directly to his team’s success and his clutch performances in close games. His game-winning overtime field goal against the Chicago Bears in 2018 and his late-season heroics against the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 stand out as defining moments. He also helped clinch a playoff spot for the Dolphins with three 50-plus-yard field goals against the Dallas Cowboys in 2023.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
Through the 2025 season, Sanders had made 187 of 221 field goal attempts (84.6 percent) and 259 of 268 extra point attempts (96.6 percent), scoring 826 total points. His career-long field goal stands at 57 yards, and he recorded 427 touchbacks on kickoffs. These figures reflect sustained accuracy across multiple coaching staffs and special teams units in Miami.
Other Performances
At New Mexico, Sanders connected on 25 of 35 field goal attempts and 111 of 112 extra point attempts, finishing his college career as one of the most accurate kickers in program history. He was also recognized as the top pro kicking prospect in the country by Kicking World heading into the 2018 draft, underscoring his long-standing reputation for consistency.
Jason Sanders Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Jason Thomas Sanders’ immediate family is limited. He was raised in the Orange, California area and attended Villa Park High School, where his development as a kicker took shape. Details about his parents, siblings, or extended relatives are not widely documented in available sources.
Personal Life
Sanders has generally kept his personal life private, and information regarding a spouse, partner, or children has not been publicly confirmed. His professional focus and long tenure with the Dolphins have been the dominant themes of his public profile. Any details beyond his football career remain largely undisclosed.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season proved to be a difficult one for Sanders. On August 26, 2025, the Miami Dolphins placed him on injured reserve due to a hip injury, sidelining him for the entire year. His absence opened the door for other kickers on the roster and marked the first time in his career that he missed a full regular season.
Despite the injury setback, Sanders remained under contract with the Dolphins through the 2025 campaign as part of the five-year, $22 million extension signed in February 2021. His prior production, including a 2024 season in which he converted 37 of 41 field goal attempts, gave Miami reason to keep him in the fold even as he worked toward recovery.
Looking ahead, Sanders’ release by the Dolphins in March 2026 and his quick transitions through the New York Giants and New York Jets suggest he is determined to extend his career. His track record of accuracy, including an 84.6 percent career field goal mark, gives him a realistic path back onto an active roster once he is fully healthy.
