Matt Prater Bio
Matthew Phillip Prater (born August 10, 1984) is an American professional football placekicker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Regarded as one of the best long-distance kickers in NFL history, he held the NFL record for the longest field goal (64 yards) from 2013 until 2021 and has set league marks for 50-plus-yard conversions. A dependable scoring specialist, Prater has played for multiple franchises over a career that began in 2006 and is now in its twentieth season.
Standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and listed at 175 pounds, Prater built his reputation on rare leg strength and accuracy from long range. He attended Estero High School in Florida before playing college football for the University of Central Florida (UCF) Knights. He entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent signed by the Detroit Lions and has remained a productive kicker across nearly two decades in the league.
Early Life and Background
Matthew Phillip Prater was born on August 10, 1984, in Mayfield Heights, Ohio, though he grew up in southwest Florida. He attended Estero High School in Estero, Florida, where he starred as a kicker for the Wildcats. During his high school career, he converted 56 of 58 extra point attempts and 14 field goals, including a long of 49 yards, while putting 84 percent of his kickoffs into the end zone for touchbacks. His performance earned him second-team All-State, first-team all-conference, and All-Southwest Florida honors, along with a spot on the second-team Dream Team. He transferred to Estero from Cypress Lake High School during his sophomore year and graduated in 2002.
Prater’s high school success drew the attention of college programs, and he committed to the University of Central Florida. Growing up in Florida and refining his technique at Estero laid the groundwork for the leg strength that would later define his professional career. His family background supported his early athletic development, though specific details about his parents and home life have not been publicly verified.
Path to Professional Football
Prater played college football for the UCF Knights from 2002 to 2005, where he served as both kicker and punter. As a freshman in 2002, he made a 53-yard field goal against Penn State in his first collegiate attempt and finished the year 14-of-21 on field goals. In 2003, he led the nation in punting with a 47.9-yard average, setting school and Mid-American Conference records, while also converting 10-of-13 field goals and earning second-team All-American recognition.
His 2004 season was cut short by a leg injury after nine games, but he still made 11 consecutive field goals at one point, the second-longest streak in school history. As a senior in 2005, he went 17-of-26 on field goals with a long of 49 yards. Across 46 games at UCF, Prater converted 50 of 74 field goal attempts and tallied 258 points, finishing fourth in school history in scoring. Although he went undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft, his combination of distance and accuracy was enough to earn a contract.
Matt Prater Career
Early Career (2006–2007)
Prater signed with the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent on May 4, 2006, but was released that August behind veteran Jason Hanson. After brief stints with the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons in 2007, he landed on the Dolphins’ practice squad in November. The Denver Broncos signed him off that practice squad on December 19, 2007, beginning the longest and most defining chapter of his career.
His time in Denver started slowly as he competed for the starting job, but by 2008 he had taken over the role and was delivering kicks of more than 50 yards with consistency. Although his 2008 accuracy dipped to 73.5 percent, he showed enough range and power to convince the Broncos that he was their kicker of the future.
Denver Broncos Era (2007–2014)
Prater became Denver’s starting kicker in 2008 and quickly established himself as one of the league’s strongest-legged specialists. On September 28, 2008, he drilled a 56-yard field goal at Kansas City, the third longest in team history and the longest away from Denver at the time. A week later, he went 3-for-3 on field goals including a 55-yarder against Tampa Bay, earning his first AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award.
In 2011, he produced one of the most dramatic performances of his career, kicking a 59-yard field goal with three seconds left to tie the Chicago Bears and then a 51-yarder in overtime to win 13–10. The Broncos franchised him in 2012, and in 2013 he set the NFL record with a 64-yard field goal against the Tennessee Titans on December 8, a mark that stood until 2021. That season he also set the league record for extra points in a single season with 75, was named second-team All-Pro, and earned his first Pro Bowl selection. After appearing in Super Bowl XLVIII, a 43–8 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Prater was released by Denver on October 3, 2014, following a four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy.
Detroit Lions Second Stint (2014–2020)
The Lions signed Prater on October 7, 2014, and he provided immediate stability to a kicking game that had already used Nate Freese and Alex Henery. In his Detroit debut he made one of three attempts in windy conditions but still helped the Lions secure a win. Two weeks later he drilled a 48-yard re-kick to beat Atlanta in London after an initial miss and a delay-of-game penalty, signaling the start of a productive second stint in Detroit.
Prater signed a three-year, $9 million extension in March 2015 and finished the 2015 season 22-of-24 on field goals. In 2016 he earned his second Pro Bowl nod and set NFL records for consecutive 50-plus-yard field goals (14) and 55-plus-yard conversions (seven). He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week four times across 2016 and 2017, and on October 25, 2017, he signed a three-year extension with the Lions. In 2020 he set a new NFL record for most career field goals of 50 yards or more, cementing his legacy as one of the league’s most accurate long-range kickers.
Arizona Cardinals (2021–2024)
Prater signed a two-year deal with the Arizona Cardinals on March 17, 2021, reuniting with the NFC West. He opened his Cardinals career by attempting a 68-yard field goal against Jacksonville in Week 2 that fell short and was returned for a touchdown, the same day Justin Tucker broke his 64-yard league record. Prater responded with three AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors across 2021 and 2023, including a 62-yard make against Dallas.
He agreed to a two-year extension on March 14, 2023, and played 17 games that season. In 2024, however, a torn meniscus in his plant leg ahead of Week 5 cut his campaign short, and he was placed on injured reserve on October 15, 2024, after being replaced by Chad Ryland.
Buffalo Bills Era (2025–Present)
On September 4, 2025, Prater was signed to the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad after an injury to Tyler Bass. Three days later, on September 7, he made all three of his field goal attempts against the Baltimore Ravens, including a 32-yard game-winner as time expired in a 41–40 victory. He was promoted to the active roster on September 9, 2025.
Across 15 appearances in 2025, Prater converted 46 of 49 extra point attempts and 18 of 20 field goal attempts. His late-career production in Buffalo reinforced the reputation that has followed him since his 64-yard record in Denver.
Driving Style and Strengths
Prater’s game is built around rare distance and dependable accuracy. He has consistently ranked among the league leaders in touchbacks and 50-plus-yard field goals, and his career field-goal percentage of 83.8 reflects elite consistency. Coaches have long praised his routine and focus, traits that have allowed him to remain effective well into his forties.
Notable Events and Milestones
The defining moment of Prater’s career came on December 8, 2013, when he booted a 64-yard field goal as time expired in the first half against the Tennessee Titans, setting an NFL record that stood for nearly eight years. He is also the league’s all-time leader in 50-plus-yard field goals, a record he continues to extend. His 2016 and 2017 streaks of consecutive long-distance makes further cemented his status as a long-range specialist.
Matt Prater Career Wins and Highlights
Prater’s on-field success is best measured by the records he holds and the weekly awards he has collected. He is the NFL’s all-time leader in 50-plus-yard field goals, and from 2013 to 2021 he owned the league record for the longest field goal. Across 19 NFL seasons he has amassed 425 made field goals, 633 extra points, and 1,908 total points, placing him 13th in league history in field goals made.
Broncos and Lions Highlights
During his seven seasons in Denver, Prater set the franchise’s distance record and helped the Broncos reach Super Bowl XLVIII. In Detroit, he broke the Lions’ longest field goal record with a 59-yarder in 2015, was a Pro Bowl alternate in 2016, and set league marks for consecutive 50-plus and 55-plus-yard conversions.
Other Performances
Prater earned second-team All-American honors in 2003 while at UCF and won the ESPN Sport Science Newton Award in 2014. His work in Arizona produced three Special Teams Player of the Week awards, and his debut in Buffalo produced an immediate game-winning kick against the Ravens.
Matt Prater Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Matt Prater’s family background remain limited. What is known is that he was raised in southwest Florida, where he attended Estero High School and developed his kicking skills. His career longevity has often been credited to a steady personal support system, though specific family members have not been publicly identified.
Personal Life
Prater has kept much of his personal life out of the public eye. Verified details about his marital status, spouse, and children have not been widely reported, and he tends to focus public attention on his professional milestones rather than family matters.
2025 Season Performance
Prater joined the Buffalo Bills in September 2025 after Tyler Bass went down with an injury, and he delivered one of the most memorable debuts of his career. Three days after signing to the practice squad, he drilled a 32-yard field goal as time expired to beat the Baltimore Ravens 41–40, earning immediate recognition from the Buffalo fan base. He was promoted to the active roster on September 9 and held the job for the remainder of the regular season.
Across 15 appearances in 2025, Prater converted 46 of 49 extra point attempts and 18 of 20 field goal attempts, providing the kind of reliable scoring that has defined his career. The Buffalo coaching staff leaned on his veteran presence in high-pressure moments, and his track record of long-distance success gave the team confidence in close games.
Heading into the postseason, Prater’s 2025 production has reinforced his reputation as one of the most durable kickers in league history. His partnership with the Bills’ special-teams unit has been seamless, and his accuracy from both short and intermediate range has been a steady factor in Buffalo’s offensive rhythm. If the Bills make a deep playoff run, Prater’s leg strength and big-game experience could prove decisive in another potential championship chase.
