Wil Lutz Bio
William Lutz (born July 7, 1994), nicknamed “Big Nutz Lutz,” is an American professional football placekicker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia State Panthers and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Lutz has also played for the New Orleans Saints before joining the Broncos.
Across his NFL career, Lutz has built a reputation as one of the league’s most accurate kickers, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 and multiple weekly and monthly special teams honors. He reached the 1,000-point career milestone faster than nearly every player in league history, and he continues to handle placekicking duties for Denver after signing a multi-year extension in 2025.
Early Life and Background
William Lutz was born on July 7, 1994, in Newnan, Georgia. Both of his parents, Julie and Robert (Bob) Lutz, have worked in education throughout his life. Julie Lutz has served in various school roles, including as a principal of Canongate Elementary School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, and later as the Dean at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia. Bob Lutz worked as a middle school science teacher at Madras Middle School in Newnan for many years. The couple also has another son, Wesley.
Lutz attended Northgate High School in Newnan, where he competed in American football, soccer, and cross country running. A two-time all-county placekicker, Lutz helped lead the Vikings football team to an 11-1 record and a region title during his senior season in 2011. The team defeated North Clayton High School in the first round of the Georgia AAAA football playoffs before falling to East Paulding High School in the second round, ending Lutz’s high school football career. He then enrolled at Georgia State University.
Path to American Football
After joining the Georgia State Panthers, Lutz served as the kickoff specialist during the 2012 season and became the team’s primary placekicker after four games. He finished that year 4-of-7 on field goals and a perfect 18-for-18 on extra points, attempting his first collegiate field goal against William & Mary and kicking a season-long 40-yarder against Rhode Island.
Across his college career, Lutz expanded his role, taking on punting duties by 2014 and earning Phil Steele Midseason All-Sun Belt first team recognition. He delivered one of the program’s signature moments in the 2014 season-opener, drilling a 26-yard game-winning field goal with four seconds left to lift Georgia State to a 38-37 victory over Abilene Christian. He capped his senior season in 2015 as both the Panthers’ punter and placekicker, averaging 44.3 yards on 65 punts and earning Second-team All-Sun Belt honors.
Wil Lutz Career
Early Career (2016)
On May 5, 2016, William Lutz signed with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft, hoping to break into the league as a placekicker. His time in Baltimore was brief, as the Ravens waived him on August 29, 2016, just before the regular season opener. Less than a week later, on September 5, 2016, Lutz signed with the New Orleans Saints, where he would quickly become a key contributor.
Lutz made an immediate impact in New Orleans, winning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in both Week 6 and Week 8 of his rookie season. He set the franchise rookie record with 28 successful field goals and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team for 2016, establishing himself as one of the league’s most promising young kickers.
New Orleans Saints Breakthrough (2016-2022)
Lutz’s second NFL season opened with a career-tying four field goals in a Monday Night Football loss to the Minnesota Vikings on September 11, 2017, showing consistency in his kicking mechanics. By 2018, he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September after making 10 of 11 field goals and all 11 extra-point attempts. On March 13, 2019, the Saints rewarded his production with a five-year contract extension, signaling long-term confidence in his role.
His 2019 season began with a signature performance in Week 1 against the Houston Texans, when his 58-yard game-winning field goal stood as the longest game-winning kick with no time remaining in the fourth quarter or overtime in a season-opening game in NFL history, earning him another NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award and a Pro Bowl selection later that year. In 2020, Lutz scored the first points in Allegiant Stadium history and the first NFL points ever in Las Vegas with a 31-yard field goal on Monday Night Football against the Raiders. He played through an injured reserve stint in 2021 before returning in 2022 to convert all 33 extra point attempts and 23 of 31 field goal attempts in 17 games.
Denver Broncos Era (2023-Present)
On August 29, 2023, the New Orleans Saints traded William Lutz to the Denver Broncos for a 2024 seventh-round pick, beginning a new chapter in his career. He quickly adjusted, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November 2023 after converting 30 of 34 field goal attempts on the year. On March 12, 2024, Lutz signed a two-year contract extension with the Broncos and announced he would change his jersey number from 16 to 3.
His 2024 campaign featured multiple standout performances, including a four-field-goal, two-extra-point effort in a 26-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a perfect five-field-goal, two-extra-point game in a 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, each earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He also became the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to reach the 1,000-point career mark. In October 2025, Lutz earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month again after going perfect on field goals and extra points, including makes of 57 and 55 yards. On November 21, 2025, the Broncos signed him to a three-year, $16.1 million contract extension, and he closed the 2025 season converting all 39 extra point attempts and 28 of 32 field goal attempts.
Driving Style and Strengths
William Lutz is recognized for his accuracy from mid-range distances and his ability to deliver under pressure in late-game situations. His track record of game-winning kicks, including his 58-yard walk-off in the 2019 season opener, reflects a calm, methodical approach that has made him a steady option for both the Saints and Broncos.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Lutz’s signature moments are his rookie-record 28 field goals with New Orleans in 2016, his franchise-tying four-field-goal performances, and his 1,000-point career milestone reached faster than all but four players in NFL history. He has also earned weekly special teams honors in both conferences, a testament to his consistency across organizations.
Wil Lutz Career Wins
William Lutz has built his reputation on dependable kicking rather than win-loss totals, regularly producing game-winning field goals and perfect extra-point stretches across his time with the New Orleans Saints and Denver Broncos. His career NFL totals through the 2025 season include 254 made field goals on 295 attempts (86.1%), with a long of 60 yards and 526 touchbacks, underscoring his consistency as a placekicker.
NFL Highlights
Lutz has produced dozens of multi-field-goal games in the NFL, including his four-field-goal efforts against the Seattle Seahawks in 2016, the Minnesota Vikings in 2017, and the New York Giants in 2018. His recent Broncos tenure has included additional four- and five-field-goal performances against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024, each earning league-wide recognition. He has also recorded the longest game-winning kick with no time remaining in a season opener in league history.
Other Wins and Performances
At the collegiate level, William Lutz delivered a 26-yard game-winning field goal with four seconds left to lift Georgia State past Abilene Christian in the 2014 season-opener. He also booted a school-record 53-yard field goal against Alabama in 2013, establishing himself as a reliable scoring option for the Panthers before turning professional.
Wil Lutz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
William Lutz was raised in Newnan, Georgia, by his parents Julie and Robert (Bob) Lutz, both of whom have spent their careers in education. His mother, Julie Lutz, has served in various school administrative roles, including as principal of Canongate Elementary School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, and more recently as Dean at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia. His father, Bob Lutz, taught middle school science at Madras Middle School in Newnan for several years. The couple also has another son, Wesley, making William the brother of one sibling.
Personal Life
Lutz maintains an active presence on social media, with public accounts on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram under the handle wil_lutz5. He has continued to live and work in the United States throughout his professional career, with personal details beyond his family, education, and professional accomplishments remaining largely private.
2025 Season Performance
William Lutz’s 2025 season with the Denver Broncos reinforced his standing as one of the league’s most reliable kickers. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month in October after a perfect stretch on field goals and extra points, including successful kicks of 57 and 55 yards. He followed that with AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after going 5-for-5 on field goal attempts and hitting the game-winner in a Week 11 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
His consistency throughout the year helped pave the way for a new contract, as the Broncos signed Lutz to a three-year, $16.1 million extension on November 21, 2025. He closed the 2025 season converting all 39 extra point attempts and 28 of 32 field goal attempts, a level of accuracy that has become a hallmark of his career. With Denver committed to him through the 2028 season, Lutz is positioned to remain a central figure in the Broncos’ special teams unit for years to come.
