Will Reichard Bio
Will Reichard (born January 9, 2001) is an American professional football placekicker for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 ft 1 in and listed at 190 lb, he plays wearing jersey No. 16 and is recognized for his accuracy and consistent leg strength. He previously played college football for the Alabama Crimson Tide, where he finished his career as the all-time NCAA Division I FBS scoring leader. Drafted by Minnesota in 2024, Reichard has quickly become one of the most reliable young kickers in the league.
Early Life and Background
Will Reichard was born on January 9, 2001, and grew up in Hoover, Alabama. From sixth grade onward, he attended Kohl’s Kicking Camps every year, eventually earning the No. 1 ranked kicker and No. 2 ranked punter designation. The steady training environment helped him build a repeatable kicking motion and the composure that would later define his game under pressure.
He attended Hoover High School in his hometown, where he converted 27 of 29 career field goal attempts and was perfect on extra points, making all 109 attempts. As a senior, Reichard was named to the USA Today All-USA high school football team and played in the Under Armour All-America Game. Rated the nation’s top kicker by ESPN, he received scholarship offers from Auburn, LSU, Oklahoma, Alabama, Oregon, and Georgia before committing to Alabama.
Path to American Football
Reichard committed to Alabama and won the starting placekicker job in training camp heading into his first season. In his debut against Duke, he went perfect on six extra point attempts, punted twice for 81 yards, and produced touchbacks on every kickoff. He missed the second half of that year after injuries but still finished 4-for-7 on field goals and 21-for-22 on extra points.
As a sophomore in 2020, Reichard played in every game and went a perfect 98-for-98 on field goals and extra points, only the second Alabama player to accomplish that feat. He placed fifth nationally with 126 points, earned first-team All-America honors from CBS Sports and second-team recognition from The Sporting News, and was a finalist for the Lou Groza Award. His team went 13-0 and was crowned national champion.
Will Reichard Career
Early Career (2019-2021)
During his early Alabama years, Reichard established himself as a dependable weapon on special teams. In 2020 he never missed a kick and helped Alabama win the College Football Playoff national championship. He later earned Second-team All-American recognition that same season, signaling his emergence as one of the top kickers in college football.
In 2021, Reichard made 22 of 28 field goal attempts and all but one of his 72 extra point attempts, leading the Southeastern Conference in points scored. He added 106 kickoffs for 6,264 yards, averaging 59.1 yards per kick with 59 touchbacks. He twice earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, including against Miami, reinforcing his value to the Crimson Tide.
Alabama Dominance (2022-2023)
In 2022, Reichard was a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award after finishing second in the SEC and third nationally with 130 points. He converted 22 of 26 field goal attempts and all 64 extra points, while averaging 62.6 yards per kickoff. He earned Second-team All-SEC recognition from the Associated Press and league coaches.
The 2023 season cemented his legacy. On October 14, 2023, against Arkansas, Reichard set the record for most points scored in Southeastern Conference history at 486, surpassing former Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson. He scored nine points in the Iron Bowl to tie Keenan Reynolds for the NCAA’s all-time scoring mark with 530 points, then set the new record with a field goal in the SEC Championship Game victory. He was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Year and earned First-team All-SEC honors.
Minnesota Vikings Era (2024-Present)
Reichard was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the sixth round, 203rd overall, of the 2024 NFL draft. He made the first 14 field goal attempts of his career before missing his next two in a Week 9 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, where he suffered a minor oblique injury. Placed on injured reserve on November 4, he was activated on December 7 and returned to form with three field goals and three extra points in a 30-12 victory over the Chicago Bears.
In 2025, Reichard set a new franchise record with a 62-yard field goal during the Vikings’ Week 3 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. In Week 5, one of his kicks appeared to hit a Skycam wire and resulted in a miss, though the league did not adjust the statistics after reviewing the play. He finished the 2025 NFL season missing only two of his 35 field goal attempts and was named First-team All-Pro.
Driving Style and Strengths
Will Reichard is recognized for his smooth, repeatable mechanics and exceptional accuracy from inside 50 yards. His ability to combine strong kickoff distance with dependable extra-point and mid-range field goal work makes him a complete special teams weapon. Working closely with the Vikings’ coaching staff, he has maintained poise in high-pressure moments throughout his young career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Reichard set the Minnesota Vikings franchise record for the longest successful field goal with a 62-yard kick in 2025. He also became the all-time NCAA Division I FBS scoring leader during his final season at Alabama. His perfect 98-for-98 kicking performance in 2020 stands as one of the most accurate single seasons in college football history.
Will Reichard Career Wins
Will Reichard’s verified career achievements include a College Football Playoff national championship with Alabama in 2020 and a First-team All-Pro selection with the Vikings in 2025. He holds the all-time NCAA Division I FBS scoring record and the Minnesota Vikings franchise record for the longest successful field goal.
NFL Highlights
In his NFL career through the 2025 season, Reichard has converted 57 of 65 field goal attempts (87.7 percent) and 69 of 69 extra point attempts (100.0 percent). He has totaled 240 points and produced 77 touchbacks on kickoffs. His 62-yard field goal in 2025 set a new Vikings franchise record, and his First-team All-Pro selection marked one of the strongest individual seasons for a young kicker in recent league history.
Other Wins & Performances
At Hoover High School, Reichard was named to the USA Today All-USA high school football team and played in the Under Armour All-America Game. At Alabama he earned Second-team All-American honors in 2020 and 2023, First-team All-SEC in 2023, Second-team All-SEC in 2022, and SEC Special Teams Player of the Year in 2023. He was also a finalist for the Lou Groza Award in 2020 and a semifinalist in 2022.
Will Reichard Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Will Reichard grew up in Hoover, Alabama, where he attended Hoover High School and trained each summer at Kohl’s Kicking Camps beginning in sixth grade. His early access to elite kicking instruction helped shape his professional trajectory in American football.
Personal Life
Will Reichard is married to Amelia Auchmuty, his high school sweetheart. He proposed on January 29, 2022, and the couple was married on January 21, 2023. The couple remains active in the Minnesota community during his NFL career with the Vikings.
2025 Season Performance
During the 2025 NFL season, Will Reichard emerged as one of the most accurate kickers in the league, missing only two of his 35 field goal attempts. His Week 3 62-yard field goal against the Cincinnati Bengals set a new Minnesota Vikings franchise record for the longest successful field goal. He also drew national attention in Week 5 when one of his kicks appeared to hit a Skycam wire, prompting an appeal to the league that was ultimately denied.
Reichard was named First-team All-Pro for his 2025 performance, an extraordinary honor for a second-year kicker. His accuracy on extra points remained perfect, and his kickoff touchback totals continued to give the Vikings strong field position. The combination of distance, accuracy, and poise positioned him as a long-term building block for the team’s special teams unit.
Looking ahead, Reichard’s partnership with the Vikings’ coaching staff and his demonstrated ability to bounce back from adversity suggest continued growth. With a franchise field goal record already in hand and a First-team All-Pro selection secured, his outlook for the seasons beyond 2025 remains strong.
