Matt Prater, football kicking legend.
Prater, a longtime Broncos kicker (2008-2013) was known for having a huge leg during his time in the Mile High City. But, despite popular opinion, it’s not just the altitude which helped Prater boom big-time kicks.
This week in Pro Bowl practice, Prater one-upped Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, who kicked a 75-yarder, by one yard. That’s right, Prater made a 76-yard field goal in practice at 32 years old:
pic.twitter.com/ihwxT8oD28
— Matt Prater (@MattPrater_5) January 28, 2017
That kick came three days after Tucker’s 75-yard field goal in Pro Bowl practice:
From 75 in sunny Orlando! Shoutout to #RavensFlock!! pic.twitter.com/QYaxVw7FML
— Justin Tucker (@jtuck9) January 25, 2017
In his career with the Broncos, Prater made 141-of-170 field goals, a 82.9 percent average. That included going 21-of-27 (77.8 percent) from 50-plus yards. It also includes his 64-yard, NFL-record boot which came in Dec. 8, 2013 in frigid Denver in a win over the Titans.
That 64-yard NFL-record field goal passed former Broncos kicking great Jason Elam, who was tied with three others who had made a kick from 63 yards (Tim Dempsey, Sabastian Janikowski and David Akers).
Prater, now in his 11th year in the league, proved during Pro Bowl practice he still has the biggest leg in the NFL. Then, during the Pro Bowl, he booted home all three of his kicks: field goals from 42 and 46 yards, and one extra point in the NFC’s 20-13 win.
Since leaving the Broncos for the Detroit Lions in 2014, Prater has made 74-of-86 field goal attempts (86 percent), including 15-18 from 50-plus.
Related:
Broncos met with Western Kentucky offensive lineman Forrest Lamp at Senior Bowl