2021 NFL Highlights: A Look Back

Posted September 01, 2022 | Bret

After a 2021 season where 69 Kohl's athletes saw game action in the NFL regular season, 2022 has another great group of Kohl's kickers, punters, and snappers ready to take the field.

Let's take a look back at a few notable performances from Kohl's NFL athletes in 2021:

With the help of Evan McPherson (Bengals), the top pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals were able to make a run at the Super Bowl. McPherson went 14-of-14 on field goals during the postseason including game-winners in both the divisional playoffs and the AFC championship. As a rookie, he tied Adam Vinatieri's NFL record for most postseason field goals.

Daniel Carlson and AJ Cole at the Kohl's National Training Center

Daniel Carlson (Raiders) notably knocked through a total of 40 field goals for the Raiders. This would be the most field goals made in one season for a kicker in over a decade since David Akers made 44 in 2011. Chris Boswell (Steelers) posted another 90% year, making him the only kicker in the NFL to have three consecutive years making 90% or more of his field goal attempts.

Perhaps the most unforgettable performance of the 2022 season was Justin Tucker's (Ravens) NFL record-breaking 66-yard field goal. To make things even more exciting, the field goal came as a game-winner while time expired against the Detroit Lions.

Harrison Butker (Cheifs) has solidified himself as the 2nd most accurate kicker in NFL history (second to Tucker). He also knocked through a pair of 58-yarders in one game last year, making him the only kicker to make a pair of field goals from 58 or longer.

The Eagles' Jake Elliott (Eagles) is coming off of a career year after making 90.9% of his field goals while going lights-out on the road against Philadelphia's opponents. He also made every extra point.

With a 50-yard average on 64 punts, AJ Cole (Raiders) topped the stats board across the NFL. He placed 28 of those inside the 20-yard-line. Detroit's Jack Fox (Lions) trailed Cole as next in line, putting up 49.2 yards. That marks the second year in a row Fox has landed in the top 3 in punt average.

Along with Cole and Fox, Tress Way (Commanders), Blake Gillikin (Saints), Logan Cooke (Jags), Jake Bailey (Patriots), and Thomas Morstead (Falcons/Jets) all landed themselves in the top 10 for punt average in 2022. Logan Cooke, Johnny Hekker, AJ Cole, Jack Fox, Thomas Morstead and Blake Gillikin also cracked the top 10 for NET punt.

NFL Veteran Thomas Morstead

In his 13th season as an NFL punter and first time not being in a Saints uniform, Thomas Morstead placed 7th in the league in NET punt and top 10 in gross punt average while playing both with the Falcons and Jets in the same season. This marks the 11th year in a row Morstead has finished in the top 10 for NET punt.

Long snapper Camaron Cheeseman (Commanders) earned the starting job for the Washington Commanders after being taken in the 2021 NFL Draft. Undrafted free agent Ross Matiscik (Jaguars) also earned a starting job with the Jaguars and hasn't looked back.

With more highlights happening than listed above, check out the full list of Kohl's athletes who saw game action in the 2021 NFL regular season and how involved they have been with the Kohl's program...

	Name	Team	Pos	2021 NFL Starter	# of Kohl's Sessions
1	Harrison Butker	Chiefs	K	Starter	15+
2	Dustin Hopkins	Chargers	K	Starter	15+
3	Jake Elliott	Eagles	K	Starter	6-15
4	Thomas Morstead	Falcons	P	Starter	15+
5	Daniel Carlson	Raiders	K	Starter	15+
6	AJ Cole	Raiders	P	Starter	15+
7	Riley Dixon	Giants	P	Starter	15+
8	Jack Fox	Lions	P	Starter	6-15
9	Evan McPherson	Bengals	K	Starter	15+
10	Bradley Pinion	Buccaneers	P	Starter	15+
11	Pat O'Donnell	Bears	P	Starter	15+
12	Joe Cardona	Patriots	LS	Starter	1
13	Matt Haack	Bills	P	Starter	15+
14	Zane Gonzalez	Lions	K	Starter	15+
15	Ross Matiscik	Jaguars	LS	Starter	2-5
16	JK Scott	Jaguars	P	Starter	2-5
17	Braden Mann	Jets	P	Starter	15+
18	Hunter Bradley	Packers	LS	Starter	15+
19	Ty Long	Chargers	K	Starter	6-15
20	Chris Boswell	Steelers	K	Starter	2-5
21	Cairo Santos	Bears	K	Starter	15+
22	Jake Bailey	Patriots	P	Starter	2-5
23	Brandon McManus	Broncos	K	Starter	2-5
24	Pat Scales	Bears	LS	Starter	1
25	Zach Wood	Saints	LS	Starter	6-15
26	Thomas Hennessy	Jets	LS	Starter	2-5
27	Reid Ferguson	Bills	LS	Starter	2-5
28	Logan Cooke	Jaguars	P	Starter	2-5
29	Trent Sieg	Raiders	LS	Starter	2-5
30	Justin Tucker	Ravens	K	Starter	1
31	Tress Way	Washington	P	Starter	1
32	Rick Lovato	Eagles	LS	Starter	1
33	Joey Slye	Washington	K	Starter	2-5
34	Randy Bullock	Lions	K	Starter	2-5
35	Ryan Santoso	Panthers	P	Starter	6-15
36	Tyler Ott	Seahawks	LS	Starter	2-5
37	Joseph Charlton	Panthers	P	Starter	1
38	Tommy Townsend	Chiefs	P	Starter	15+
39	Younghoe Koo	Falcons	K	Starter	1
40	Graham Gano	Giants	K	Starter	1
41	Rodrigo Blankenship	Colts	K	Starter	1
42	Austin Seibert	Lions	K	Starter	15+
43	Johnny Hekker	Rams	P	Starter	2-5
44	Chase McLaughlin	Browns	K	Starter	6-15
45	Camaron Cheeseman	Washington	LS	Starter	6-15
46	Tabor Pepper	49ers	LS	Starter	1
47	Greg Joseph	Vikings	K	Starter	2-5
48	Corliss Waitman	Pittsburgh	P	Starter	2-5
49	Pressley Harvin III	Pittsburgh	P	Starter	6-15
50	Matt Overton	Chargers	LS	Starter	2-5
51	Cameron Nizialek	Falcons	P	Starter	6-15
52	Brian Johnson	Saints	K	Starter	1
53	Blake Gillikin	Saints	P	Starter	6-15
54	Lirim Hajrullahu	Cowboys	K	Starter	1
55	Johnny Townsend	Titans	P	Starter	15+
56	Eddy Pineiro	Jets	K	Starter	2-5
57	Brett Maher	Saints	K	Starter	1
58	Tristan Vizcaino	Chargers	K	Starter	1
59	Matt Ammendola	Jets	K	Starter	2-5
60	Dominik Eberle	Texans	K	Starter	1
61	Chris Naggar	Browns	K	Starter	2-5
62	Steven Wirtel	Packers	LS	Starter	2-5
63	Ryan Winslow	Cardinals	P	Starter	2-5
64	Matt Wright	Jaguars	K	Starter	6-15
65	Scott Daly	Lions	LS	Starter	1
66	Chris Blewitt	Bears	K	Starter	2-5
67	Elliott Fry	Chiefs	K	Starter	2-5
68	Riley Patterson	Lions	K	Starter	15+
69	Alex Kessman	Jets	K	Starter	1

2021 NFL Highlights: A Look Back

From The Blog

Early National Signing Day // Class of 2025

Road to the 2025 National Underclassman Challenge

Blog Archive