Ryan Longwell

Games and Starts

176 career games

Professional Biography

One of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, ranking 7th in NFL history with an 81.8% FG rate...His 1,144 points since he entered the NFL in 1997 trails only Jason Elam’s 1,193 and Adam Vinatieri’s 1,149 over that span...Has connected on 247 career FGs, the 4th-most in the NFL since entering the league in 1997...Has made 21 of his last 22 FGs in the 4th quarter and OT, a stretch dating back to game at San Francisco (12/15/02)...Threw 1st career TD on a fake FG vs. Carolina (9/17/06) on a 16-yard pass to TE Richard Owens, the 1st TD pass by a Vikings K in team history. In the OT period he kicked the game-winning FG and earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance...Became the 1st player since George Blanda in 1970 to throw a TD and kick the game-winning FG in a game...Made 4 game-winning FGs in the final minute of games in 2004, a pair of which beat the Vikings, to establish an NFL mark since the 1970 merger for single-season game winners...Set a Green Bay record by connecting on a pair of FGs of 50+ yards in a game at Atlanta (11/13/05)...Has scored in each of his 160 career regular-season games and 10 playoff contests, a streak that is alive heading into 2007...Has been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week 6 times in his career…Entered the NFL in 1997 as a rookie free agent with San Francisco, released during training camp and signed with Green Bay...Got his revenge on the 49ers when he scored 8 points in the NFC Championship game later that season to advance to Super Bowl XXXII.

NFL History

•    His 81.9% rate on FGs is tied for the 6th-best in NFL history.
•    Moved into 24th in NFL history with 267 career FGs and 25th in NFL history with 1,243 points.
•    Since entering the NFL in 1997, his 1,243 points are the 4th-most and his 267 FGs made are the 5th-most.
•    Led 2007 Vikings with 99 points.
•    Booted his longest career FG, a 55-yard game winner at Chicago (10/14), which ranks as the 2nd-longest FG in Vikings history.
•    Converted a pair of onside kicks during 2007, including the 1st in Vikings history in the 1st quarter of a game when he executed an onside that was recovered by Heath Farwell vs. Philadelphia (10/28).
•    Since coming to the Vikings he has successfully converted 3-of-7 onsides with Farwell recovering both in 2007.
•    In 2007, has connected on 20-of-24 FGs, suffering a 48-yard block and missing only a 52, 53 and 57-yarder on the season.
•    Since joining the Vikings, he has not missed a FG from under 45 yards, converting 29-of-29 from that distance.
•    His only missed FGs since coming to Minnesota (8 misses) have been from 46, 49, 54, 52, 53 and 57 with 2 blocks from 51 and 48 yards.
•    Has kicked 12 career game-winning FGs during his NFL career.
•    Passed the 1,200-point plateau for his career vs. Oakland (11/18) with 9 points- with 2-2 FGs and 3-3 XPs.
•    Kicked game-winning 55-yard FG @ Chicago (10/14), his long career FG, longest career game-winner and the 1st 50-yarder he has made as a Viking since coming to the team as a free agent in 2006. Ended game with 10 points to match his season-high.  
•    Booted his 12th career game-winning FG and his 5th on the road with 55-yarder @ Chicago (10/14).

College Information

A 4-year letter winner (1993-96) at California, acting as both the punter and placekicker during his final 3 seasons…Served solely as Cal’s punter as a freshman…Finished career as the school’s 8th-leading scorer with 177 total points…Was successful on 32-of-56 FG attempts and 81-of-85 PAT tries (including Aloha Bowl)…Had a 41.9-yard career punting average at Cal (including bowl games), good for 3rd place (tie) in Golden Bears’ annals…As a senior, earned 1st-Team All-Pacific 10 Conference honors as a punter and was voted 2nd-Team All-Pac-10 as a placekicker…Led team with 76 points as he converted 12-of-17 FGs and 40-of-41 PATs (including Aloha Bowl)…Had a long FG of 53 yards against San Diego State…Ranked 9th in the NCAA in 1996 with a 45.2-yard average on punts, the 2nd-best mark in Cal history…Booted a season-long, 72-yard punt against Navy in the Aloha Bowl…Saw the opposition return just 30-of-66 kickoffs in 1996…Twice was named Pac 10 ‘Special Teams Player of the Week’…Was a Golden Bears tri-captain during the ‘96 campaign.

Personal Biography

Married to Sarah, the couple has two children: a son, Reece and a daughter, Shaye...Spends offseason in Orlando…Sarah was formerly a producer at WGBA-TV, an NBC television affiliate in Green Bay…In April of 1998, received the ‘Professional Achievement Award’ at the 1st annual Lee Remmel Sports Award Banquet, an honor presented to him in recognition of his outstanding 1997 rookie season…Regularly played in the Brett Favre Celebrity Softball Game…Enjoys speaking to school groups and other organizations, in particular church and youth groups, about the benefits of having a positive outlook and attitude…Was the honorary chairman – and participated in – the attempt by Special Olympics Wisconsin to break the world record for the largest group hug, conducted inside Lambeau Field in May of 2001; the effort fell 28 persons shy of the existing mark…He and Sarah have served as honorary chairpersons for Cerebral Palsy, Inc., from 2001-05…Took part in ‘Read Across America 2001’ by reading Dr. Suess books to students at Green Bay’s Valley View Elementary School…Was heavily involved in the Green Bay Players Chapel Program, a foundation that supports organizations providing service to youth and those who may have spiritual, financial or other needs…Has given time to several organizations in the Green Bay area…Is involved in ‘Young Life,’ a Christian youth group …Helped coach a Bend, Ore., Little League baseball team during the 1999 offseason…Participates in many charity golf tournaments, including outings in 1999 and 2000 which benefited Bend-area high schools…Was involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters while at Cal…Has given time to Special Olympics in Bend, volunteering at ski races and speaking at other events…An avid golfer with a current USGA handicap at +0.9…Scored his 1st hole-in-one in 2004 at a course in Orlando, Fla.…Post-football career plans including a heavy dose of golf (celebrity and charity outings), played in 3 Canadian Tour events (two in Austin, Texas, and one in Stockton, Calif.) in 2005 through a Golf Channel exemption; network produced a feature story on him, having him wear a microphone during his rounds…Participated in the 2005 U.S. Bank Championship pro-am and charity shootout at Milwaukee’s Brown Deer Park golf course, the site of the annual PGA tour stop…Shot a 79 from the championship tees at Whistling Straits golf course in Haven, Wis., site of the 2004 PGA Championship, during a media day event in May 2003 to help kick off ticket sales for the event, one of pro golf’s four majors…Cousin, Michael Orr, was a member of the 1992 and 1996 U.S. Olympic cycling team…Highly-rated kicking prospect coming out of Bend (OR) High...A 3-year letterman in football where he was all-conference as a junior and senior...Served as backup QB as a senior...Was a standout 3rd-baseman where he garnered all-conference honors as a junior and senior.