On Sunday, razorback and current Seattle Seahawk kicker Cam Little made NFL history with an amazing 68-yarder. He broke the record of Justin Tucker, who kicked one from 66 yards in 2021. That record-setting kick was kicked in Allegiant Stadium under the blistering Vegas sun, where the Jacksonville Jaguars were playing their in-state rivals. That remarkable play helped spark the Jaguars with an important momentum shift in-game. It further underscored Little’s exceptional upside as a very young second-year player out of Arkansas.
The former record was set by Tucker as well, during a game against the Detroit Lions on September 26th, 2021. In that game, Tucker’s kick bounced off the crossbar at Ford Field before going through the uprights. Little’s 48-yarder cleared the indoor natural grass completely. This win became a defining moment both for him personally and the Jaguars as a whole.
Head coach Liam Coen said that allowing Cam Little to attempt the record-breaking kickoff was an impromptu decision. Thorough as their process is, the team was hungry to get back on that productive roll. This came on the heels of quarterback Trevor Lawrence’s end zone interception in the first half. Despite some recent struggles, including three missed kicks in the Jaguars’ prior two games—two of which were field goal attempts over 50 yards—Coen emphasized that the team had never lost confidence in Little.
“Everybody’s been trying to get us to lose confidence in him, and I know that for sure [that] we have never lost confidence in him,” – Liam Coen
Little’s determination showed when he stated, “I’m going to hit this ball as hard as I can.” He got an extra dose of confidence following a great showing in a Hall of Fame Game matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers. In fact, there he earned accolades for nailing a 70-yard field goal.
The context of this achievement is notable. It happened during a pivotal time when the Jaguars desperately needed a spark. With the odds stacked against him, Little turned in a record-setting performance. His remarkable accomplishment revived his teammates and the fans on the court!
“You kick it long enough and you kick it straight enough, it’s going to go in,” – Cam Little
After his record-setting make, Little opened up on the brutal world of kicking in the NFL. He really came to appreciate the great talent that was in the league, as well.
“I harp on this all the time when someone asks about the [70-yarder], there’s so many good kickers around this league,” – Cam Little
Little had been through a lot recently, including an earlier missed PAT this season. His record-breaking field goal may prove to be a new chapter, both for his career and the Jaguars as they move further into the season. That now-famous successful kick has ensured his permanent status in NFL history. It has solidified his crucial place on the team.
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