Former Alabama Crimson Tide and Hoover High School kicker Will Reichard has excelled since being drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 2024. Now at the start of the second year of his NFL career, he continues to make his home state proud.
Reichard had a stellar rookie campaign, converting 24 of his 30 field goal attempts and all 38 of his extra point attempts, which are twice as long in the NFL as they are in college.
Monday night, the Vikings made their season debut in primetime on the road against the Chicago Bears, and Reichard did not disappoint.
Late in the first half of Minnesota’s 27-24 win, Reichard booted a 59-yard field goal through the uprights. The kick broke the record for the longest field goal made by an Alabama alumnus in the NFL, which was previously 58 yards, set last year by Reichard.
Not only was it the longest field goal made by a Crimson Tider, it was tied for the longest field goal made by someone from the state of Alabama, pulling Reichard even with Cincinnati Bengals kicker and former Fort Payne star Evan McPherson, who made a 59-yarder during the 2022 season.
Reichard and McPherson will be battling for the record for years to come. However, Reichard has a lock on making folks in Tuscaloosa proud, as Alabama kickers do not had a storied history in the NFL. Previously, Van Tiffin was the only Alabama alumnus to make a 50-yard field goal, accomplishing the feat in 1987.
If Reichard can continue his early success, he has a chance to become the best Crimson Tide NFL kicker in history. The way things are going for him now, it certainly would not be a surprise if that proved to be the case.
Michael Brauner is a Senior Sports Analyst and Contributing Writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @MBraunerWNSP and hear him every weekday morning from 6 to 9 a.m. on “The Opening Kickoff” on WNSP-FM 105.5, available free online.
