Historic Kick Falls Just Short of Record Book

The biggest highlight of the NFL preseason this year just came from a kicker and it happened on Saturday night when Harrison Butker drilled a 69-yard field goal just before halftime in the Chiefs’ game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The NFL record for longest field goal is 68 yards and Butker actually topped that with his kick, but he won’t be getting his name etched into the NFL record book because preseason kicks don’t officially count. Due to that rule, Cam Little’s 68-yard field goal from last season still stands as the longest kick in NFL history.

Butker’s impressive kick was still wildly impressive and that’s mostly because the ball easily cleared the crossbar. Butker absolutely smashed the kick — the ball hit the net behind the field goal posts — and his attempt likely would have been good from 75 yards or even further.

Why Butker’s Kick Won’t Count in the Record Book

Preseason kicks don’t officially count in the NFL record book. This rule is in place to prevent teams from trying out new strategies or players in a game that doesn’t count towards the regular season. The NFL wants to keep the preseason as a testing ground for new players and strategies, rather than a competition for records.

This rule may seem unfair to Butker and other kickers who have made impressive kicks during the preseason. However, it’s a necessary rule to maintain the integrity of the NFL record book.

Butker’s Impressive Performance

Butker’s 69-yard field goal was one of three that he hit against Tampa Bay to go along with a 58-yarder and 45-yarder. He also missed a 43-yard kick in the fourth quarter of Kansas City’s 16-15 loss.

Butker’s impressive performance was not just limited to his field goals. He also made several crucial tackles on special teams, showing his versatility as a player.

A Brief History of Long Field Goals

The first American football game was played in 1869 and in the 157 years since then, only three kickers have hit a field goal of at least 69 yards in a game:

• Cam Little hit a 70-yarder for the Jaguars during the 2025 preseason.
• Harrison Butker hit a 69-yarder on Saturday night.
• Abilene Christian kicker Ove Johansson hit a 69-yarder in 1976.

College kickers were allowed to use a 1- to 2-inch kicking block until 1989 when they were banned. Before the ban, kickers were essentially kicking off a tee as long as the holder was able to get the ball in the right spot. The five longest field goals in college history, including Johansson’s, all came when the kicking block was legal.

Why the NFL’s New K-Ball Rule is Contributing to Longer Field Goals

Last season, the NFL implemented a new rule that allows each team to break in 60 kicking footballs (K-Balls) at the beginning of the season. This allows each team to soften up the ball before using it, which generally makes it fly better and allows the kicker to make better contact, leading to better kicks.

This new rule has contributed to longer field goals, as almost every kicker last season agreed that it added five to 10 yards to their kicks. With the new rule in place, it won’t be surprising if the record for longest field goal goes down for the second straight season.

Conclusion

Butker’s historic 69-yard field goal may not count in the NFL record book, but it’s still an impressive achievement that showcases his skills as a kicker. The new K-Ball rule is contributing to longer field goals, and it will be interesting to see if the record for longest field goal is broken again this season.

Harrison Butker’s impressive performance and the new K-Ball rule are just two of the many exciting storylines in the NFL preseason. As the season progresses, we can expect to see more impressive kicks and records broken.