Here at The Kicking System, we know that the outcome of a game often rests on the disciplined mechanics and mental fortitude of one player: the specialist. While the outside world is often late to the party, the first few weeks of the 2025 NFL season have made it impossible to ignore the impact of our craft. From record-shattering field goals to the strategic revolution of the new kickoff, kickers are no longer just a part of the game—they are actively redefining it.
The Kickoff Revolution: From Brute Force to a Specialist’s Art Form
For years, the kickoff had become a largely ceremonial play, with the primary coaching point being to blast it through the end zone. The 2025 “Dynamic Kickoff” rules have shattered that paradigm. Now, with a touchback penalizing the kicking team with a start at the 35-yard line, the focus has shifted entirely from power to placement, hangtime, and tactical precision.
This is where true specialists can separate themselves. One of the most compelling examples of this new-school approach is Dallas Cowboys kicker Brandon Aubrey. Leveraging his elite soccer background, Aubrey isn’t just kicking the ball; he’s manipulating it. His ability to produce unpredictable “knuckleball” or “squirrelly” kicks with varying spins makes the returner’s job a nightmare. The Cowboys’ aggressive adoption of the new rules has given Aubrey a canvas to experiment, turning what was once a routine play into a legitimate strategic weapon.
Records and Resilience: The Moments Defining the Season
While the kickoff rules demand a new type of artistry, the core job of putting points on the board remains a pressure cooker. And early this season, we’ve seen some masterful performances.
Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin delivered an all-time moment with his monumental 65-yard field goal. A kick of that magnitude is a testament to perfect technique, optimal energy transfer, and unwavering confidence—a textbook example of what we strive for in training. Here is a good look at his technique, courtesy of Filip Filipovich, (www.thekickingcoach.com).
Speaking of records, Los Angeles Chargers kicker Cameron Dicker has quietly established himself as a new benchmark for consistency. “Dicker the Kicker” has been automatic, and his metronomic success has officially made him the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history (min. 100 attempts), boasting a career percentage over 94%. His flawless start to the 2025 season continues to solidify his place at the very top of the league.
In Seattle, we saw the importance of a dialed-in pre-kick routine, as veteran Jason Myers calmly used smelling salts to sharpen his focus before nailing a game-winner. On the other end of the experience spectrum, Browns rookie Andre Szmyt gave us a lesson in mental resilience. After some early-career misses that would rattle any specialist, he reset his focus and came through in the clutch with a game-winning kick, proving that a short memory is one of the most vital tools in a kicker’s bag.
Of course, a successful kick is a full 11-man operation. That lesson was on full display when Chicago’s Josh Blackwell burst through the line for a game-sealing block, reminding us all that protection and get-off time are just as critical as the kick itself.
Specialist Watchlist
Beyond the headlines, we’re keeping a close eye on the consistent excellence from veterans like Kansas City’s Harrison Butker and Chicago’s Cairo Santos, as well as the strong start from the Vikings’ Will Reichard. On the injury front, the absences of Miami’s Jason Sanders and Buffalo’s Tyler Bass show just how quickly a team’s fortunes can change without their trusted specialist.
The 2025 season is shaping up to be a landmark year for the kicking game. The new rules demand more skill, more strategy, and more versatility than ever before. From long-range bombs to tactically perfect kickoffs, the modern specialist is proving to be one of the most dynamic and influential athletes on the field.
Stay tuned to The Kicking System for more analysis as we continue to break down the techniques and trends shaping the game.
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