Halloween is a time for spooky stories, things that go bump in the night, and of course, candy! But for NFL and college kickers and their fans, there are some ghosts that linger long after the costumes are put away. We’re talking about those monumental misses, the kicks that snatched victory from the jaws of defeat and left entire fanbases collectively groaning.
At The Kicking System, we usually focus on the positive, on perfecting the craft, and achieving consistent success. But even the best sometimes falter, and in the spirit of the season, let’s brave the haunted field and revisit some of the most chilling kicking failures in football history. These are the kicks that still make us shiver.
The Original Sin: The Perfect Season Shattered (1998 NFC Championship)
To find the most chilling tale, we must go back to January 1999. Minnesota Vikings kicker Gary Anderson was a ghost-proof machine. He had just completed the first perfect regular season in NFL history, going 35-for-35 on field goals and 59-for-59 on extra points.1 He was automatic.
Late in the fourth quarter of the NFC Championship game against the Atlanta Falcons, the Vikings led 27-20. Anderson trotted out for a routine 38-yard field goal to put the game away and send his team to the Super Bowl. And then, the unthinkable. He missed. It was his first miss of any kind in two years. The stadium was stunned into silence. The Falcons, given new life, drove down to tie the game and eventually won in overtime, completing one of the most haunting collapses in league history.
The Curse of the Ranked: USF’s Hope Vanishes (Yesterday, 2025)
You don’t need to dig up an old grave for this story—it just happened. Yesterday, No. 18 South Florida (USF) was in a dogfight with Memphis. The Bulls, nursing dreams of a special season, had watched a 14-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate.
Down 34-31 with just over a minute to play, USF mounted a valiant final drive. They clawed their way into field goal range, setting up a chance to send the game to overtime. But in a cruel twist of fate, a holding penalty pushed them back. Kicker Nico Gramatica had to line up for a 52-yarder as time expired. The kick sailed wide left. Memphis stormed the field, and USF’s undefeated conference season vanished into the night air.
The “Midnight Miracle” Miss (2022 CFP Semifinal)
The hauntings aren’t just limited to the pros. College football has its own share of ghouls. Ohio State was in a heavyweight battle with the eventual national champion, Georgia. Trailing 42-41, QB C.J. Stroud heroically drove the Buckeyes into field goal range.
With seconds left, kicker Noah Ruggles lined up for a 50-yarder to send his team to the National Championship. The ball was snapped just before the clock struck twelve on New Year’s Eve. The kick went up in 2022… and landed wide left in 2023. As the ball dropped in Times Square, so did Ohio State’s championship hopes.
The Double Doink Heard ‘Round the World (2018 NFC Wild Card)
Perhaps the most infamous miss of the modern era, Cody Parkey’s “double doink” against the Philadelphia Eagles is a kick that will forever be etched in NFL lore. With seconds left on the clock, the Bears kicker lined up for a 43-yard field goal that would have sent Chicago to the Divisional Round. Instead, the ball clanked off the upright, then the crossbar, before falling harmlessly to the ground. The Eagles celebrated, the Bears’ season was over, and a new phrase entered the football lexicon.
The Lambeau Leap of Despair (2021 NFC Divisional Round)
Robbie Gould was known for his clutch performances, but even the best aren’t immune. With the game tied and mere seconds left against the Green Bay Packers at frigid Lambeau Field, Gould lined up for a 45-yard field goal to send the 49ers to the NFC Championship. The snap was good, the hold was good… until the kick sailed wide left. It was a shocking miss from one of the most reliable kickers in the game, and the image of his disbelief is a haunting reminder.
The Missed Extra Point that Decided a Playoff Game (2022 AFC Wild Card)
Even seemingly routine kicks can carry immense weight, as demonstrated in the 2022 AFC Wild Card game between the Buffalo Bills and the Miami Dolphins. With the game tight in the fourth quarter, the Dolphins scored a touchdown to pull within one point. All they needed was a successful extra point to tie the game. However, kicker Jason Sanders’ attempt went wide right, a shocking miss that proved to be the difference.
These are just a few of the kicks that still haunt us. They serve as a grim reminder that even the most practiced athletes can succumb to the pressure, and that in the world of football, a single kick can be the difference between triumph and despair.
At The Kicking System, we understand the immense pressure these athletes face. That’s why we emphasize not only flawless technique but also mental fortitude and preparation for every conceivable scenario. We strive to equip our kickers with the tools to banish these kicking ghosts and consistently deliver when it matters most.
Have a safe and spooky Halloween, and may your favorite team’s kicker never become the star of a future “haunted kicks” blog post!
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