Justin Reid joins rare group of non-kickers to make NFL PATs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BVM) – When Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker was carted off the field following an injury to his planting leg, the team turned to an unlikely source for its kicking duties. Justin Reid, a five-year veteran safety, took over Butker’s duties after showing off his leg in some Chiefs’ preseason games and practices.
.@Chiefs safety Justin Reid nailed a 65-yard FG in practice.
Honestly, looks like it could've been good from 70 yards. 👀 (via @_Suavage_, h/t @JustinqReid) pic.twitter.com/5q0TTQNeWw
— NFL (@NFL) August 8, 2022
In his regular season kicking debut, Reid didn’t disappoint. During the game, Reid went 1-for-2 on PAT attempts and also recorded two kickoffs for touchbacks as well. Though not his primary position, Reid was able to show off his flexibility to help his team win.
Chiefs safety Justin Reid just DRILLED this extra point.
📺: #KCvsAZ on CBS
📱: Stream on NFL+ https://t.co/SO6ObDqAc2 pic.twitter.com/Mxx5uNboWr— NFL (@NFL) September 11, 2022
This wasn’t the first time Reid has handled primary kicking duties in a game either, though this contest definitely had more at stake. As a member of the Houston Texans in 2021, Reid filled in as the team’s emergency kicker following an injury to teammate Ka’imi Fairbairn in a preseason game. Reid recorded three kickoffs with the furthest going 65 yards.
FINALLY GOT TO DO IT‼️ No lie, this is the most fun I’ve ever had in a preseason game. Will remember this forever. Dreams do come true. I’m ready for FGs next time 🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/1EXpzFkRrS
— Justin Reid (@JustinqReid) August 29, 2021
Though Reid is the most recent example of a non-kicker handling kicking in the NFL, he’s far from the only player to do so. While some players have shown off some success, other efforts have been less fruitful.
Jeff Heath, Safety (Dallas Cowboys, 2017)
Perhaps the most successful non-kicker of the group, Heath went 2-for-3 on extra points during a 2017 game against the San Francisco 49ers. With the Cowboys’ regular kicker Dan Bailey injuring himself in the first half, it was up to Heath to help alleviate the stress of the loss. Fortunately for Dallas, Heath was successful and with his made PATs, he hit some of the longest non-kicker kicks in NFL history as the new rule moving the attempts back to 33 yards put him in rare company.
Welcome TO THE BRAND Jeff Heath #ForTheBrand pic.twitter.com/KwkodVEUuL
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) October 22, 2017
Wes Welker, Wide Receiver (New England Patriots 2010, Miami Dolphins 2004)
New England Patriots great Wes Welker was so good at kicking that he not only did it successfully but did so twice for two different franchises. The first came in 2004 when Welker, who was then with the Miami Dolphins, hit a 29-yard field goal for the team against the Patriots. His next attempt wouldn’t come until six years later when the wideout hit a PAT for New England against the Browns. While his kicks may not have been the farthest ever, his 2004 kick was the last made kick by a non-kicker during a regular season game prior to Heath’s appearance.
When non-kickers became kickers… 👟🏈 pic.twitter.com/Ots0VzIHtm
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) May 12, 2020
Mark Simoneau, Linebacker (Philadelphia Eagles, 2005)
While Simoneau may not have had the prettiest or most successful kicks, only going 1-for-2 on two PAT attempts, his made field goal was a historic one. In a game against Washington, Simoneau hit the 20-yard PAT becoming the first defensive player to score kicking points in a regular season game since 1980.
George Yarno, Guard (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1983)
While Yarno’s 10-year NFL career didn’t land him in the history books, he did join rare company during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1983 finale against the Detroit Lions. When the Bucs scored near the end of the game to put the score within reach 23-19, it was Yarno who hit the PAT to bring the score to 23-20 with his straight-on kick. Though Tampa Bay wouldn’t recover the ensuing onside kick, Yarno added an interesting piece to his own NFL legacy, finishing his career with a perfect field goal percentage.
Ted Thompson, Linebacker (Houston Oilers, 1980)
Thompson was the player that had previously held the mantle before Simoneau took it over in 2005. In 1980, Thompson hit all four of his PAT attempts for the Oilers, proving that a linebacker can kick field goals. He was also the last non-kicker to hit multiple PATs in a single game prior to Heath doing the same in 2017.
John Anderson, Linebacker (Green Bay Packers, 1979)
As far as non-kickers making regular season kicks go, Anderson is arguably the best. The linebacker came into the NFL with some kicking experience having been named second-team All-Big Ten as both a linebacker and punter for the University of Michigan. Anderson was called to kick in his second season in the NFL when Packers kicker Chester Marcol injured his leg and wasn’t available to play. Anderson simply hit the longest field goal by a non-kicker in NFL history when he drilled a 39-yard attempt and he also went 1-for-2 on PATs for good measure.
