Jacksonville Jaguars kicker Cam Little became the centre of attraction with a marvellous 70-yard field goal during the team’s preseason-opening matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers at EverBank Stadium.
The memorable strike came as the first half expired and would have set a new NFL record had it occurred in a regular-season game.
“Can’t lie, there was probably a little bit of doubt,” Little admitted. “But I mean, we attempted a lot of long field goals in training camp. Had some 60, probably 65-pluses before [in practice]. And so, you know, I really wanted to just go out there and see what it would do.”
The kick sailed through the air and appeared to clear the crossbar with three to four yards to spare. If it had been an official game, it would have surpassed Justin Tucker’s current NFL record of 66 yards, set against the Detroit Lions on September 26, 2021. That record-breaking kick was made indoors at Ford Field.
According to historical data, there have been eight unsuccessful field goal attempts of 70 yards or more in the Super Bowl era, making Little’s achievement even more impressive.
As the ball split the uprights, Little erupted with joy, pumping his fists in celebration. Holder Logan Cooke raised his hands in the air the moment the ball left Little’s foot, then gave him a shove in excitement. Travis Hunter was the first teammate off the sideline to greet the kicker, delivering a chest bump before the rest of the squad swarmed him in celebration.
“That was pretty cool to see, huh?” Jaguars head coach Liam Coen remarked.
A sixth-round pick in 2024 out of Arkansas, Little enjoyed a stellar rookie season, converting 27 of 29 field goal attempts. He showcased his long-range capabilities by making five of six attempts from 50 yards or more, including a 59-yarder that tied Josh Scobee’s franchise record for the longest successful field goal.
The 70-yard attempt was set up when Coen called a timeout with just one second remaining in the half. He looked over toLittle to gauge his readiness for the monumental kick. The response was instant.
“Me and Logan were like, ‘We want to kick it. We want to kick it,'” Little said. “When he gave me the opportunity … we went out there, and adrenaline’s a beautiful thing.”
Little, who left the field clutching the football as a keepsake, revealed after the game that he hadn’t actually seen the ball cross the crossbar. At 6-foot-1, he sometimes struggles to see over the offensive line, but he knew it had a real chance.
“When Logan’s eyes got really big, he’s like freaking out,” Little recalled. “I caught it really good, obviously.” While the Jaguars ultimately fell short in the preseason contest, Little’s booming kick was the undoubted highlight of the evening and a moment that will be remembered by fans and teammates alike.
