Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker reasserted his status as the best in the game — and arguably all time — on Sunday, when he drained an NFL-record 66-yard field goal with the clock expiring to down the Detroit Lions, 19-17, in Ford Field. The five-time All Pro now owns the distance record along with being the most accurate kicker of all time at 90.6% — despite playing outdoors and in the AFC North’s rough conditions.
Madden NFL rewarded Tucker’s efforts by boosting his player rating to 99 for a limited time in the Madden 22 video game.
“Justin Tucker, you don’t know how excited I am for you,” said Cincinnati Bengals legend Chad Johnson, a wide receiver who attempted an extra point in a 2009 preseason game against the New England Patriots. “You reached a milestone that us NFL kickers only can dream of: 66-yard NFL record in a game. People do not understand the pressure that is put on us just to make a kick, let alone to win a game. It’s different. You, sir, are built different. You have ice in your legs. I don’t know if that makes sense, but we’re going to make it a thing now.”
Tucker’s overall rating improved from 87 to 99 while his kick accuracy jumped from 97 to 99 and awareness from 72 to 98. He had 99 kicking power prior to the ratings boost, and his monstrous 66-yarder only justified that. The five-time Pro Bowler and member of the 2010s All-Decade team is by far the best kicker in Madden as the next best in the Miami Dolphins‘ Jason Sanders and Kansas City Chiefs‘ Harrison Butker are rated 85 and 84, respectively.
Madden wasn’t the only party to recognize Tucker’s historic accomplishment. The Pro Football Hall of Fame — which Tucker is a virtual lock to enter after he’s done playing — collected his game-worn jersey, socks and pants to put on display in its Canton, Ohio facility.
Tucker is now one of five players rated 99 in Madden. His counterparts are Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, Los Angeles Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and tight end Travis Kelce.
