Photo Credit: Arizona Cardinals
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Nearly a year after being cut by the New England Patriots following just one season, Chad Ryland is making headlines across the NFL. The Cedar Crest graduate stunned fans and reporters Saturday evening when he connected on a 72-yard field goal during pregame warmups before the Arizona Cardinals’ matchup with the Denver Broncos.
Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland from 72 yards in pre-game warmups in Denver. pic.twitter.com/gz63waCiFd
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 17, 2025
For perspective, the current NFL record for the longest field goal in a regular-season game is 66 yards, set by Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker in 2021. The stakes around long-distance kicking rose even further last week when Jacksonville Jaguars rookie Cam Little drilled a 70-yard kick in practice. Ryland’s booming 72-yarder, even if unofficial, shows the 25-year-old Lebanon native has the leg strength to compete with the best.
While there’s no way of knowing whether Ryland’s kick would have been good under the pressure of live game conditions, his performance in 2024 already speaks volumes. Signed by the Cardinals ahead of Week 5, Ryland went on to convert 28 of 32 field goal attempts (87.5%) and 26 of 27 extra points (96.3%).
He quickly established himself as a clutch performer, delivering three game-winning field goals in his first four games with Arizona—an effort that earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October. Later in the season, he drilled a 58-yard field goal against Carolina in Week 16, the fifth-longest kick in Cardinals history, to tie the game and force overtime.
By year’s end, Ryland was recognized as a NFC Pro Bowl alternate, capping off a remarkable turnaround from being released in New England to becoming one of the NFL’s most reliable kickers.
As the 2025 season approaches, Ryland’s booming leg and steady accuracy have positioned him as one of the league’s most intriguing special teams weapons. With confidence high and momentum on his side, he’ll be a player to watch every time the Cardinals take the field.
Best of luck to Ryland as he continues to make LebCo proud!
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