Steelers fall to a preseason defeat as Jaguars' kicker Cam Little strikes a remarkable 70-yard field goal
Rookie Kicker Cam Little Falls Short of NFL Record in Preseason Game
Cam Little, the Arkansas alumnus drafted in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft, showcased his impressive kicking skills during the Jaguars' preseason opener against the Steelers. Despite not officially breaking the NFL record for the longest field goal, Little's performance was historic and earned recognition.
Last season, Little made all 27 extra-point attempts and was successful in 5 out of 6 attempts from 50 yards and longer. He continued his stellar form in the preseason game, making all his extra point attempts and finishing all four field goal attempts with distances of 41, 40, 70, and 52 yards.
Little's 70-yard field goal, made at the end of the first half at outdoor EverBank Stadium, would have shattered the record by 4 yards, but since it occurred in preseason play, it is considered unofficial and will not appear in the official record books. The current official NFL record for the longest field goal is 66 yards, set by Justin Tucker of the Baltimore Ravens on September 21, 2021.
First-year head coach Liam Coen expressed disappointment that the kick did not go into the record books, but commented that Little wanted to make the kick and they gave him the opportunity. Coen also mentioned that the Jaguars' deficit was reduced to 14-9 after Little's kick.
Despite missing out on the record, Little's 70-yard field goal has been sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, highlighting its significance even if unofficial. As a rookie last season, Little was successful in 27 out of 29 field goal attempts, a 93.1% success rate.
The Jaguars unfortunately lost the preseason opener with a score of 31-25. The Steelers won the game, but it was Little's historic kick that stole the show. It remains to be seen if Little can break the NFL record in the future, but for now, his 70-yard field goal will go down as one of the most memorable moments in preseason history.
[1] NFL Record Book [2] Pro Football Hall of Fame [3] ESPN [4] CBS Sports
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