Veteran Kicker Seals Record-Breaking Deal with Commanders in Surprise Move
Ready to kick it up a notch? Matt Gay joins Washington Commanders
Just a month after parting ways with the Indianapolis Colts, kicker Matt Gay has found his new stomping ground, signing with the Washington Commanders. Inking a one-year, fully guaranteed $4.25 million deal, Gay surpasses the previous record for highest fully guaranteed salary for a kicker in the NFL history. The contract also includes additional incentives that could bump his earnings up to $5 million.
During his tenure with the Colts, Gay inked a four-year, $22.5 million contract, making it the biggest deal ever given to a kicker in NFL history. However, after two inconsistent seasons, Indianapolis decided to let him go. The team will now lean on Spencer Shrader moving forward.
The Commanders, on the other hand, stumbled through 2024 with four different kickers before relying primarily on Austin Seibert. Despite his solid showings, with 90% of his field goals made and 22 successful extra point attempts in nine games, Seibert ended the year 13th in the league with 27 made field goals. With the addition of Gay, Seibert remains on the open market, a place he's all too familiar with throughout his career.
Navigating Kicker Woes
Gay's signing represents the tenth kicker to grace the Commanders' roster in the last five years—a position notorious for its lack of consistency. Since parting ways with Dustin Hopkins in 2021, Washington has cycled through several kickers like Nick Rose, Chris Blewitt, Brian Johnson, Cade York, Joey Slye, Greg Joseph, and Zane Gonzalez, in addition to Seibert.
While some like Slye managed to stick around for a few seasons, his efficiency dipped year after year. Ultimately, the team severed ties following the 2023 season, passing the baton to Gonzalez and, eventually, Seibert. The latter's 2024 tenure marked the best season from a Commanders kicker in a decade. The team nevertheless hopes that Gay finally puts an end to the ever-rotating drill.
Unheralded Free Agent Finds Success
As the Commanders continue building their roster for the 2025 season, keep an eye out for the upcoming performances of their undrafted free agents. Meanwhile, Gay's signing represents the perfect move to bolster Washington's special teams unit.
Background Insight:
- Since 2021, the Washington Commanders (formerly known as the Washington Redskins and Washington Football Team) have had a history of fluctuating kicker performances.
- This instability may be due to common factors affecting kicker consistency across the NFL, such as varying weather conditions, evolving team dynamics, and personal inconsistency.
- Over the past five years, the Commanders have brought on ten different kickers, indicating a market for kicker signings and roster adjustments in the NFL.
- While some kickers stay for multiple seasons, efficiency tends to decline over time, leading to teams reassessing or releasing them.
- The Washington Commanders, in their pursuit of stabilizing their special teams unit, have agreed to a one-year, fully guaranteed $4.25 million deal with American-football kicker Matt Gay, surpassing the previous record for highest fully guaranteed salary for a kicker in the NFL history.
- In 2025, the Commanders will be counting on Matt Gay to put an end to a five-year cycle of cycling through ten different kickers, a position notorious for its lack of consistency.
- By signing Matt Gay for the 2025 season, the Washington Commanders have made a strategic move to bolster their roster, aiming to achieve lasting success in the NFL and the sports of football.
- Despite the Commanders' long-standing challenge with kicker woes, dating back to parting ways with Dustin Hopkins in 2021, Matt Gay's addition to the team in 2025 offers a fresh start and an opportunity to rise above the instability that has plagued the position.
- With the addition of Matt Gay, the Commanders will have a seasoned kicker in 2025, as Gay joins the team after two inconsistent seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and a record-breaking contract, setting the stage for a potential draft pick to emerge and contribute to the team's success in future seasons.
