Sebastian Janikowski

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Janikowski's journey began in Poland before his father emigrated to the US, eventually reuniting with him in Orlando. As a senior at Seabreeze High School, he earned national attention after USA Today named him to its 1996 All-American team; he once kicked an 82-yard field goal in practice and four field goals over 50 yards in games. At Florida State University under coach Bobby Bowden, Janikowski won the Lou Groza Award in consecutive years, becoming the only player to do so. His collegiate path faced turbulence with off-field incidents, including charges for battery and attempting to bribe an officer, though he was acquitted of the bribery charge just days before being drafted. Despite these concerns, his leg strength was undeniable. Drafted by Oakland, he initially struggled with accuracy in 2000 but improved dramatically in 2001. He became a franchise icon, extending his contract multiple times to become the highest-paid kicker in NFL history at various points.

In Their Own Story

On November 4, 2007, at McAfee Coliseum on a windless afternoon, Janikowski attempted a historic 64-yard field goal against the Houston Texans. A successful kick would have shattered the existing 63-yard record, but the ball struck the right upright and bounced out. He continued to break his own team records, including a 57-yard overtime winner against the New York Jets on October 19, 2008, which was the longest in NFL history at that time. Later, on December 27, 2009, he kicked a 61-yarder against the Cleveland Browns, becoming only the second player ever to make two field goals of 59 yards or more. His career reached another peak on January 3, 2010, when he scored his 1,000th career point with a 39-yard field goal against the Baltimore Ravens. In Week 7 of the 2010 season, during a dominant 59–14 victory over the Denver Broncos, he converted all eight extra-point attempts for a single-game high.

Reader's Guide

Sebastian Janikowski's professional tenure began in 2000 when he was drafted by the Oakland Raiders. He played 19 seasons in total, with his final year spent with the Seattle Seahawks. During his time with the Raiders, he achieved several milestones: converting all 46 extra-point attempts as a rookie, leading the NFL in field goal conversions (33) during the 2010 season, and setting franchise records for scoring and games played. His accuracy fluctuated early on, hitting 68.8% of attempts in his debut year before rising to 82.1% the following season. He tied the then-NFL record by making four field goals in a single quarter on October 16, 2003. Although he attempted a 76-yarder against the San Diego Chargers in 2008 (the longest known attempt in history), his official record stands at 63 yards. He retired after the 2019 season.

Did You Know?

• Janikowski is one of only five NFL kickers ever selected in the first round of the draft.
• He once kicked an 82-yard field goal during a high school practice at Seabreeze High School.
• Janikowski was acquitted of bribery charges just eight days before being arrested on suspicion of felony GHB possession; he was later acquitted of those charges as well.
• He is the only player in history to win the Lou Groza Award two years consecutively.
• During his final season with the Seattle Seahawks, Janikowski became the Raiders' all-time leading scorer.