Chris Boswell Bio
Christopher Lynn Boswell is an American professional football placekicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). Born on March 16, 1991, in Fort Worth, Texas, Boswell has built a reputation as one of the league’s most accurate long-distance kickers. He currently stands as the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history on attempts of 50 yards or more.
After playing college football at Rice, Boswell entered the NFL in 2014 as an undrafted free agent with the Houston Texans. He briefly spent time with the New York Giants before signing with the Steelers in 2015, where he has spent the majority of his professional career. His consistency from long range and his accuracy in high-pressure moments have made him a cornerstone of Pittsburgh’s special teams unit.
Early Life and Background
Christopher Lynn Boswell was born on March 16, 1991, in Fort Worth, Texas. He grew up in the Fort Worth area and attended Fossil Ridge High School, where he played high school football and developed the kicking skills that would eventually take him to the professional level.
During his high school years, Boswell attracted attention from several Power 5 college programs before making his college decision. His father had grown up in Brazil, where he played street soccer, giving the family a deep connection to footwork-based sports. This early athletic environment helped shape Boswell’s approach to kicking.
Following his standout high school career, Boswell committed to play college football at Rice University. His decision to attend Rice provided him with the opportunity to refine his kicking technique at the collegiate level and set the stage for his future professional career.
Path to American Football
Boswell’s path to professional football began at Rice University, where he played college football for the Rice Owls. He became one of the most productive scorers in program history, finishing his college career with 358 career points. That total placed him second on the all-time Rice scoring list, trailing only former NFL wide receiver Jarett Dillard.
During the 2012 season, Boswell led Conference USA in field goals attempted and tied for first in field goals made. His strong play earned him Second-team All-C-USA honors in both 2012 and 2013, establishing him as one of the top kickers in the conference. In April 2014, Boswell declared for the NFL Draft, looking to take his game to the next level.
Despite his impressive college résumé, Boswell went undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft. However, his leg strength and accuracy were enough to earn him an opportunity as an undrafted free agent, beginning his journey in the professional ranks.
Chris Boswell Career
Early Career (2014-2015)
Boswell signed with the Houston Texans on May 10, 2014, to compete with Randy Bullock for the placekicker role. After appearing in all four preseason games, where he missed multiple extra point attempts, he was released on August 29, 2014. The Texans re-signed him to their practice squad on September 23, 2014, where he remained for the rest of the season.
On January 7, 2015, Boswell signed a reserve/future contract with the New York Giants. He was waived on August 16, 2015, then re-signed on September 2, 2015, before being released again three days later after failing to make the final 53-man roster. Shortly afterward, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Boswell on October 3, 2015, making him their fourth placekicker of that season.
Pittsburgh Steelers Debut (2015)
Boswell made his NFL debut on October 12, 2015, against the San Diego Chargers, completing all three extra points and making a 47-yard field goal in a victory. The kick set a record for the longest debut conversion in Steelers history, surpassing Todd Peterson’s mark of 46 yards. He became the first Rice player to convert an extra point and field goal in a game since James Hamrick in Week 6 of the 1987 season.
Just one week later, Boswell went 4-for-4 on field goals against the Arizona Cardinals, including kicks of 48, 49, and 51 yards, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He became the first Steeler in team history to make three 47-plus-yard field goals in a single game. By the end of the 2015 regular season, Boswell had set Steelers rookie records for points with 113 and field goal percentage at 90.6 percent, converting 29 of 32 field goals and 26 of 27 extra points.
In the AFC Wild Card Round on January 9, 2016, Boswell kicked four field goals in an 18-16 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, including a 35-yard game-winner with less than 20 seconds remaining. He set an NFL record for the most field goals by a rookie or first-year player in a playoff game and tied Gary Anderson’s franchise mark for the most field goals in a Steelers playoff game.
Breakthrough Seasons (2016-2017)
Boswell’s 2016 campaign featured a career-high six field goals against the Cincinnati Bengals on December 18, making him the first kicker in NFL history to convert at least six field goals in a game with five coming from 40-plus yards. In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, he set a Steelers playoff record with six field goals, scoring all 18 of the team’s points in an 18-16 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
The 2017 season elevated Boswell into the league’s elite. During a Week 11 game, he made a game-winning 53-yard field goal to beat the Green Bay Packers 31-28 as time expired, tying Dan Bailey’s record for the longest field goal in the 17-year history of Heinz Field. His clutch kicking throughout the season earned him a spot on the AFC’s Pro Bowl starting roster as one of the Steelers’ famed “Killer B’s,” finishing with 35 of 38 field goals and 37 of 39 extra points converted.
Current Team Era (2018-Present)
Following his Pro Bowl season, Boswell signed a five-year contract extension with the Steelers on August 23, 2018, keeping him under contract through the 2022 season, and was named a team captain. After a challenging 2018 season in which he suffered a grade-2 groin tear and finished with a 65 percent field goal rate, Boswell rebounded in 2019 by going 29 for 31 on field goals and a perfect 28 for 28 on extra points.
On August 1, 2022, Boswell signed a four-year, $20 million contract extension with the Steelers. He has continued to deliver strong performances, finishing the 2023 season converting 29 of 31 field goal attempts and all but one of 27 extra points. In the 2024 season, he converted all 35 extra point attempts and 41 of 44 field goals, earning his second Pro Bowl selection, first-team All-Pro honors, and the title of NFL scoring leader for the season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Boswell’s defining strength is his accuracy and power on long field goal attempts. He holds the record as the most accurate kicker in NFL history on field goal attempts of 50 yards or more, and he has repeatedly demonstrated his ability to deliver in high-pressure game-winning situations.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Boswell’s most memorable moments are his six-field-goal performances against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2016 and the Baltimore Ravens in 2024, his record-setting 60-yard game-winning field goal against the New York Jets, and his status as the Steelers’ all-time franchise record holder for longest field goal. He is also the first kicker in NFL history to record six-plus made field goals in three different career games.
Chris Boswell Career Wins
Throughout his NFL career, Chris Boswell has compiled an impressive list of game-winning and record-setting field goals. He has been named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week multiple times and earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors for both September and October of 2024.
Pittsburgh Steelers Highlights
Since joining the Steelers in 2015, Boswell has become the franchise’s all-time leader in career field goals and longest field goal made, with a record 60-yarder against the New York Jets. He set the single-season franchise record for most field goals in 2024, surpassing his own previous record set in 2021. His two Pro Bowl selections came after the 2017 and 2024 seasons, and his first-team All-Pro honor in 2024 marked his first such recognition.
Other Wins and Performances
At the college level, Boswell earned Second-team All-C-USA honors in both 2012 and 2013 while leading Conference USA in field goals attempted during the 2012 season. He finished his Rice career ranked second on the program’s all-time scoring list with 358 points, trailing only Jarett Dillard.
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Chris Boswell Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Chris Boswell’s father grew up in Brazil, where he played street soccer, instilling in the family a strong appreciation for footwork-based sports. This international background and athletic upbringing helped lay the foundation for Boswell’s career as a kicker.
Personal Life
Christopher Lynn Boswell was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. He attended Fossil Ridge High School before going on to play college football at Rice University. Details about his marital status and family life are not publicly documented.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season began on a high note for Chris Boswell and the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the season-opening 34-32 victory over the New York Jets, Boswell kicked a 60-yard game-winning field goal that broke his own Steelers franchise record for the longest field goal in team history, a mark he had previously set in 2020. His clutch performance earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Coming off a 2024 campaign in which he was named first-team All-Pro, a Pro Bowl selection, and the NFL’s scoring leader, Boswell entered 2025 with significant momentum. He remains one of the most accurate long-distance kickers in league history and a reliable scoring option for the Steelers’ offense. His four-year, $20 million contract extension runs through 2026, securing his role with the team for the foreseeable future.
With his record-setting accuracy and proven ability to perform in pressure moments, Boswell is expected to remain a central figure in Pittsburgh’s special teams unit. His continued success from beyond 50 yards and his track record of game-winning kicks make him one of the most dependable kickers in the NFL heading into the heart of the 2025 season.