Evan McPherson Bio
Evan McPherson, born on July 21, 1999, in Fort Payne, Alabama, is an American professional football placekicker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 180 centimeters tall and weighing 84 kilograms, McPherson established himself as one of the league’s most clutch kickers during his rookie season, helping lead the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI. He is widely recognized by the nicknames “Shooter” and “Money Mac” for his confident and reliable performances in high-pressure moments.
After starring as a kicker and punter at Fort Payne High School and playing college football for the Florida Gators, McPherson was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL Draft. His postseason heroics that year earned him national attention and set the foundation for a standout professional career.
Early Life and Background
Evan McPherson was born and raised in Fort Payne, Alabama, a small town in the northeastern part of the state. He attended Fort Payne High School, where he spent four seasons serving as both the team’s kicker and punter. During his high school career, McPherson demonstrated exceptional leg strength, connecting on a 60-yard field goal and producing an 84-yard punt, with each kick falling just one yard short of the Alabama high school record.
His excellence at the high school level was formally recognized when he was named first-team All-State in 2017. McPherson grew up in a family with a strong football background, and his early exposure to the sport helped shape his development as a specialist. His dedication to kicking and punting during his teenage years laid the groundwork for his future success at the collegiate and professional levels.
Path to Professional Football
Following his impressive high school career, McPherson accepted a scholarship to play college football for the Florida Gators, where he competed from 2018 to 2020. During his three seasons with the Gators, McPherson proved to be one of the most accurate kickers in program history. He converted 51 of 60 field goal attempts, an 85.0 percent success rate that set the Southeastern Conference record for career field goal percentage with a minimum of 50 attempts. He also recorded an extraordinary 149 of 150 mark on extra point attempts.
McPherson played a key role in Florida’s success during his tenure, as the Gators compiled a 29-9 overall record and a 2-1 mark in bowl games, highlighted by an Orange Bowl victory in 2019, in which he made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 49-yarder. When he decided to forgo his senior season and declare for the 2021 NFL Draft, his career field goal percentage ranked 12th in NCAA history, cementing his status as one of the top kicking prospects in the country.
Evan McPherson Career
Early Career (2021)
The Cincinnati Bengals selected Evan McPherson in the fifth round, 149th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft, making him the only kicker chosen that year. He signed his four-year rookie contract with the Bengals on May 17, 2021, and immediately impressed during the preseason by going a perfect 5-for-5 on field goal attempts, including a 57-yard kick. His strong performances led the Bengals to release their only other kicker on the roster and name McPherson the starter for the regular season. He became the first player from Fort Payne High School to appear in an NFL regular-season game.
McPherson made an immediate impact in his regular-season debut against the Minnesota Vikings on September 12, 2021, hitting a 53-yard field goal and drilling a 33-yard game-winner in overtime to secure a 27-24 victory. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the performance. On November 21, he tied an NFL record by making three field goals from over 50 yards in a single game, going 4-for-4 on kicks of 54, 53, 51, and 47 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders. He finished his rookie regular season 28-of-33 on field goals, including 9-of-11 from 50 yards and beyond, and was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.
2021 Postseason Breakthrough
McPherson’s postseason performance during the 2021 playoffs cemented his reputation as one of the most clutch kickers in the league. In the Wild Card game against the Raiders, he went 4-for-4 on field goals to help Cincinnati secure a 26-19 victory, the franchise’s first postseason win in 31 years. During the Divisional Round, he again made 4-of-4 field goals, including two from over 50 yards, and drilled a 52-yard game-winner as time expired to beat the Tennessee Titans 19-16 and send the Bengals to their first AFC Championship Game since 1988.
In the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, McPherson went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts, including a 31-yard kick in overtime that secured a 27-24 win and advanced Cincinnati to Super Bowl LVI. He added two more field goals in the Super Bowl, a 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. His perfect 14-of-14 postseason performance tied Adam Vinatieri for the all-time record for most field goals made in a single postseason and set the record for most postseason field goals without a miss. He also set an NFL record with 12 combined 50-plus-yard field goals across the regular season and playoffs.
Cincinnati Bengals Era (2022-Present)
In the 2022 season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, McPherson set a new Bengals franchise record for the longest field goal with a 59-yard kick. Despite some struggles during the regular season, including a missed extra point and a missed 29-yard field goal in an overtime loss to Pittsburgh, he maintained his perfect postseason record by making all of his field goal attempts during Cincinnati’s three playoff games, pushing his career postseason mark to 19-for-19. He finished the 2022 regular season at 82.8 percent on field goals with a perfect 5-for-5 mark from 50 yards and beyond.
During the 2023 season, McPherson converted all 40 of his extra point attempts and made 26 of 31 field goal attempts. On August 16, 2024, he signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract extension with the Bengals, securing his place with the franchise through 2027. However, his 2024 regular season proved more challenging, as he struggled with missed kicks in several games, including a costly missed field goal in an overtime loss to the Baltimore Ravens and two missed attempts against the Los Angeles Chargers. On November 23, 2025, McPherson set a new Bengals franchise record for the longest field goal with a 63-yard kick in a loss to the New England Patriots, and the following week against the Baltimore Ravens he converted all six field goal attempts, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Driving Style and Strengths
While McPherson’s role as a kicker differs from a driver’s craft, his professional strengths lie in his powerful leg, exceptional accuracy from long distance, and remarkable poise under pressure. His ability to connect consistently from 50 yards and beyond has set multiple franchise records and established him as one of the premier long-range kickers in the NFL. His mental toughness and composure during high-stakes moments have been defining characteristics of his career.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among McPherson’s most memorable achievements are his game-winning field goals during the 2021 playoff run, including walk-off kicks against the Tennessee Titans and the Kansas City Chiefs. He holds Bengals franchise records for the longest field goal, most 50-yard field goals in a single season, and most postseason field goals without a miss. His perfect 14-of-14 postseason record as a rookie remains one of the most impressive feats by a kicker in NFL history.
Evan McPherson Career Highlights
Evan McPherson has compiled a remarkable resume since entering the NFL in 2021, highlighted by his historic 2021 postseason and consistent accuracy from long range. His perfect postseason field goal record stands as a testament to his reliability in critical situations.
NFL Regular Season and Postseason Highlights
During the 2021 regular season, McPherson made 28 of 33 field goal attempts, including 9 of 11 from 50 yards and beyond, and tied an NFL record with three field goals of over 50 yards in a single game against the Las Vegas Raiders. In the postseason that year, he went a perfect 14-for-14 on field goal attempts, tying the all-time record for most field goals made in a single postseason.
Other Notable Performances
In 2023, McPherson converted all 40 of his extra point attempts, demonstrating exceptional consistency. He set the Bengals franchise record for the longest field goal twice during his career, first with a 58-yard kick in 2021, then with a 59-yarder in 2022, and finally with a 63-yard kick in 2025.
Evan McPherson Family
Family Background and Football Lineage
McPherson comes from a family with a strong tradition in football. His older brother, Logan McPherson, was an all-state kicker at Fort Payne High School and went on to play as a punter for Louisiana Tech University. His younger brother, Alex McPherson, also excelled as a kicker and punter at Fort Payne, earning All-State honors as a kicker in 2019 and as a punter in 2020. In 2021, Alex announced his commitment to attend Auburn University and was ranked as the top kicker in the 2022 recruiting class.
Personal Life
Evan McPherson is a Christian and is married to Gracie Groat. The couple has one child together. He maintains an active presence on social media and continues to be recognized as one of the most popular and visible kickers in the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a story of redemption and new milestones for Evan McPherson and the Cincinnati Bengals. After a difficult 2024 campaign, McPherson entered the 2025 season with renewed focus following his three-year, $16.5 million contract extension signed in August 2024. On November 23, 2025, he set a new Bengals franchise record for the longest field goal in team history with a 63-yard kick against the New England Patriots in Week 11.
The following week against the Baltimore Ravens, McPherson delivered one of his strongest performances of the season, converting all six field goal attempts and both extra point attempts in a 32-14 road victory. His efforts earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for the third time in his career. Despite a slow start to the year, his late-season surge has provided a major boost to the Bengals’ offensive outlook.
With the franchise-record-breaking kick and his recent dominance against Baltimore, McPherson appears to have rediscovered the form that made him a postseason hero in 2021. His continued accuracy from long range and improved consistency will be critical factors as the Bengals evaluate their playoff prospects heading into the latter portion of the 2025 campaign.