Matt Gay Bio
Matt Gay (born March 15, 1994) is an American professional football placekicker. He played college football for the Utah Utes and was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round of the 2019 NFL draft. Over the course of his National Football League career, Gay has also played for the Los Angeles Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, and San Francisco 49ers.
Standing 6 feet 0 inches tall and listed around 232 pounds, Gay is recognized for his strong leg, accuracy from long range, and poise in high-pressure moments. He is a Super Bowl champion, a former Pro Bowl selection, and one of the most accomplished kickers in recent Utah football history.
Early Life and Background
Matt Gay was born on March 15, 1994, in Orem, Utah. He grew up in the same community where he would later star as a high school athlete, developing his competitive foundation in a region known for producing versatile sports talent.
At Orem High School, Gay played both soccer and football, earning first-team honors in each sport. He was the first player from Utah to attend the U-17 USA Men’s National Team residency program, an experience that sharpened his technical kicking skills and his comfort performing under national scrutiny.
After graduating in 2012, Gay played two seasons of college soccer for the Utah Valley Wolverines before deciding to focus on football. He later transferred to the University of Utah to pursue placekicking full-time, beginning the path that would define his professional career.
Path to American Football
Gay’s athletic background gave him an unusual foundation for a kicker. Years of competitive soccer built the leg strength, balance, and repeatable kicking motion that translate directly to placekicking at the highest levels. His national team residency experience also exposed him to elite-level coaching and routine.
The transition from soccer to football required Gay to adapt his technique to the demands of field-goal range, kickoff distance, and the rhythm of in-game situations. His walk-on opportunity at the University of Utah provided the platform he needed, and his rapid development quickly turned a roster spot into a featured role.
Matt Gay Career
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2019-2020)
Gay was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fifth round (145th overall) of the 2019 NFL draft. He made his professional debut in the Buccaneers’ regular season opener against the San Francisco 49ers, converting two extra points and one field goal.
His rookie season showed flashes, but consistency proved elusive. Two weeks later against the New York Giants, Gay missed two field goals, an extra point, and had an extra point blocked. On September 5, 2020, Gay was waived by the Buccaneers, opening a new chapter in his career.
Indianapolis Colts First Stint (2020)
On September 15, 2020, Gay was signed to the Indianapolis Colts practice squad. He was released on November 6 but re-signed to the practice squad the next day, working to stay ready for an opportunity at the next level.
Los Angeles Rams (2020-2022)
On November 17, 2020, Gay was signed off the Colts’ practice squad by the Los Angeles Rams to replace injured kicker Kai Forbath. During Week 11 against his former team, the Buccaneers, on Monday Night Football, Gay was a perfect 3 for 3 on extra point attempts and made two of his three field goal attempts, including the game winner late in the fourth quarter, in the 27-24 victory.
In 2021, Gay converted 32 of 34 field goal attempts and 48 of 49 points after touchdown, and was named to his first Pro Bowl. In an NFC divisional playoff game against the Buccaneers, he went 3 for 3 on extra-point kicks and converted three of his four field goal tries, including the game winner from 30 yards out as time expired in a 30-27 victory, sending the Rams to the NFC Championship Game. He won his first Super Bowl title when the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI, converting a 41-yard field goal in the third quarter along with two points after touchdowns.
On March 15, 2022, the Rams placed an original-round restricted free agent tender on Gay. In the 2022 season, he was reportedly fined after a Week 1 loss to the Buffalo Bills in which he made a 57-yard field goal to end the half. In Week 14, Gay made the game-winning extra point to seal Baker Mayfield’s comeback over the Las Vegas Raiders.
Indianapolis Colts Second Stint (2023-2025)
On March 17, 2023, Gay signed a four-year, $22.5 million contract with the Colts. At the time of the signing, the contract was the largest free-agent contract for a kicker in NFL history. During Week 3 of the 2023 season, Gay became the first kicker in NFL history to hit four 50-plus-yard field goals in one game, converting from 54, 53, 53, and 53 yards, with the last being an overtime game winner in a 22-19 upset victory. On April 10, 2025, Gay was released by the Colts.
Washington Commanders (2025)
On April 29, 2025, Gay signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders for $5 million with $4.25 million guaranteed. At that point, the amount guaranteed was the highest guaranteed on a one-year contract to a kicker in NFL history. He made one of three attempts in the Week 2 loss against the Green Bay Packers and went one for two on field goal attempts in a Week 6 loss to the Chicago Bears. In the first NFL International game in Madrid against the Miami Dolphins, he was two for four on field goals, with a missed 56-yard attempt in the fourth quarter that would have given the Commanders the lead with 10 seconds remaining. Gay was released by the Commanders on November 17.
San Francisco 49ers (2025)
On November 19, 2025, the San Francisco 49ers signed Gay to their practice squad amid Eddy Piñeiro dealing with a hamstring injury. He was released by the 49ers on December 9.
Notable Events and Milestones
Gay’s defining milestone came in Super Bowl LVI, where his third-quarter field goal helped the Rams capture a championship. His Week 3 performance in 2023, hitting four 50-plus-yard field goals including an overtime winner, established an NFL record. His game-winning kicks against Tampa Bay in both the regular season and playoffs cemented his reputation as a clutch performer.
Matt Gay College Career
In 2017, Gay transferred to the Utah Utes football team as a walk-on, becoming the school’s seventh consensus All-American. He won the 2017 Lou Groza Award, being the first Ute to win the award as well as the school’s second-ever finalist. Gay also won the 2017 Vlade Award. That season, he led the nation in field goals and set a new Pac-12 Conference record with 30 field goals. In 2018, Gay set school records for consecutive field goals and field goals in a game, receiving first-team All-Pac-12 honors.
Matt Gay Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Gay’s athletic background reflects a multi-sport upbringing in Orem, Utah, where access to both soccer and football programs helped shape his development as a kicker.
Personal Life
Gay is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served a mission in Houston, though it was cut short due to depression. He wears the initials “P.O.” on a wristband at every game in honor of his high school teammate Parker Overly, who was killed in a car accident in 2017. Gay and his wife, Millie, have three children: Oliver, Oaks, and Cosette.
2025 Season Performance
Gay’s 2025 season was defined by movement. After being released by the Indianapolis Colts on April 10, he signed a one-year contract with the Washington Commanders on April 29 for $5 million with $4.25 million guaranteed, the highest guaranteed money ever on a one-year contract for a kicker at that time.
His time in Washington was inconsistent. He converted a 51-yard field goal in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers but missed attempts from longer range, and his struggles continued in Week 6 against the Chicago Bears and in the Madrid international game against the Miami Dolphins, where a late miss cost Washington a chance to win in regulation.
Following his release from the Commanders on November 17, Gay signed with the San Francisco 49ers practice squad on November 19, providing depth during Eddy Piñeiro’s hamstring injury. He was released by the 49ers on December 9, closing a turbulent but record-setting year that reinforced both his elite leg strength and the volatility of the kicker market.