Wil Lutz Bio
William Lutz (born July 7, 1994), nicknamed “Big Nutz Lutz,” is an American professional football placekicker for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Georgia State Panthers and signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2016 before joining the New Orleans Saints and later the Denver Broncos. Across his NFL career, Lutz has built a reputation as one of the most accurate kickers in the league, earning a Pro Bowl selection and multiple special teams honors along the way.
Standing 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 184 pounds, Lutz is recognized for his powerful leg and consistent accuracy on field goals and kickoffs. His NFL journey has included stops in Baltimore, New Orleans, and Denver, with career totals that place him among the more productive placekickers of his era. He continues to serve as a central figure on special teams for the Broncos heading into the 2025 NFL season.
Early Life and Background
William Lutz was born on July 7, 1994, in Newnan, Georgia, to parents Julie and Robert (Bob) Lutz. Both of his parents worked in education, with his mother Julie serving in various school leadership roles and his father Bob working as a middle school science teacher at Madras Middle School in Newnan for several years. Together, the couple raised William and his brother Wesley in a household rooted in academics and community involvement. Lutz grew up in Coweta County and developed an early love for athletics through school programs and local sports.
Julie Lutz later served as a principal of Canongate Elementary School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, and more recently as Dean at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia. The strong educational background of his parents shaped Lutz’s approach to discipline and preparation. He attended Northgate High School in Newnan, where he competed in American football, soccer, and cross country running. In his senior year, the Northgate Vikings went undefeated at 9-0 in the regular season before being eliminated in the second round of the Georgia AAAA football playoffs.
Path to the NFL
Following his high school career, Lutz enrolled at Georgia State University, where he joined the Panthers football program. He served as the kickoff specialist during the 2012 season before becoming the placekicker after four games. That season, Lutz made 4-of-7 field goals and was a perfect 18-for-18 on extra points. The following year, he connected on 8-of-12 field goals and 25-of-26 extra points, while also kicking a school-record 53-yard field goal against Alabama. His strong leg and accuracy quickly marked him as one of the conference’s top kicking prospects.
By his junior season in 2014, Lutz had expanded his role to include punting duties, and he earned Midseason All-Sun Belt first team recognition from Phil Steele. He finished the year 7-for-8 on field goals and 35-for-35 on extra points, and he kicked a game-winning 26-yard field goal with four seconds left to lift Georgia State to a 38-37 victory over Abilene Christian. As a senior in 2015, Lutz averaged 44.3 yards on 65 punts, the second-best season average in school history, and converted 12-of-19 field goals and 42-of-43 extra points. He was named Second-team All-Sun Belt for his efforts and declared for the 2016 NFL Draft, where he went undrafted.
Wil Lutz Career
Early Career (2016)
On May 5, 2016, William Lutz signed with the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent, giving him his first opportunity in the NFL. The Ravens waived him on August 29, 2016, during the final roster cutdown, but Lutz quickly found a new home. Just a week later, on September 5, 2016, he signed with the New Orleans Saints, where his career would truly begin to take shape.
With the Saints, Lutz immediately impressed, kicking a game-winning 52-yard field goal against the Carolina Panthers in October 2016 and matching a career high with four field goals against the Seattle Seahawks later that month. He earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in both Week 6 and Week 8, joining Saints legends Thomas Morstead and Reggie Bush as the only Saints rookies to win the award twice in a single season. He closed his rookie year with 28 successful field goals, setting a Saints franchise record for most field goals by a rookie, and earned a place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team for 2016.
New Orleans Saints Breakthrough (2016-2022)
Lutz continued his strong play in New Orleans across multiple seasons, becoming one of the most reliable kickers in the NFC. On September 11, 2017, he tied his career high with four field goals in a Monday Night Football loss to the Minnesota Vikings. In 2018, he matched that four-field-goal mark in a Week 4 win over the New York Giants and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September after converting 10 of 11 field goal attempts and all 11 extra-point tries.
In March 2019, Lutz signed a five-year contract extension with the Saints, cementing his long-term role with the team. That season, against the Houston Texans, he drilled a 58-yard game-winning field goal with no time remaining, the longest such kick to end a season-opening game in NFL history, earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. In 2020, he scored the first points ever at Allegiant Stadium and the first points scored by an NFL team in Las Vegas with a 31-yard field goal on Monday Night Football against the Raiders. After a 2021 season cut short by injured reserve, Lutz returned healthy in 2022, converting all 33 extra point attempts and 23 of 31 field goal attempts in 17 games.
Denver Broncos Era (2023-Present)
On August 29, 2023, Lutz was traded to the Denver Broncos for a 2024 seventh-round pick, beginning a new chapter in his career. He quickly adapted to his new team and was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November 2023, converting 29 of 31 extra points and 30 of 34 field goals that season. On March 12, 2024, Lutz signed a two-year contract extension with the Broncos and announced he would switch his jersey number from 16 to 3, the number he wore in New Orleans, after Russell Wilson was released.
In Week 3 of the 2024 season, Lutz converted four field goals and two extra points in a 26-7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. He earned the same honor again in Week 12 after connecting on all five field goals and both extra point attempts in a 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders. During the 2024 campaign, Lutz became the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career points. On November 21, 2025, the Broncos signed Lutz to a three-year, $16.1 million contract extension.
Driving Style and Strengths
Lutz is known for his powerful leg, smooth mechanics, and ability to perform in high-pressure situations. His track record includes multiple game-winning kicks from beyond 50 yards, including the 58-yarder against Houston in 2019 and a 60-yard career long. He has demonstrated exceptional accuracy throughout his career, finishing the 2025 season with a career 86.1 percent field goal rate on 254 made field goals out of 295 attempts.
Notable Events and Milestones
Among Lutz’s signature achievements are his 2019 Pro Bowl selection, his place on the PFWA All-Rookie Team in 2016, and his status as the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to reach 1,000 career points. He also holds the Saints franchise record for most field goals by a rookie with 28 in 2016 and was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month twice with the Broncos, in November 2023 and October 2025.
Wil Lutz Career Wins
Across his NFL career with the Baltimore Ravens, New Orleans Saints, and Denver Broncos, William Lutz has compiled 254 made field goals out of 295 attempts, with a career field goal percentage of 86.1 percent. He has earned multiple NFC and AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, two AFC Special Teams Player of the Month awards, and a 2019 Pro Bowl selection. His career also includes 526 touchbacks on kickoffs and a career-long field goal of 60 yards.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
Lutz’s most memorable moments include his 58-yard game-winning field goal against the Houston Texans in 2019 and his record-tying four-field-goal performances against the Seattle Seahawks in 2016 and the Minnesota Vikings in 2017. His most recent notable performance came in October 2025, when he completed 100 percent of his field goal and extra point attempts, including kicks of 57 and 55 yards, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month honors.
Other Wins and Performances
In addition to his NFL achievements, Lutz was named Second-team All-Sun Belt in 2015 and was a Midseason All-Sun Belt first team selection by Phil Steele in 2014 during his time at Georgia State. He set a Georgia State school record with a 53-yard field goal against Alabama in 2013 and kicked a game-winning 26-yard field goal with four seconds remaining to lift the Panthers over Abilene Christian in the 2014 season opener.
| Team | Years | FG Made/Att | FG % | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 2016 | — | — | — |
| New Orleans Saints | 2016-2022 | — | — | — |
| Denver Broncos | 2023-Present | — | — | — |
| Career Totals | 2016-Present | 254/295 | 86.1% | 60 |
Wil Lutz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
William Lutz comes from a family deeply rooted in education and athletics. His mother, Julie Lutz, has served in various educational leadership roles throughout his life, including as principal of Canongate Elementary School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, and more recently as Dean at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia. His father, Robert (Bob) Lutz, worked as a middle school science teacher at Madras Middle School in Newnan for many years. The couple also raised a second son, Wesley.
Personal Life
Wil Lutz grew up in Newnan, Georgia, and has maintained strong ties to his hometown and family throughout his NFL career. He continues to credit his parents’ dedication to education and community for shaping his disciplined approach to professional football. His nickname “Big Nutz Lutz” has followed him from his childhood through his college years at Georgia State and into the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a strong one for Wil Lutz and the Denver Broncos. In October 2025, Lutz was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for the second time in his Broncos career after completing 100 percent of his field goal and extra point attempts, including kicks of 57 and 55 yards. He also earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance in the Broncos’ Week 11 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, where he went 5-for-5 on field goal attempts and kicked the game-winner.
Lutz’s reliability in 2025 played a key role in Denver’s continued push in the AFC playoff picture. His consistency on both field goals and extra points provided the Broncos with steady scoring opportunities throughout close games. On November 21, 2025, the Broncos rewarded his strong play with a three-year, $16.1 million contract extension, securing his future with the franchise through 2028.
Looking ahead, Lutz remains a central piece of the Broncos’ special teams unit and one of the league’s most trusted kickers. With his accuracy, powerful leg, and proven ability to deliver in pressure situations, he is expected to remain a key contributor for Denver’s championship aspirations heading into the remainder of the 2025 season and beyond.