Record kick in preseason

A 70-yard field goal in a preseason game sets an unofficial distance milestone, surpassing the NCAA record but not affecting NFL records.

Cam Little Tops Longest Kick Across Any Level

Cam Little of the Jacksonville Jaguars kicked a 70-yard field goal on Saturday in a preseason game. The distance is longer than the official NFL record, but preseason stats do not count toward NFL records. It does, however, set an unofficial record for the longest field goal in any football game across all levels.

The NCAA mark stood at 69 yards, set by Abilene Christian’s Ove Johansson in 1976. Johansson benefited from strong wind and, at the time, the possibility of placing the ball on a tee which helped the kick travel farther. Little did not enjoy those same advantages, yet his boot remains a historic length in competitive play.

This moment highlights how distance feats tend to get celebrated in preseason play, where records are more fluid and headlines are built on rare exceptions. It also shows how official records depend on league rules and sanctioned games, creating a gap between what fans remember and what counts in the books.

The mechanics behind such kicks matter too. Wind, ball design, and the holder’s setup can all tilt a kick toward record distance. The 1976 Johansson kick benefited from multiple factors that are rarely replicated today, which is why Little’s 70 yards stands as a remarkable, unofficial milestone rather than a new NFL benchmark. The episode invites fans to enjoy the spectacle while recognizing the distinctions between levels and rulings.

Highlights

Feats like this remind us that sport thrives on rare moments, even as rules keep the scoreboard honest.