Jason Sanders

Jason Sanders
No. 7 – Miami Dolphins
Position:Kicker
Personal information
Born: (1995-11-16) November 16, 1995 (age 29)
Orange, California, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:195 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school:Villa Park (CA)
College:New Mexico (2014–2017)
NFL draft:2018 / round: 7 / pick: 229
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2024
Field goals made:162
Field goal attempts:196
Field goal %:82.7
Longest field goal:57
Touchbacks:379
Receiving Touchdowns:1
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Jason Thomas Sanders (born November 16, 1995) is an American professional football kicker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the New Mexico Lobos.

Early life

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Sanders attended and played high school football at Villa Park High School.[1]

College career

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Sanders attended and played college football at New Mexico from 2014 to 2017.[2] In his collegiate career, he converted 111-of-112 extra point attempts and 25-of-35 field goal attempts, with a career-long of 53 yards.[3][4]

Out of college, he was touted as the top pro kicking prospect in the country by kicking coach Brent Grablachoff of Kicking World.[5]

College statistics

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Year School Conf Class Pos G XPM XPA XP% FGM FGA FG% Pts
2014 New Mexico MWC FR K 5
2015 New Mexico MWC SO K 5 22 22 100.0 3 7 42.9 31
2016 New Mexico MWC JR K 13 61 62 98.4 12 13 92.3 97
2017 New Mexico MWC SR K 12 28 28 100.0 10 15 66.7 58
Career New Mexico 111 112 99.1 25 35 71.4 186

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span
5 ft 10+3⁄4 in
(1.80 m) 		184 lb
(83 kg) 		28+3⁄8 in
(0.72 m) 		7+7⁄8 in
(0.20 m)
All values from Pro Day[6][7]

2018

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Sanders was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round, 229th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft.[8] He was one of two kickers to be drafted that year.[9] He was named the Dolphins starting kicker following the release of undrafted rookie Greg Joseph.[10]

He made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans. He converted all three field goal attempts and both extra point attempts in the 27–20 victory.[11]

In Week 6, against the Chicago Bears, he converted the game-winning field goal in overtime.[12]

In 16 games, Sanders made 18 of 20 field goals on the year, and this 90-percent field goal conversion rate was the fifth best in team history.[13] He also converted 35 of 36 extra point attempts. After his first season, Sanders was named to the Pro Football Writers of America 2018 all-rookie team.[14]

2019

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In Week 10, Sanders converted all three field goals and an extra point, accounting for 10 points in a 16–12 win over the Indianapolis Colts, earning himself American Football Conference (AFC) Special Teams Player of the Week.[15]

In Week 13, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sanders, despite being a kicker, recorded his first career receiving touchdown when he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from punter Matt Haack in the 37–31 win. The play marked the NFL's first touchdown pass to a kicker since October 16, 1977.[16][17] Sanders won the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award for his performance.[18]

In Week 14, against the New York Jets, Sanders converted on a franchise-record seven of eight field goal attempts in the 22–21 loss.[19] He was also named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his performance in December.[20]

He finished the 2019 season with 29 of 30 extra point attempts converted and 23 of 30 field goal attempts converted.[21]

2020

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In Week 5, against the San Francisco 49ers, Sanders was a perfect 5 for 5 on field goal attempts and 4 for 4 on extra point attempts, scoring a total of 19 points, during the 43–17 win, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance.[22] He also earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October after converting all 11 field goal attempts and all seven extra point attempts for the month.[23]

In Week 10, against the Los Angeles Chargers, he missed his first kick of the year. He was the last perfect kicker in the NFL. Sanders was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his performance in November.[24]

In Week 16, Sanders converted both extra point attempts and went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 44-yard game winner in a 26–25 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[25]

After the 2020 season, he tied with Daniel Carlson and Younghoe Koo for the scoring title.[26] He also received First-team All-Pro honors.[27] He made 36 of 39 field goals and also made all 36 extra point attempts.[28]

2021

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On February 16, 2021, Sanders signed a five-year, $22 million contract extension with the Dolphins, making him one of the highest paid kickers in the NFL.[29]

In Week 10, during a prime-time game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sanders hit 3 of 3 field goal attempts and made his only extra point attempt in the 22–10 win.[30]

In Week 18, against the New England Patriots, Sanders converted his two field goal attempts and all three extra point attempts in the 33–24 win.[31]

For the season, Sanders made 23 of 31 field goals and 34 of 35 extra point attempts.[32]

2022

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In Week 2, against the Ravens, Sanders converted a career-high six extra point attempts in the 42–38 victory.[33] In the 2022 season, Sanders converted 41 of 44 extra point attempts and 26 of 32 field goal attempts.[34]

2023

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In Week 3, against the Denver Broncos, Sanders set the NFL record for the most converted extra points in a single game by completing all 10 of his attempts in the 70–20 victory, breaking the previous record of nine which had stood since 1966.[35]

In Week 16, against the Dallas Cowboys, Sanders went 5 for 5 on field goals, including a franchise record three 50+ yard field goals in a single game and a new career long of 57 yards, and converted the team's only extra point, securing a playoff spot for the Dolphins.[36][37] He finished the 2023 season converting 58 of 59 extra point attempts and 24 of 28 field goal attempts.[38]

References

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  1. ^ Wright, Rick (May 18, 2018). "Ex-Lobo, NFL hopeful Sanders picked the right ball to kick". ABQ Journal. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  2. ^ "Jason Sanders College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  3. ^ "Jason Sanders Career Game Log". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  4. ^ McPherson, Jordan (April 28, 2018). "Who is Miami Dolphins seventh-round pick Jason Sanders?". Miami Herald. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  5. ^ Grablachoff, Brent. "Jason Sanders Kicking World Hot Prospect profile". KickingWorld.com. Retrieved October 11, 2018.
  6. ^ "Jason Sanders, New Mexico, K, 2018 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  7. ^ "Jason Sanders 2018 NFL Draft Profile". ESPN. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  8. ^ Nogle, Kevin (April 28, 2018). "Miami Dolphins 2018 draft results: 7th round selection land Jason Sanders". ThePhinsider.com. Retrieved June 23, 2018.
  9. ^ "2018 NFL Draft Listing". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  10. ^ Gantt, Darin (August 31, 2018). "Dolphins settle kicking competition, go with Jason Sanders". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "Tennessee Titans at Miami Dolphins – September 9th, 2018". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  12. ^ Poupart, Alain (October 14, 2018). "Jason Sanders' Walk-off Field Goal Beats Bears In OT". Miami Dolphins. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
  13. ^ Nogle, Kevin (January 15, 2019). "Dolphins land one on PFWA All-Rookie Team, one on All-AFC Team". www.thephinsider.com. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  14. ^ Staley, Antwan (January 15, 2019). "Dolphins kicker Jason Sanders named to PFWA all-rookie team". Dolphins Wire. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  15. ^ Bergman, Jeremy (November 13, 2019). "Jamal Adams, Jadeveon Clowney among Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  16. ^ Boren, Cindy (December 1, 2019). "Dolphins pull off wackiest NFL trick play of the year, a punter-to-kicker touchdown". Washington Post. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  17. ^ "Bag of tricks helps Dolphins rally past Eagles 37–31". ESPN.com. Associated Press. December 1, 2019. Retrieved December 1, 2019.
  18. ^ Bergman, Jeremy (December 3, 2019). "Deshaun Watson, Jared Goff among Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  19. ^ Poupart, Alain (December 8, 2019). "Jason Sanders Sets Field Goal Record In Tough Loss To Jets". Miami Dolphins. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
  20. ^ Gordon, Grant (January 2, 2020). "Drew Brees, Ryan Tannehill among Players of the Month". NFL.com. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  21. ^ "Jason Sanders 2019 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved July 2, 2020.
  22. ^ Gordon, Grant (October 14, 2020). "Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, Steelers WR Chase Claypool among Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved October 14, 2020.
  23. ^ Gordon, Grant (October 29, 2020). "Buccaneers QB Tom Brady, Titans RB Derrick Henry among Players of the Month for October". NFL.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  24. ^ Gordon, Grant (December 4, 2020). "Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, Vikings RB Dalvin Cook lead Players of the Month". NFL.com. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  25. ^ Gordon, Grant (December 30, 2020). "Bills WR Stefon Diggs, Saints RB Alvin Kamara among Players of the Week". NFL.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  26. ^ "2020 NFL Scoring Summary". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  27. ^ "2020 All-Pro Team: Aaron Donald, Travis Kelce highlight roster". NFL.com. January 8, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  28. ^ "Jason Sanders 2020 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  29. ^ "Miami Dolphins sign All-Pro kicker Jason Sanders to 5-year extension". ESPN.com. February 16, 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  30. ^ "Baltimore Ravens at Miami Dolphins – November 11th, 2021". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  31. ^ "New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins – January 9th, 2022". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  32. ^ "Jason Sanders 2021 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 14, 2022.
  33. ^ "Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens – September 18th, 2022". Pro Football Reference. September 18, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2023.
  34. ^ "Jason Sanders 2022 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  35. ^ "Denver Broncos at Miami Dolphins - September 24th, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  36. ^ "Dallas Cowboys at Miami Dolphins - December 24th, 2023". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  37. ^ Louis-Jacques, Marcel (December 25, 2023). "Dolphins lock up playoff berth: 'We're not done'". ESPN.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  38. ^ "Jason Sanders 2023 Game Log". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
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