Ryan Longwell

50-Year-Old KickerK

Free Agent

2024 Kicking Stats

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FGA

FG%

0.0

50+

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FGA

FG%

50+

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2024 Fantasy Outlook

There was no outlook written for Ryan Longwell in 2024. Check out the latest news below for more on his current fantasy value.

Height 6'0"

Weight 200

DOB 8/16/1974

College California

KFree Agent

August 14, 2013

Longwell has decided to retire, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reports. "I'm done. I'm done kicking," he said.

ANALYSIS
He calls it a career after playing for Seattle in the playoffs last season after Steven Hauschka got hurt. He finishes 13th in career points scored and 13th in field goals made.

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Longwell is the poster child for why you should not draft a kicker before the last round. Coming off 132 points in 2009, Longwell plummeted to just 81 points last season as the Vikings offense collapsed. Minnesota averaged almost 12 points less per game in 2010 than the previous year. Longwell still has one of the more accurate legs in the league, converting 17-of-18 field goals last season and posting a three-year average of 90 percent. But Longwell’s 18 attempts were the fewest of any full-time kicker. In fact, three kickers who played less than a full season had more than 18 field goals and another who played only 12 games tied Longwell's mark. The Vikings dropped to 27th in the league in red-zone touchdown efficiency last year, but it was a wash for Longwell because the team had 15 fewer red-zone drives than in 2009 – in fact, Longwell attempted 16 field goals inside 40 yards last season, the same as the year before. What really hurt was the absolute dearth of long-range field goals. In the previous three seasons, Longwell averaged nearly 14 attempts from 40-plus yards. Last season, that number shrank to two, including, for the first time in his career, not a single 50-yard attempt.

Longwell had a career year in 2009, posting 132 points and a 92.9 field-goal percentage, both personal bests. He can thank Brett Favre for some of that. Minnesota’s Favre-directed offense gave Longwell 15 more PAT opportunities than in 2008. And even though Longwell kicked only 28 field goals (14th in NFL), that was still his second-highest number of attempts in the last seven years. But Longwell’s prospects aren’t entirely tied to Favre. If Favre doesn’t return for 2010, it will likely mean fewer touchdowns but more field goals, as in 2008 when Longwell scored 127 points. Favre or no Favre, the Vikings still have weapons on offense and still boast a stout defense.

A career 82.2 percent kicker entering last season, Longwell can’t be expected to hit more than 90 percent again. Late-season weather issues shouldn’t be a factor as Longwell plays four of his last five games in domes. Playing indoors also helps with his long-range kicking where he’s 7-for-7 from beyond 50 yards the last two years (1-for-1 outdoors in that time).

Longwell justified his sleeper status last year with a 127-point season, his highest total since 2002. Backed by a ball-control offense and a strong defense, Longwell was awarded 10 more field-goal attempts than in 2007. What’s more, Longwell’s long-range acumen returned after it went missing the previous two seasons as he went 6-for-6 from beyond 50 yards. The Vikings again have the offensive and defensive combination to give Longwell scoring opportunities. An upgrade at quarterback (Brett Favre, perhaps?) would improve his fortunes.

Longwell scored less than 100 points for the third consecutive year, missing triple digits by one point last season. Led by Adrian Peterson, however, the offense improved dramatically, topping the NFL in rushing and scoring 11 more touchdowns than the previous year. If Tarvar's Jackson improves to merely average, Longwell has the potential to exceed these projections and perhaps be the Rob Bironas of 2008, a kicker who comes out of nowhere to have a great season. The Vikings, like the Titans, like to control the clock with the running game, and if their defense improves, especially against the pass (new DE Jared Allen should help), Longwell could be a sleeper in this year's kicker class. While Longwell was 6-of-8 from beyond 50 yards his final two years in Green Bay, he's just 1-of-6 the last two years in Minnesota.

Longwell scored just 90 points last season, and the offense did not improve enough in the offense to suggest Longwell will have much more success this year. The Vikings should have a decent running game with the combination of Chester Taylor and rookie Adrian Peterson. However, the quarterback situation is unsteady with second-year quarterback Tarvaris Jackson expected to start. The Vikings will look to play ball-control offense and might play to their strength -- punting and playing defense.

With a new head coach (Brad Childress) and quarterback Daunte Culpepper no longer in charge of the offense, there’s some uncertainty surrounding the Vikings entering the 2006 season. After going through five kickers in five years, the Vikings bought stability in Longwell. He dropped to 74.1 percent last season, but is still an 81.6 percent career kicker and made 4-of-5 from beyond the 50 last year. The move indoors should help.

Longwell continues to produce despite kicking in one of the NFL’s more brutal climates. The Packers have a well-balanced offense that should continue to give Longwell enough extra point and field goal attempts to make him a top fantasy kicker. In the last four seasons, he’s averaged 29.8 FGA, 46.8 PATs and 118.3 points. He’s a career 82.4-percent kicker with just one of his eight seasons at less than 80 percent.

Seven years in Green Bay have not hurt Longwell’s value as a kicker. He’s averaging 120.6 points per season, 7.5 points per game and is a career 82.0 percent kicker. The Packers are sixth overall in touchdowns scored in the last three seasons, meaning lots of easy extra points for Longwell. As for cold weather, the Packers play two home games and at Philadelphia and Chicago in the final month of play.

We like consistent kickers and Longwell has been that. Despite kicking in cold weather throughout his six-year career, he's hit 81.1 percent of his field goals and averages 121 points per season. He recovered last season from a sub-par 2001 (104 points), scoring 128 points on 28-of-34 kicking. But he didn't hit any from 50-plus yards. The offense remains strong in Green Bay as long as Brett Favre is around.

More Fantasy News

Ryan Longwell: Takes Over As Seattle Kicker

KSeattle Seahawks

January 9, 2013

Longwell officially signed with the Seahawks on Wednesday, Curtis Crabtree of KJR Seattle reports. With Steven Hauschka (calf) landing on injured reserve in the corresponding move, Longwell will take over as the Seahawks' kicker for the rest of the postseason.