After overcoming some early-season adversity, Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson has established himself as a star in the NFL. During their run to Super Bowl 56, the rookie kicker has ruthlessly picked off the opposition. With ammunition in the form of faith and confidence, McPherson has Super Bowl success and NFL records within his sight.
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson gunning for 16-year-old record
“Being on special teams, you’re kind of like a sniper,” McPherson said. “You got one shot. It’s really cut and dry. You’re either making the kick or you’re missing it. Knowing how important your job is, you’re going to do anything possible in your power to make that kick.”
McPherson has specialized in making that one shot down the stretch of this Cincinnati Super Bowl run. His field goal as time expired took the Bengals past the Tennessee Titans in the Divisional Round. Just over one week ago, his 31-yard attempt in overtime booked the Bengals their first Super Bowl berth since 1988.
In just his first season in the NFL, the former Florida kicker has become the epitome of reliability. Come rain or shine, no matter the size of the occasion, McPherson has taken his shot — time and time again. While the Joe Burrow-led Cincy offense has been revered, it is their fifth-round pick of the 2021 NFL Draft that has delivered the goods.
The result is that McPherson enters Sunday’s Super Bowl 56 showdown on the precipice of kicking greatness. He already owns the record for most field goals from 50 yards over the course of a single season (regular and postseason). After hitting 12 in three games during the NFL playoffs, he needs just 3 more to break Adam Vinatieri’s 2006 record of 14 field goals in the postseason.
Emulating an idol
“Adam Vinatieri is the best to ever do it. To have an idea of what he’s done is pretty cool,” McPherson told the assembled media during Monday’s Super Bowl 56 when asked about the record that the Bengals kicker is in a position to knock off on Sunday. “I just thought it’d be a pretty cool record to break.”
The postseason field-goal record isn’t the only record that McPherson can shoot down this Sunday. Having hit 4 field goals in each of the Bengals’ postseason games so far, another 4 would break another Vinatieri record. If a trio of those FGs come from 50 yards, scratch out the kicking legend’s name and replace it with McPherson.
As he prepares to emulate a legend of the kicking world, McPherson reflected on how Vinatieri has helped him attain this level of excellence. Kickers, after all, have idols too, and the Cincy star breaks out into a smile with a glint in his eye while describing the impact that the former New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts star has had on him.
“Adam’s definitely a guy that I’ve looked up to. Still today, I love to watch his run with the Patriots where he’s kicking game-winners in the Super Bowl. That’s every kid’s dream. He’s definitely meant a lot to me. I appreciate everything he’s done for our position. I love Adam and everything he did in his career.”
Faith and confidence lead McPherson to the precipice of greatness
While Vinatieri has been a role model for McPherson, admiration only takes you so far. When you get out on the field, knowing that someone before you paved a path is one thing. However, for the Bengals kicker, a combination of faith and confidence in his own ability has helped carry him — and the Bengals — over the finish line this season.
“I lean on my faith a lot when it comes to football and my life in general,” McPherson said. “I really feel like I can’t compete my best without it. Everything happens for a reason. As long as I keep God in my life, close to me, I know there’s nothing that I can’t do.”
Early season mishaps, especially in Green Bay, could have dented McPherson’s confidence in his ability. If they did, they certainly weren’t apparent ahead of his pivotal game-winning kick against the Titans. Much has been made about the Bengals kicker’s “looks like we’re going to the AFC Championship Game” comment to Joe Burrow. For some, it could seem arrogant. However, for McPherson, it’s just a part of the confidence that you have to have at the position.
“There’s not a chance that I can miss”
“Every time I go out there, there’s not a chance that I can miss,” McPherson said. “In my mind, I’m walking out there and there is no way this ball isn’t going through the uprights. It’s come through practice, and from in the games making those kicks. It’s given me a lot of confidence to go out there and in my mind make me believe there’s no way I can miss.”
McPherson has made every conceivable kick in practice. His composure has been apparent in the biggest moments of the Bengals’ season to date. Yet, throughout his football career, he hasn’t faced an occasion like this one.
With records in his sights, and with the knowledge that only one kicker in history has ever converted a walk-off field goal in Super Bowl history, how does the Cincinnati sensation keep a steady foot with the hopes of a city resting on his leg?
“The stage might be bigger. The lights might be brighter. But when we’re on the field, it’s the exact same.”