Daniel Carlson

Daniel Carlson's Biography

Daniel Vilhelm Carlson was born on January 23, 1995, in a family that can be called football lovers. Son to Hans and Jodie Carlson, and a sibling to his older brother, Nils, and younger brother, Anders—who went on to become a kicker for the Green Bay Packers—Carlson became hooked to the sport early on. Growing up, he attended The Classical Academy and later moved on to college football.

In college, Carlson showcased his talent at Auburn, setting records and establishing himself as a dominant player in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). Playing under head coach Gus Malzahn, he made a name for himself as a specialist placekicker, never missing an extra point throughout his collegiate career. His extraordinary achievements include becoming the SEC’s all-time leading scorer with a career-high tally of 480 points—a record that stood until 2023 when it was surpassed by Will Reichard of Alabama. During his time at Auburn, Carlson made it three times to the All SEC Team’s first team.

Carlson’s impressive college career led to his selection by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL draft. The draft saw two kickers being selected, Carlson and Jason Sanders by the Miami Dolphins. But as his professional career began, Carlson faced stiff competition from veteran kicker Kai Forbath for a spot in the team. Carlson’s prowess led to him winning the job resulting in Forbath’s release by the Vikings.

His professional debut came in a 24-16 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. However, in his next game against the Green Bay Packers, Carlson missed crucial field goals, which resulted in a tied game. The following day, he was waived by Minnesota and replaced with veteran kicker, Dan Bailey.

However, his career took a bounce as he was signed by the Oakland Raiders in late October 2018. In his first game for the Raiders, Carlson made significant contributions, converting all his extra-point attempts. Over the next weeks, he played a crucial role in the Raiders’ victories, which included making a game-winning field goal that earned him the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

As Carlson continued to break records and make significant contributions, he gained recognition as a persistent and lethal weapon for the Raiders. He set the record for converting 94% of his field goal attempts for the Raiders in 2018 and was re-signed to a one-year contract with them in 2020. That same year, he switched his jersey number from 8 to 2 to allow new quarterback Marcus Mariota to wear number 8.

Carlson’s tenure at the Raiders was marked by numerous accolades, including being named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week following a perfect performance against the Carolina Panthers, and AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his exceptional performance in December 2020.

In 2021, the Raiders placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Carlson. He signed the tender and continued to impress in the field. Notably, his field goals in games against the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Dallas Cowboys, and the Indianapolis Colts earned him several AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Impressed by his sterling performance, the Raiders signed Carlson to a four-year extension in late 2021, making him the third highest-paid kicker in the NFL. The move paid off, as Carlson’s superb performance, especially against the Cleveland Browns and the Los Angeles Chargers, was crucial in helping the Raiders clinch a playoff spot.

Off the field, Carlson is a devoted Christian and a family man. He married his college sweetheart, Katherine Barker, on January 13, 2018, in Birmingham, Alabama. The couple is now raising two children. As he continues his career in the NFL, Daniel Carlson truly exemplifies talent, hard work, and dedication to both his professional and personal life.