Evan McPherson

Evan McPherson's Biography

Evan McPherson, born on July 21, 1999, has made his mark as an American professional football placekicker, currently playing for the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League (NFL). He has taken full advantage of his exceptional talent to carve a notable career path, including setting records in his professional debut.

Evan started his football journey in Fort Payne, Alabama at Fort Payne High School. During his high school career, he served as the team’s kicker and punter for four seasons, marking his territory with a 60-yard field goal and an 84-yard punt, just one yard shy of the Alabama high school record. His repeated performance earned him a place on the 2017 first-team All-State.

After graduating high school, Evan went on to play college football at the University of Florida, where he represented the Florida Gators from 2018 to 2020. He demonstrated his field goal-making abilities, successfully making 51 out of 60 field goals and setting a Southeastern Conference record for career field goal percentage. Additionally, he made five from at least 50 yards out and only missed a single extra point out of 150. At the end of his college career, Evan had the 12th highest career field goal percentage in NCAA history and chose to forego his senior year to step into the professional field.

In the 2021 NFL draft, Evan was selected in the fifth round by the Cincinnati Bengals, also being the only placekicker drafted that year. He signed a four-year rookie contract with the Bengals and exhibited perfect form with 5/5 on field goals during the 2021 preseason games. He continued his debut season on a high note, securing 28-of-33 field goal attempts and 9-of-11 from 50+ yards. This remarkable performance led Evan to be named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and sparked the start of his NFL journey.

During the Bengals’ 2021 playoff run, Evan showed his remarkable accuracy, setting and breaking records. He tied the record for most field goals made in a single postseason, held by Adam Vinatieri, with 14 successes, all made without any misses. In honor of his clutch kicking style, he earned the nicknames “Shooter” and “Money Mac”. He also became the Bengals’ record holder for the longest field goal with a breathtaking 59-yard kick in 2022.

Evan continued his professional career with full throttle, maintaining his perfect form on field goals during the regular season and playoffs. His concentration and precision resulted in the NFL record for most combined regular season and postseason field goals from 50+ yards by a single player in one season. However, he faced a challenging time when he had a potential game-winning extra point blocked and missed a 29-yard field goal due to an injury to the long snapper, Clark Harris, resulting in a loss.

After an illustrious debut year, Evan continued his 2023 season with exceptional performances, converting all 40 extra point attempts, and 26 of 31 field goal attempts. Recognizing his importance and performance, the Bengals rewarded him with a three-year, $16.5 million contract extension in 2024.

Off the field, Evan leads a deeply personal Christian life. He is happily married to Gracie Groat. His family is full of football talent, with his older brother Logan having been an all-state kicker for Fort Payne High School before playing as a punter for Louisiana Tech University. His younger brother, Alex, was an All-State kicker and punter in 2019 and 2020, respectively, for Fort Payne and has committed to attend Auburn University.

In summary, Evan McPherson has unequivocally proven himself to be a formidable and reliable placekicker in the NFL. His journey from Fort Payne High School to the Cincinnati Bengals has been characterized by dedication, precision, and record-breaking performances. Off the field, Evan is a committed Christian, loving husband, and proud brother, making him a well-rounded individual on and off the field.