Ryan Succop

Ryan Barrow Succop was born on September 19, 1986, and is an established American football placekicker. As a free agent, he has generated a significant name in the competitive world of professional football. His journey through this sport began in downtown Hickory, North Carolina where he attended Hickory High School. There, he developed his skills in football and soccer, excelling in both sports. He was a four-time all-conference and two-time all-state football player, and a three-time all-state selection in soccer.

Succop graduated from high school with a reputation as the fourth-best kicker in the nation and the sixteenth-best prospect in North Carolina, as rated by Rivals.com. He then attended the University of South Carolina where his prowess on the football pitch continued to grow. Participating as both a kicker and punter, he quickly established himself as a valuable team player. By the time he graduated, his 251 career points ranked him tenth on the all-time list for his college.

His college football career also saw him receive numerous awards and acknowledgments. In 2006, as a sophomore, Succop was named SEC Special Teams Player of the Week after a stellar performance against Mississippi State. That same year, he recorded a substantial 85 points leading his team and positioning high on the school’s single-season ranking. He also secured a spot on the second-team All-SEC, and was nominated as a semi-finalist for the prestigious Lou Groza Award.

In the 2007 season, Succop was acknowledged by the Associated Press with an honorable mention All-SEC selection, praising his stellar performances. His senior year in 2008 saw him connect on twenty of his thirty field goal attempts, marking a crucial contribution to his team’s performances.

The 2009 NFL draft was a pivotal moment in Succop’s career. The Kansas City Chiefs selected him with the final pick, earning him the title “Mr. Irrelevant,” given to the last player picked in the draft. However, despite this moniker, Succop quickly proved to be anything but irrelevant. By the end of his rookie season, he tied an NFL record for achieving the highest field goal percentage by a rookie in a season.

His journey in the NFL took him from the Chiefs to the Tennessee Titans and eventually to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was with the Buccaneers that he played in Super Bowl LV, resulting in a 31–9 victory over the Chiefs. This significant achievement marked Succop as the first Mr. Irrelevant to play and win a Super Bowl as a starter and an active player.

Apart from his professional achievements, Succop is a dedicated family man. He married in 2011, establishing a family with his wife and their two children.

Over the years, Succop has not only played in numerous games, enduring tough competitors and challenging conditions, but he has also amassed impressive statistics to reinforce his reputation as a professional player. Whether it was scoring a game-winning field goal in the final seconds of the game or setting a franchise record for points scored in a season, Succop has demonstrated both his skill and passion for the game countless times on the pitch.

Hence, while his career in the sport has definitely been filled with ups and downs, his consistent performance and dedication have made him a name to remember in American football. As a player that continues to build upon each game experience, Ryan Barrow Succop holds an irreplaceable spot in the world of professional football.