Wil Lutz

Wil Lutz's Biography

Born on 7th July 1994, William Lutz belongs to Newnan, Georgia. Today, he has etched his place in American sports as a renowned professional football player, celebrated for his skill as a placekicker. His current professional commitment is with the Denver Broncos, a reputed team of the National Football League.

It’s only fitting that Lutz followed an academic journey to emerge as a prominent football player as both his parents — Julie and Robert (also known as Bob) Lutz — have made significant contributions to the field of education. His mother, Julie, held different roles in education, including being the principal of Canongate Elementary School in Sharpsburg, Georgia, and recently served as the Dean at Truett McConnell University in Cleveland, Georgia. His father, Bob, also contributed to the world of education by teaching middle school science at Madras Middle School in Newnan. Lutz shared his family with his sibling, Wesley.

As an alumnus of Northgate High School in Newnan, Lutz’s sports career began in earnest. He showcased his skills in American football, soccer, and cross country running. The highlight of his school football career came when the Northgate Vikings secured an unbeaten record in the regular season of his senior year. The team’s glorious journey continued by overcoming North Clayton High School in the first round of the Georgia AAAA football playoffs. However, their undefeated streak ended when they fell to East Paulding High School in the second round.

After school, Lutz moved into the world of college and enrolled at Georgia State University. His football journey continued here, and he soon became the placekicker for the Georgia State Panthers. During the 2012 season, Lutz played his debut season as the kickoff specialist and gradually took over the placekicker role after four initial games of the season. He ended the 2012 season with 4-of-7 field goals and was flawless, making all 18 extra points he attempted.

Lutz’s growth and evolution as a player were evident in the 2013 season. He successfully scored 8-of-12 field goals and 25-of-26 extra points, culminating in 49 points. The season witnessed a landmark moment when Lutz kicked a school-record 53-yard field goal against Alabama.

Halfway through the 2014 season, Lutz’s responsibilities expanded as he was named the punter as well. The season generated impressive statistics for Lutz as he scored 7-for-8 on field goals and 35-for-35 on extra points.

The 2015 season once again saw Lutz assuming the role of both the punter and the placekicker. During this season, Lutz scored 12-for-19 on field goals and 42–43 on extra points, accumulating a whopping total of 78 points.

In 2016, Lutz went undrafted in the 2016 NFL draft before being signed by the Baltimore Ravens. His tenure with the team was short-lived, as he was released in August of the same year. This setback didn’t deter his determination, and he signed with the New Orleans Saints that September. He curated an impressive stint with the Saints, creating records, scoring career-best goals, and earning significant honors.

Lutz experienced a career milestone in 2019 when his 58-yard game-winning field goal, without any remaining time in the fourth quarter, became the longest in a season opening game in NFL history. This feat earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

The 2020 season witnessed history when Lutz scored the first points in Allegiant Stadium and NFL in Las Vegas history, in a match against the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football.

The 2021 season was a challenging period for Lutz when he was placed on injured reserve. Determined to bounce back, he returned for the 2022 season, converting all 33 extra point attempts and 23 of 31 field goal attempts in 17 games.

In 2023, Lutz’s professional journey took another turn as he was traded from the Saints to the Denver Broncos. During his time with the Broncos, he carved his position in the team as a stellar player, converting 29 of 31 extra point attempts and 30 of 34 field goal attempts in the 2023 season.

Lutz continues his journey with the Broncos, having signed a two-year contract extension in 2024. As part of this new chapter, he decided to switch his jersey number to 3, a throwback to his time with the Saints. Despite the change in his club, his quality on the field has remained consistent. His four field goals and two extra points against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers won him the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in the third week of the 2024 season.