David Akers

David Akers, one of the most reliable and productive placekickers in NFL history, began his football career at Tates Creek High School in Lexington, Kentucky, where he also excelled as a soccer player. His strong and accurate leg drew the attention of college scouts, leading him to the University of Louisville. Akers kicked for the Cardinals from 1993 to 1996, where he made 35 field goals – including a long of 51 yards – and 111 extra points. He graduated as the second-leading scorer in school history with 216 points.

Despite his college success, Akers went undrafted in the 1997 NFL Draft. He had brief tryouts with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers but failed to secure a roster spot. In 1998, he made his NFL debut with the Washington Redskins, appearing in just one game.

A turning point came in 1999 when the Philadelphia Eagles claimed Akers off waivers. Under head coach Andy Reid, Akers began to emerge as one of the league’s most dependable kickers. He was initially allocated to the Berlin Thunder in NFL Europe, where his strong performance earned him a spot on the Eagles’ roster later that year. Although he made just one of six field goal attempts during the 1999 season while primarily handling kickoff duties, Akers broke through in 2000. From that point forward, he established himself as a cornerstone of the Eagles’ special teams and cemented his place in Eagles’ history over the next decade.

From 2000 to 2010, David Akers solidified his status as one of the NFL’s premier kickers. During that decade, he was selected to five Pro Bowls, earned first- or second-team All-Pro honors five times, and helped lead the Philadelphia Eagles to nine playoff appearances in ten seasons. In 2010, he led the NFL in scoring and was honored with a place on the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team. Known for his consistency and poise under pressure, Akers became the Eagles’ all-time leading scorer and a fan favorite in Philadelphia.

In 2011, Akers left the City of Brotherly Love and signed a three-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers. He continued to perform at an elite level, setting multiple NFL records. In his first season with the 49ers, he scored a record 166 points, tied the NFL record for the longest field goal at 63 yards, and set a new mark with 44 field goals made in a single season. He even threw a touchdown pass on a fake field goal attempt. That year, he earned first-team All-Pro honors and was selected to his sixth Pro Bowl. In 2012, Akers was a key contributor to the 49ers’ run to the NFC Championship and their appearance in Super Bowl XLVII. He was released by San Francisco after the 2012 season and finished his career with the Detroit Lions in 2013.

On October 23, 2017, David Akers was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame. In a fitting tribute, he signed a ceremonial one-day contract to officially retire as an Eagle – ending his remarkable career with the team and city that had become his football home.

Images licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Biography by Chris Aldridge