TAMPA, Fla. — Chase McLaughlin’s journey to the NFL is similar to a lot of kickers who trickle into football — he started out as a soccer player.
As a student at Cypress Woods High School in Texas, the sophomore was approached after a kicker was hurt on the team. He was asked to give it a try and proceeded to embark on a trek he could have never dreamed about.
McLaughlin earned a scholarship at The University of Illinois, where he quickly became one of the most reliable kickers in college football. During his senior season, McLaughlin hit 19-of-25 field goals, with a long of 57 yards. His ability to drill deep kicks would be a huge lure for NFL teams at the next level.
McLaughlin went undrafted in the 2019 NFL Draft but signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills. While plenty of teams wanted to give him a chance, too many teams let him come and go early in his NFL tenure. In his rookie season, the kicker bounced around to five different teams. He has made 11 stops in his career before finding solid footing in Tampa Bay.
In the 2024 offseason, McLaughlin earned a three-year contract with the Buccaneers after a stellar 2023 campaign.
As of Dec. 12, he ranks No. 2 in NFL history in field goals beyond 49 yards (minimum 25 attempts). He is 31-of-38, which is good for 81.6 percent. The only kicker better than that is Chris Boswell at 82 percent.
McLaughlin also ranks No. 5 in the NFL in field goal percentage since the start of last season.
The kicker is not talked about often enough, but has had big moments for the Bucs, especially in Carolina this year where he kicked four field goals. One field goal sent the game into overtime and another was a game-winner after a key forced fumble from Anthony Nelson.
McLaughlin and the Buccaneers take on the Chargers this weekend in Los Angeles.
You can watch "The One Buc" every Thursday and Saturday on 10 Tampa Bay.