Kickers are an unsung hero in the world of football. From game-winning kicks to kickoffs that can land the opposing team in bad field position, kickers are underrated in the eyes of football fans.
One of those unsung heroes who continues to shine on the field is Matt Prater. Sitting at 41 years old, Matt Prater is a current NFL place kicker for the Buffalo Bills.
Matt Prater was a UCF Knight for his whole collegiate career, spanning from 2002 to 2005. As a Knight, he made 108 out of his 117 extra point attempts and made 50 field goals out of 74 attempts. He also punted 68 times for 3,204 yards.
Matt Prater would then go on to the NFL draft and would be picked up by the Detroit Lions in 2006 as an undrafted free agent. He would play for six different teams: Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, and Buffalo Bills (current team).
Throughout his professional career, Prater has made 417 field goals out of 498 attempts and 604 extra points out of 620 attempts.
Recently, in Week 1 of the 2025-2026 NFL season, Matt Prater helped close a Buffalo Bills comeback over the Baltimore Ravens by hitting a 32-yard field goal as time expired.
Matt Prater continues to charge on and shine on the field, just as he once did as a UCF Knight.
