Jason Elam
Jason Elam (born March 8, 1970) is a former American football placekicker who played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for 17 seasons, primarily with the Denver Broncos from 1993 to 2007 and briefly with the Atlanta Falcons from 2008 to 2009.[1] Drafted in the third round (70th overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft out of the University of Hawaii, Elam became one of the league's most accurate and clutch kickers, retiring with 1,983 total points scored, including 436 of 540 field goals made at an 80.7% success rate.[1][2] His career highlights include three Pro Bowl selections (1995, 1998, 2001), two Super Bowl championships with the Broncos (XXXII and XXXIII), and a franchise-record 1,786 points for Denver, along with a 63-yard field goal in 1998, tied for the NFL record at the time.[1][3][4] Born in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Elam attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he set school records for field goals and helped lead the team to the 1992 Holiday Bowl.[1] Upon entering the NFL, he quickly established himself as a reliable performer for the Broncos under head coach Mike Shanahan, contributing to the team's turnaround and back-to-back Super Bowl victories after the 1997 and 1998 seasons, where he successfully converted key extra points and field goals in both title games.[1][3] Elam's consistency was evident in his career extra-point percentage of 99.4% (675 of 679), and he earned recognition as one of the top placekickers of his era, ranking among the all-time leaders in field goal accuracy at the time of his retirement.[1][5] After leaving Denver as a free agent following the 2007 season, Elam signed with the Falcons and provided veteran stability to their kicking game, converting 80.6% of his field goal attempts in his two years there before retiring at age 39.[1][2] Beyond his on-field accomplishments, Elam's tenure with the Broncos solidified his legacy as a pivotal figure in the franchise's most successful period, and he remains the team's all-time leading scorer.[6]Early years
Childhood and family
Jason Douglas Elam was born on March 8, 1970, in Fort Walton Beach, Florida.[7] His family relocated to the Atlanta metropolitan area during his early childhood, settling in Snellville, Georgia, where he was raised.[8] Elam is the son of Ralph Elam and has an older brother, Mark Elam, who served as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army.[9][10] From a young age, Elam was influenced by his family's Christian values and committed his life to Christ as a child, an experience that shaped his personal development.[11] His upbringing also fostered an early enthusiasm for sports, as well as a close-knit family environment that emphasized education and outdoor activities. These foundational influences contributed to his transition into organized athletics during high school.[12]High school career
Jason Elam attended Brookwood High School in Snellville, Georgia, where he developed his athletic skills across multiple sports during the late 1980s. As a multi-sport athlete, he lettered in football, swimming, and track, showcasing versatility and dedication to competitive endeavors from an early age.[13] In football, Elam emerged as a standout kicker, earning first-team All-County honors and second-team All-State recognition for his precision and power on field goals and punts.[13] He set school records at Brookwood with a 52-yard field goal and a 73-yard punt, demonstrating exceptional leg strength that drew attention from college scouts despite the position's relative obscurity at the high school level.[13] These achievements highlighted his raw talent, as he balanced rigorous training with the demands of a full varsity schedule, often performing under pressure in key games that contributed to his team's offensive strategies. Elam's high school prowess led to an active recruitment process, culminating in his commitment to the University of Hawaii after a memorable recruiting visit to the islands.[14] Coach Paul Johnson played a pivotal role in extending the offer, recognizing Elam's untapped potential as a specialist who could elevate a program seeking kicking reliability.[15] This decision represented a significant leap for the Georgia native, prioritizing his athletic growth over proximity to home while maintaining strong academic standing to meet collegiate eligibility requirements.[16]College career
Elam enrolled at the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1988 and played for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team from 1988 to 1992, serving as the primary placekicker throughout his five seasons.[12] During his college career, he also contributed as a punter, averaging 43.5 yards on 84 punts for a total of 3,652 yards.[17] Elam's statistical achievements were exceptional, converting 79 of 100 field goal attempts for a 79% success rate and 158 of 161 extra points for 98.1% accuracy, amassing 395 career points.[17] His longest field goal was a 56-yard kick against BYU in 1992, which set a University of Hawaii record and remains the program's standard for distance.[18] By graduation, Elam held every University of Hawaii and Western Athletic Conference (WAC) place-kicking record and was the all-time leading scorer for both until 2010.[19] In notable seasons, Elam led the WAC in field goals made (20) and points scored (106) in 1989, while in 1991 he topped the NCAA with 19 field goals made.[17] His 1992 campaign included leading the WAC in field goal attempts (25) and featured the record-setting 56-yarder in a 27-24 victory over BYU.[17] He earned three-time All-WAC honors as a placekicker, reflecting his consistent performance in the conference.[20] Academically, Elam was a three-time Academic All-WAC selection and received second-team Academic All-American honors in 1992; that year, he also won the Stan Bates Award as the top male student-athlete at Hawaii for combining athletic and scholarly excellence.[21] Elam's college success led to his selection by the Denver Broncos in the third round (70th overall) of the 1993 NFL Draft.Professional career
Denver Broncos tenure
Jason Elam was selected by the Denver Broncos in the third round of the 1993 NFL Draft out of the University of Hawaii. As a rookie in 1993, he quickly adapted to the professional level, converting 74.3 percent of his field goal attempts and making three of five tries from 50 yards or longer, which earned him All-Rookie honors.[1] His performance included earning NFL Special Teams Player of the Week honors after a game against the Kansas City Chiefs, where he made three field goals, highlighted by a 54-yarder.[22] Throughout the mid-1990s, Elam established himself as a consistent and reliable kicker, converting 31 of 39 field goal attempts (79.5%) in 1994, including 22 of 25 under 40 yards.[1] He earned his first Pro Bowl selection in 1995 along with second-team All-Pro honors, contributing to the team's growing success under quarterback John Elway.[22] His clutch performances, such as a game-winning 34-yard overtime field goal against the Chiefs in 1994, helped build momentum toward the Broncos' Super Bowl aspirations.[22] Elam's contributions were pivotal in the Broncos' back-to-back Super Bowl victories. In Super Bowl XXXII against the Green Bay Packers in 1998, he made a 51-yard field goal—the second-longest in Super Bowl history at the time—early in the second quarter, extending Denver's lead to 17-7 following a forced fumble by safety Steve Atwater.[23] This kick helped secure the Broncos' first championship, 31-24. In Super Bowl XXXIII the following year against the Atlanta Falcons, Elam added points through field goals and extra points, supporting the team's dominant 34-19 win and completing the franchise's first repeat titles.[22] Among his career highs with the Broncos, Elam tied an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1998, showcasing his powerful leg. He earned additional Pro Bowl nods in 1998 and 2001, along with second-team All-Pro honors in those years, recognizing his accuracy and reliability under pressure.[22] Over his 15 seasons with Denver from 1993 to 2007, Elam played in 236 games, the most in franchise history at the time of his departure, and became the Broncos' all-time scoring leader with 1,786 points from 395 field goals.[24] These milestones underscored his longevity and consistency, as he holds the team record for career field goals made.[8] Despite his success, Elam faced challenges from injuries, including a fractured lower vertebra in 2000 after a blind-side hit during a game against the Baltimore Ravens, which sidelined him briefly.[25] He also dealt with a strained left calf in 2005, forcing him to adapt his kicking technique mid-game by reducing his approach steps, and earlier issues like a hip flexor and groin strain in 1997 that threatened his availability.[26][27] Elam's overall impact on the Broncos was profound, serving as a clutch performer with 24 game-winning or game-tying field goals that contributed to 152 team victories, including the two Super Bowls.[22] His reliability bolstered the franchise's success during its most dominant era, earning him induction into the Broncos Ring of Fame in 2016.[8]Atlanta Falcons tenure
After 15 seasons with the Denver Broncos, Jason Elam signed as a free agent with the Atlanta Falcons on March 21, 2008, to a four-year contract worth $9 million, including $3.3 million guaranteed.[28] The move allowed Elam to return to the southeastern United States, closer to family ties including a brother reassigned to Georgia from Colorado due to military service.[29] In the 2008 season, Elam quickly adapted to the Falcons' roster during a rebuilding year following a 4-12 record in 2007, appearing in all 16 regular-season games and contributing to an 11-5 finish that secured a playoff berth. He converted 29 of 31 field goal attempts for a 93.5% success rate, including a perfect 10-for-10 on attempts from 40-49 yards and a long of 50 yards, while going 42-for-42 on extra points to score 129 points overall. Notable performances included a 34-yard game-winning field goal in overtime against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on December 14, securing a 13-10 victory, though he also missed a crucial 33-yard attempt late in a 13-10 win over the Chicago Bears on October 12. In the wild-card playoff loss to the Arizona Cardinals, Elam made his only field goal attempt and all three extra points.[1][30][31] Elam's 2009 season marked his final year in the NFL, limited to 11 games due to hamstring injuries that sidelined him early and contributed to inconsistent play amid the Falcons' 9-7 campaign. He made 12 of 19 field goals (63.2% accuracy), highlighted by a 50-yard make against the San Francisco 49ers on October 11, but struggled with shorter attempts, including a missed 34-yard kick against the Carolina Panthers on November 15 that cost a potential win. Elam converted 32 of 33 extra points for 68 total points before the Falcons released him on December 1 following ongoing special teams issues.[1][32][33] Elam's two-year tenure provided veteran stability to the Falcons' special teams unit during a transitional period, aiding their unexpected 2008 playoff appearance and offering reliability in a position that had been volatile prior to his arrival.[34][35]Career statistics and records
Regular season
Jason Elam enjoyed a distinguished 17-year NFL career as a placekicker, appearing in all 263 regular-season games from 1993 to 2009 and scoring points in each one, the second-longest streak in NFL history at the time of his retirement.[8] His reliability was evident in his consistent production, with 16 consecutive seasons of at least 100 points from 1993 to 2008, an NFL record.[36] The following table summarizes Elam's regular-season kicking statistics by year:| Year | Team | FG Made/Att | FG% | XP Made/Att | XP% | Points |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | DEN | 26/35 | 74.3 | 41/42 | 97.6 | 119 |
| 1994 | DEN | 30/37 | 81.1 | 29/29 | 100.0 | 119 |
| 1995 | DEN | 31/38 | 81.6 | 39/39 | 100.0 | 132 |
| 1996 | DEN | 21/28 | 75.0 | 46/46 | 100.0 | 109 |
| 1997 | DEN | 26/36 | 72.2 | 46/46 | 100.0 | 124 |
| 1998 | DEN | 23/27 | 85.2 | 58/58 | 100.0 | 127 |
| 1999 | DEN | 29/36 | 80.6 | 29/29 | 100.0 | 116 |
| 2000 | DEN | 18/24 | 75.0 | 49/49 | 100.0 | 103 |
| 2001 | DEN | 31/36 | 86.1 | 31/31 | 100.0 | 124 |
| 2002 | DEN | 26/36 | 72.2 | 42/43 | 97.7 | 120 |
| 2003 | DEN | 27/31 | 87.1 | 39/39 | 100.0 | 120 |
| 2004 | DEN | 29/34 | 85.3 | 42/42 | 100.0 | 129 |
| 2005 | DEN | 24/32 | 75.0 | 43/44 | 97.7 | 115 |
| 2006 | DEN | 27/29 | 93.1 | 34/34 | 100.0 | 115 |
| 2007 | DEN | 27/31 | 87.1 | 33/33 | 100.0 | 114 |
| 2008 | ATL | 29/31 | 93.5 | 42/42 | 100.0 | 129 |
| 2009 | ATL | 12/19 | 63.2 | 32/33 | 97.0 | 68 |
| Career | - | 436/540 | 80.7 | 675/679 | 99.4 | 1983 |
Postseason and Super Bowls
Elam participated in 15 postseason games over his NFL career, compiling an impressive record of 16 field goals made out of 19 attempts (84.2 percent) and 42 extra points out of 43 attempts (97.7 percent), for a total of 90 points scored. His playoff field goal percentage ranked among the highest for kickers with significant postseason volume, tying him for 21st all-time in made playoff field goals. Elam's consistency under pressure was evident, averaging approximately 6 points per playoff game, with notable long-range success including a playoff-longest 51-yard field goal.| Category | Made/Attempted | Percentage | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Field Goals | 16/19 | 84.2% | 48 |
| Extra Points | 42/43 | 97.7% | 42 |
| Total | - | - | 90 |