Overview
- There have already been four makes from 60 yards or longer this season—including a 65-yarder by Tampa Bay’s Chase McLaughlin and a 64-yarder by Dallas’ Brandon Aubrey—leaving the league one shy of the single-season record.
- Resolution G-2, approved in March and backed by seven clubs, lets teams receive 60 marked K-balls for the season and select three per game, with no ball used in more than three games.
- Preparation is limited to towels and a Wilson brush, with officials inspecting selections pregame; high heat and any alteration of shape are prohibited.
- Through five weeks, the NFL has 28 made field goals from at least 55 yards, the most ever at this point, and kickers are 4-for-7 (57%) from 60-plus so far this year.
- Eagles coordinator Vic Fangio blasted the new balls as having “drastically changed” field goals, while kickers such as Jake Elliott and Brandon Aubrey credit stronger legs, weather and the modest, calming benefit of broken-in footballs; San Francisco’s Eddy Pineiro estimates the change adds about 3–4 yards.