Nick Lowery Books
Naked and Alone with 80,000 People
NICK LOWERY
Kickers Matter
For decades, the Pro Football Hall of Fame has overlooked the most accurate kicker in NFL history. Nick Lowery didn't just kick field goals—he revolutionized the position, changed how the game was played, and became the standard by which all kickers are measured.
The numbers don't lie. The impact is undeniable. It's time for the Hall of Fame to recognize excellence at every position.
The Historic Records
The Revolutionary Impact: Making Mid-Field Field Goals a Phenomenon
In the early 1980s, Nick Lowery didn't just kick field goals—he changed the strategic calculus of football itself. Before Lowery, mid-field field goals (50+ yards) were rare, desperate attempts. Lowery made them routine, forcing defensive coordinators to rethink field position and giving offensive coordinators a weapon they'd never had before.
The impact was immediate and lasting. Coaches began attempting field goals from distances previously considered impossible. The modern NFL, where 50-yard field goals are commonplace, owes its existence to pioneers like Lowery who proved it could be done—and done consistently.
The Jan Stenerud Standard: Beating a Hall of Famer Head-to-Head
When Nick Lowery won the kicking job for the Kansas City Chiefs, he didn't just beat out any kicker—he beat out Jan Stenerud, a future Hall of Famer and one of the most celebrated kickers of his era.
The Competition That Proved Everything
Stenerud entered the competition as a legend with a career 67% field goal percentage. Lowery, after 11 NFL rejections, won the job through superior accuracy and consistency. He then spent 18 years proving it wasn't a fluke—it was the changing of the guard.
Stenerud is in the Hall of Fame. The kicker who beat him head-to-head and then surpassed his records is not. That's not just an oversight—it's a failure to recognize excellence when it's staring you in the face.
The Hall of Fame Comparison
Let's compare Nick Lowery to the kickers already enshrined in Canton:
| Metric | Nick Lowery | Jan Stenerud (HOF) | Morten Andersen (HOF) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Career FG Percentage | 80.5% (#1 at retirement) | 66.8% | 79.7% |
| PAT Percentage | 99.1% (#1 all-time at retirement) | 98.8% | 99.0% |
| Total Field Goals Made | 383 (#1 at retirement) | 373 | 565 (played 7 more seasons) |
| Career Length | 18 seasons | 19 seasons | 25 seasons |
| 50+ Yard FGs | 37 (revolutionary for era) | 17 | 40 |
| All-Pro Selections | 3 First-Team, 4 Second-Team | 1 First-Team, 3 Second-Team | 1 First-Team, 6 Second-Team |
The verdict is clear: Lowery's accuracy exceeds Stenerud's significantly and matches Andersen's despite playing in an era with less advanced equipment. He retired as the all-time leader in the most important statistical categories. If the Hall of Fame is about excellence, Lowery belongs.
Beyond the Numbers: The Byron White Award
The Pro Football Hall of Fame doesn't just honor athletic excellence—it honors character, leadership, and contribution to the community. Nick Lowery exemplifies all three.
- Byron "Whizzer" White Award Winner: The NFL Players Association's highest humanitarian honor, recognizing outstanding community service
- NFL Man of the Year (4x for Chiefs, 1x for Jets): Five-time recognition for excellence on and off the field
- Co-Founder of AmeriCorps: Worked alongside President Bill Clinton to launch one of America's most significant national service programs
- Harvard MPA Graduate: Pursued advanced education in public administration, demonstrating commitment to service beyond football
- 30 Years with Native Vision: Decades of work with Native American youth, fostering education and empowerment
- Champions for Homeless: 18 years working with Kansas City's homeless population, bringing dignity and hope to the forgotten
If the Hall of Fame celebrates ambassadors of the game, few have represented the NFL with more dignity, intelligence, and compassion than Nick Lowery.
"Nick Lowery didn't just make kicks. He changed what was possible. Before him, a 50-yard field goal was a prayer. After him, it was an expectation."— The Evolution of NFL Strategy
NFL Sirius/XM Channel Recognition
The NFL's top radio show on Sirius/XM has named Nick Lowery the Kansas City Chiefs' #1 next candidate for the Hall of Fame—a recognition from the sport's most informed voices that his induction is long overdue.
🎧 Listen: Making the Case for Nick Lowery
Movin' The Chains - NFL Sirius/XM
The Argument Against Position Bias
For too long, the Hall of Fame has treated kickers as second-class citizens. Only two pure kickers have been inducted: Jan Stenerud and Morten Andersen. Meanwhile, players at other positions with less statistical dominance, shorter careers, and comparable impact have been enshrined.
Why Kickers Deserve Equal Consideration
- Games are decided by kicks: Championships have been won and lost on field goals. Lowery's accuracy in clutch moments changed outcomes.
- The pressure is unique: No position in football requires more mental toughness. One kick, all eyes watching, season on the line.
- Statistical excellence is measurable: Unlike subjective positions, kicking has clear, objective metrics. Lowery dominated them all.
- Strategic impact is undeniable: Lowery's range forced defenses to play differently, changed fourth-down decisions, and redefined field position.
- Longevity matters: 18 years of elite performance, not a flash-in-the-pan career.
The Hall of Fame celebrates excellence at every position. Kickers matter. And no kicker was more excellent than Nick Lowery.
The Case in Summary
Why Nick Lowery Belongs in Canton
1. Statistical Dominance: Retired as #1 in accuracy, #1 in field goals made, #1 in PAT percentage, #1 in bad weather kicking
2. Revolutionary Impact: Made 50+ yard field goals routine, changing offensive strategy across the league
3. Head-to-Head Victory: Beat Hall of Famer Jan Stenerud for the Chiefs job, then exceeded his career stats
4. Longevity and Consistency: 18 seasons of elite performance, 7 All-Pro selections
5. Character and Service: Byron White Award, 5x Man of the Year, co-founder of AmeriCorps, decades of humanitarian work
6. Historical Significance: A 58-yard record that stood for 40 years, Chiefs all-time scoring leader, redefined what was possible
Every metric that matters—accuracy, volume, clutch performance, longevity, impact on the game, character—supports Nick Lowery's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The question isn't whether Lowery deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. The question is: How much longer will the Hall ignore the most accurate kicker in NFL history?