The Philadelphia Eagles have made a decisive move to secure their special teams' backbone, signing kicker Jake Elliott to a four-year contract extension. The deal, finalised Wednesday, ensures Elliott will sport Eagles' wings through the 2028 season, CBS News Philadelphia reported. Elliott, 29, notched an Eagles record-breaking season last year, hitting 30 of 32 field goals while setting a single-season record for field goal percentage at 93.8% and nailing a league-leading seven field goals from 50-plus yards.
Elliott has been a fixture for the Eagles since being signed from the Cincinnati Bengals' practice squad in 2017 following an injury to Caleb Sturgis. The kicker stunned fans and foes alike, booting a 61-yard walk-off field goal against the Giants in his Lincoln Financial Field debut — an Eagles record. The Philadelphia kicker also set another bar in 2018, converting the longest postseason field goal in the franchise's history, a 53-yarder, in a victory over the Atlanta Falcons, as reported by ESPN.
Elliott's steel-nerved kicks have not only defined games but also seasons. His ability to tie games and then win them in the clutch has been demonstrated on numerous occasions. He retied his franchise-long 61-yard field goal in a Week 2 tangle against Minnesota, and set a record for the Eagles with the longest OT game-winning kick, a 54-yard triumph over Washington. In his own words, Elliott took pleasure in the weighty moments, telling the team's official website, "I like it when moments are bigger." Elliott's propensity for big moments raises the bar for what the Eagles can expect from their kicker going forward.
With 26 of them to his credit, Elliott owns the Eagles' record for most field goals beyond 50 yards. Achieving second place in Eagles history with 168 field goals and third in points at 775, his playoff record is spotless, having never missed a field goal across 16 attempts. This includes a 5-for-5 performance in two Super Bowl showings. The Eagles, recognizing the kicker's pivotal role, have firmly locked in this special teams talent. Alongside Elliott, long snapper Rick Lovato and punter Braden Mann, who have gone unnoticed by many, also received contract extensions this week, as ESPN noted.
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