Matt Prater is back in Denver this weekend, but this time he’s wearing Buffalo Bills colors. It’s a full-circle moment for one of the NFL’s most seasoned kickers, who made his name - and some serious history - in the Mile High City more than a decade ago.
If you’ve followed the league for a while, you remember the kick. December 2013.
Prater, then with the Broncos, lined up for a 64-yard field goal and drilled it. At the time, it was the longest successful field goal in NFL history - a booming shot that took full advantage of Denver’s thin air and Prater’s cannon of a leg.
That kick didn’t just break records - it capped off a remarkable season for Prater, who was perfect on all 75 extra point attempts that year. He was a key piece of a high-octane Broncos offense, and his consistency from deep gave Denver a weapon most teams could only dream of.
Fast forward to today, and that 64-yarder still holds a place in the record books - now tied for fifth-longest all-time. The league has seen a recent surge in long-distance makes, with kickers pushing the limits of what’s possible. Here’s how the leaderboard stacks up through the end of the 2025 regular season:
- Cam Little - 68 yards (2025)
- Cam Little - 67 yards (2025)
- Justin Tucker - 66 yards (2021)
- Brandon Aubrey - 65 yards (2024)
- Brandon Aubrey & Matt Prater - 64 yards (2025, 2013)
Even though Prater's no longer launching from 60-plus on a regular basis, he’s still got plenty of leg left - especially back in Denver, where the altitude does some of the work for you. And with the Bills in town for a high-stakes AFC Divisional Round matchup, don’t be surprised if the veteran gets a shot to show he’s still got that mile-high magic.
At 39, Prater’s longevity is impressive in its own right. But what really stands out is how he continues to deliver in pressure moments - the kind of reliability that playoff teams crave. Whether it’s a chip shot or a long-range bomb, Prater remains one of the most trusted legs in the league.
And now, back where he made history, he’s got a chance to add another chapter to an already remarkable career.