Florida State is adding Sebastian Janikowski to one of its most exclusive lists.
The Seminoles will retire Janikowski’s No. 38 jersey during their 2026 season opener on August 29 against New Mexico State, the school announced Wednesday. The honor comes with an in-game recognition at Doak Campbell Stadium, where the game is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
Janikowski’s place in FSU history has long been secure. He remains the only two-time winner of the Lou Groza Award, given each year to the nation’s top kicker, and he starred for the Seminoles from 1997-99 before going on to become a first-round NFL pick. The left-footed kicker was selected 17th overall by the Oakland Raiders in the 2000 NFL Draft, and he still stands as the last kicker taken in the first round.
Born in Poland and raised in Florida after moving before 10th grade, Janikowski helped power Florida State to a perfect 12-0 season and the program’s second national championship in his final year. His college résumé was loaded from the start. As a freshman in 1997, he earned Freshman All-America honors and drilled a then-school-record 56-yard field goal against Wake Forest.
His sophomore season pushed him even higher into the record book. Janikowski set Florida State and ACC single-season marks with 27 made field goals and 123 points, while connecting on 84.4 percent of his attempts, the best rate in the nation. In his final season, he was perfect on 47 PATs, made an NCAA-best 23 field goals and led the ACC with 116 points.
Over his Florida State career, Janikowski finished with 66 made field goals on 83 attempts and 126 extra points. He left Tallahassee as the program’s career field goal percentage leader, ranked second in school history with five 50-yard field goals, and sat third all-time in both points scored with 324 and field goals made with 66. He was later named to the ACC’s 50th Anniversary Team in 2002, entered the FSU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, and is currently on the ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame.
His pro career matched the reputation he built in college. Janikowski spent 17 seasons with the Raiders and became the franchise’s all-time leader with 414 made field goals, 605 made PATs and 1,913 points.
That list includes a 63-yard field goal in 2011 that tied an NFL record. He finished his career after one season with the Seattle Seahawks in 2018.
Janikowski will become the 13th Seminole to have a jersey or number retired, joining Deion Sanders (2), Jameis Winston (5), Peter Warrick (9), Derrick Brooks (10), Chris Weinke (16), Charlie Ward (17), Fred Biletnikoff (25), Terrell Buckley (27), Warrick Dunn (28), Ron Sellers (34), Ron Simmons (50) and Marvin Jones (55).
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