Chase McLaughlin Is Quietly Carrying the Bucs - One 50-Yard Bomb at a Time
In a season where Tampa Bay has been a roller coaster of inconsistency, one player has been the rock at the center of it all. While the defense has taken two steps forward in pressure and turnovers only to give up big plays in key moments, and the offense has flashed brilliance from young talent before fading into long, frustrating stretches, Chase McLaughlin has simply kept showing up. Steady, reliable, and increasingly clutch - the man they call “Money” has lived up to the nickname.
Turning the Corner After a Shaky Start
It didn’t start perfectly. McLaughlin missed three of his first nine field goal attempts through the first three games, including one that was blocked. But since Week 4, he’s flipped the switch - going 14-for-15 and looking every bit like one of the most dependable legs in football.
And here’s the kicker - he’s not just accurate, he’s doing it from deep. With a 57-yard strike against Arizona in Week 13, McLaughlin now leads the entire NFL in made field goals of 50+ yards this season, with nine. That breaks a tie with Vikings rookie Will Reichard and puts McLaughlin alone at the top of one of the toughest categories for any kicker.
He’s now just five long-range conversions away from tying the all-time single-season record of 14, set by Brandon Aubrey… last year. That’s right - 2024.
The modern NFL has changed the game for kickers. If you don’t have someone who can hit from 50-plus with confidence, you’re playing from behind.
Fortunately for the Bucs, they’ve got a guy who thrives in that range.
The Long-Range Weapon the Bucs Needed
Back in 2020, the Bucs were able to ride a red-hot offense and a steady - but range-limited - Ryan Succop to a Super Bowl. He was reliable inside 50 yards, and that was enough.
Fast forward to 2025, and that formula doesn’t work anymore. This year’s offense has struggled to consistently finish drives, which makes McLaughlin’s ability to cash in from deep all the more critical.
Since arriving in Tampa Bay in 2023, McLaughlin has hit 88.5% of his attempts from 50 yards or more - an elite number, especially considering the volume. That’s just a shade below his overall field goal percentage of 90.8%, which ranks second league-wide over that span.
Only Nick Folk has been more accurate, but he’s done it on less than half the long-distance attempts (12 to McLaughlin’s 26). When it comes to volume and consistency, McLaughlin is setting the gold standard.
Even Brandon Aubrey, who’s earned plenty of praise for his booming leg in Dallas, trails McLaughlin in terms of long-range reliability. Quietly, the Bucs kicker has become one of the most valuable special teams players in the league.
Rewriting the Bucs’ Record Books
Let’s not bury the lede: Chase McLaughlin is on pace to become the best kicker in Buccaneers history.
With two more field goals against the Cardinals, he’s now just three behind Ryan Succop for sixth on the franchise’s all-time list. And while Martin Gramatica’s record of 137 made field goals still looms large, McLaughlin is trending in that direction - and doing it with far better efficiency.
Heading into Week 13, McLaughlin’s career conversion rate with the Bucs was a full six percentage points higher than Succop’s, who ranks second in team history. That gap only widened with his latest performance.
And when it comes to long-distance kicking? It’s not even close.
McLaughlin has already made more than 50% more kicks from 50+ yards than the next closest Bucs kicker - in just two and a half seasons. He’s not just breaking records; he’s redefining what’s possible at the position in Tampa Bay.
A Bargain Deal That’s About to Get Expensive
Back in 2023, the Bucs signed McLaughlin to a three-year, $12.3 million deal. At the time, it looked like a solid value.
Now? It might be one of the best bargains in the league.
He’s set to earn $3.8 million next season - currently ninth among NFL kickers. But with his performance this year, he’s in prime position for an extension that could push him into the top five, likely in the $5.5 million per year range.
And frankly, he’s earned it.
McLaughlin has been instrumental in all seven of Tampa Bay’s wins this season. He nailed the game-winner as time expired against the Jets.
Two weeks later, he did it again against the Seahawks. And his 57-yarder against Arizona?
That was the difference in a 20-17 win. These aren’t just kicks - they’re game-deciding moments.
The MVP No One Talks About
In a year where Tampa Bay has struggled to find its identity on both sides of the ball, McLaughlin has quietly been the team’s most consistent - and arguably most valuable - player. He’s not just keeping the Bucs in games; he’s winning them.
While the highlight reels may not always show it, anyone watching closely knows just how critical McLaughlin has been. In a league where the margin between victory and defeat is often one possession - or one kick - the Bucs have found their closer.
And if he keeps this up, he won’t just be the best kicker in franchise history. He’ll be one of the most important players on the roster, period.