Sebastian Janikowski

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Janikowski was born in Wałbrzych, Poland, to Henryk and Halina Janikowski, and has a sister named Anna. His father was a professional soccer player who moved to the United States in the early 1980s. After his parents divorced, Janikowski lived with his mother and excelled at soccer, earning a spot on the Polish under-17 team at age 15. He emigrated to the United States after his father married an American citizen. Janikowski played soccer at Orangewood Christian, leading them to the Class A State Championship game, and later joined the Orlando Lions under-19 soccer club. He moved in with coach Angelo Rossi's family to attend Seabreeze High School, where he played both soccer and football as a senior. As a placekicker, he kicked four field goals of 50+ yards, including a 60-yarder, and kicked an 82-yard field goal in practice. USA Today named him to its 1996 All-American team. He attended Florida State University, where he won the Lou Groza Award twice consecutively, the only player to do so. He was called 'Seabass' while at FSU. His college career included incidents: a fight outside a bar in August 1998 (charged with failure to leave the premises, pled no contest), another fight after a season-ending win (charged with battery), and an arrest in January 2000 for attempting to bribe an officer. He declared for the 2000 NFL draft after the 1999 season, citing a desire to pay for his mother to come to the United States. In his final college game, he helped Florida State win the national championship.

In Their Own Story

On November 4, 2007, at McAfee Coliseum on a windless afternoon, Janikowski attempted a historic 64-yard field goal against the Houston Texans. A successful kick would have shattered the existing 63-yard record, but the ball struck the right upright and bounced out. He continued to break his own team records, including a 57-yard overtime winner against the New York Jets on October 19, 2008, which was the longest in NFL history at that time. Later, on December 27, 2009, he kicked a 61-yarder against the Cleveland Browns, becoming only the second player ever to make two field goals of 59 yards or more. His career reached another peak on January 3, 2010, when he scored his 1,000th career point with a 39-yard field goal against the Baltimore Ravens. In Week 7 of the 2010 season, during a dominant 59–14 victory over the Denver Broncos, he converted all eight extra-point attempts for a single-game high.

Reader's Guide

Janikowski was selected by the Oakland Raiders 17th overall in the 2000 NFL draft. He was acquitted of the bribery charge shortly after the draft. Eight days later, he was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of GHB, but was acquitted in April 2001. His rookie season (2000) saw 68.8% field goal success and all 46 extra points made. In 2001, he made 82.1% of field goals. In 2002, he converted all 50 extra points and 26 of 33 field goals, and kicked an early field goal in Super Bowl XXXVII, giving the Raiders a brief 3–0 lead. On October 16, 2003, he tied the NFL record with four field goals in a single quarter. In 2003, he made 28 of 29 extra points and 22 of 25 field goals. In 2004, he made 31 of 32 extra points and 25 of 28 field goals, then signed a five-year contract extension reportedly worth $10.5 million, making him the highest paid kicker in NFL history at the time. In 2005, he made all 30 extra points and 20 of 30 field goals. In 2006, he made all 16 extra points and 18 of 25 field goals. On November 4, 2007, he attempted a 64-yard field goal that bounced off the right upright; that season he made all 28 extra points and 23 of 32 field goals. On September 28, 2008, he attempted a 76-yard field goal, presumed the longest attempt in NFL history. On October 19, 2008, he made a 57-yard field goal in overtime to defeat the New York Jets, the longest overtime field goal in NFL history. In 2008, he made 25 of 26 extra points and 24 of 30 field goals.

Did You Know?

• Janikowski is the only player to win the Lou Groza Award two years consecutively.
• He kicked an 82-yard field goal during a practice at Seabreeze High School.
• Janikowski was one of the first pure placekickers selected in the first round of the NFL draft, following Charlie Gogolak in 1966.
• He tied the then-NFL record for longest successful field goal at 63 yards.