John Carney: One Of The NFL’s Longest-Serving And Top Scoring Kickers
Discover the inspiring NFL journey of John Carney, a record-setting kicker with over two decades in pro football. Learn how he became one of the league’s all-time leading scorers and a two-time Pro Bowl selection.
Jul 24, 202527.4K Shares457.2K Views
John Carneystands among the most dependable kickers in NFL history, playing an impressive 23 seasons from 1988 to 2010 and even touching four different decades in his career. Born on April 20, 1964 in Hartford, Connecticut, he began as an undrafted free agent in 1987 before finding his footing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1988. Carney rose to fame during his 11-year run with the San Diego Chargers, becoming the team’s all-time leading scorer and earning First-team All-Pro honors in 1994. He later became a key figure for the New Orleans Saints, helping lead them to their first Super Bowl win and earning a place in the Saints Hall of Fame. By the end of his career, he had made 478 field goals and 628 extra points, scoring 2,062 points—placing him among the top NFL scorers ever.
Early Life
John Carney was born on April 20, 1964, in Hartford, Connecticut. Around age 13, he moved with his family to West Palm Beach, Florida, where he attended Cardinal Newman High School. While playing football there, he earned All‑State honors as a punter by excelling on the field.
Professional Career
John Carney entered the NFL in 1987 as an undrafted free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals, but he was released before the season began. In 1988, he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing five games and handling both field goals and extra points.
In 1990, Carney signed with the San Diego Chargers. He stayed with the Chargers for 11 seasons, becoming their all-time leading scorer, earning First-team All-Pro honors in 1994, and helping the team reach Super Bowl XXIX.
Carney moved to the New Orleans Saints in 2001, where he played through 2006, then returned from 2009 to 2010. He kicked the game-winning field goal in the first Saints game back after Hurricane Katrina and held an 82.8% field goal percentage, ranking third in team history for scoring and field goals made. He joined the Saints Hall of Fame in 2014.
Between his time with the Chargers and Saints, Carney also had brief stints with the Los Angeles Rams, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants. He was selected to the Pro Bowl twice, in 1994 and 2008.
Carney retired in 2010 at age 46, ending a 23-year career across four decades. He made 478 field goals and 628 extra points, totaling 2,062 career points, which ranks him among the top five scorers in NFL history.
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