Chris Boswell field goal record: How Steelers kicker can break David Akers' NFL single-season mark

Daniel Mader

Chris Boswell field goal record: How Steelers kicker can break David Akers' NFL single-season mark image

The Steelers have already clinched a playoff berth, but their offense still has some history to chase.

Kicker Chris Boswell has been excellent throughout the 2024 season, playing a significant role in a Pittsburgh offense that enters Week 17 averaging 23.5 points per game. The 33-year-old, who's been with the Steelers since 2015, is on a record-breaking pace when it comes to field goals. With two games remaining, he has a shot at setting a new NFL record for made field goals in a single season.

How could Boswell pass David Akers for the most field goals in an NFL season? Here's a breakdown of Boswell's kicking pace, the updated single-season field goals leaderboard and more.

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Chris Boswell single-season field goal record pace

Boswell has 39 field goals through 15 games, putting him on pace for around 44 field goals by the end of the 17-game regular season. That mark would tie the NFL record, as Akers currently has the most field goals in a season with 44 in 2011.

Pittsburgh's veteran kicker has attempted 42 field goals, giving him a conversion percentage of 92.9 percent so far. Those 42 attempts are already a career-high for Boswell, as the most he had attempted in a season before was 40 in 2021. As of Week 15, he broke his own Steelers' franchise record for single-season field goals. 

Boswell currently leads the NFL in field goals made (39), field goals attempted (42) and is tied for the lead in extra-point percentage (100.0 percent). Through his first 10 games, he led the league with 29 field goals, and although his pace has slightly slowed down since then, he's still within range of Akers' single-season record.

A pair of dominant kicking games have helped immensely in Boswell's chase for history. In both Week 1 against the Falcons and Week 11 against the Ravens, the Steelers kicker connected on six field goals, becoming just the second kicker in NFL history to have at least six made field goals in two separate games in a single season.

Boswell has made 87.9 percent of his field goals throughout his 10-year career, and he's now having his best season yet.

Here's a look at his season-by-season numbers, all of them being with the Steelers: 

YearGamesFGM-FGAFG%LNGXPM-XPAPTS
20151229-3290.6%5126-27113
20161521-2584.0%4936-3699
20171635-3892.1%5337-39142
20181513-2065.0%5043-4882
20191629-3193.5%5128-28115
20201319-2095.0%5934-3891
20211736-4090.0%5627-29135
20221220-2871.4%5918-1878
20231729-3193.5%5727-28114
20241539-4292.9%5732-32149
Totals:148270-30787.9%59308-3231,118

MORE NFL WEEK 16: 

NFL single-season field goal record

Akers still leads the way with 44 made field goals on 52 attempts in 2011. The feat also came when the NFL was still operating on a 16-game regular season, so if Boswell is going to claim the record without any type of asterisk, it'd have to come by the end of Week 17. 

Here's a look at the current leaders for most single-season field goals in NFL history:

RankPlayerYearTeamFGM
1David Akers201149ers44
2Daniel Carlson2021Raiders40
 Neil Rackers2005Cardinals40
4Chris Boswell2024Steelers39
 Robbie Gould201749ers39
 Olindo Mare1999Dolphins39
 Jeff Wilkins2003Rams39
8Harrison Butker2017Chiefs38
 Stephen Gostkowski2013Patriots38
 Justin Tucker2013Ravens38
 Justin Tucker2016Ravens38
 Greg Zuerlein2017Rams38

MORE: Why the Chargers' Cameron Dicker got a free kick vs. Broncos

Steelers remaining 2024 schedule

Boswell has two games left to break Akers' record, and it begins with a Week 17 matchup against the Chiefs. 

Here's a look at the Steelers' final two games:

DateMatchupTime (ET)
Dec. 25vs. Chiefs1 p.m.
TBDvs. BengalsTBD

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Daniel Mader

Daniel Mader Photo

Daniel Mader joined Sporting News as an editorial intern in 2024 following his graduation from Penn State University. Previously, he covered Penn State, high school and local sports beats for NBC Sports, the Centre Daily Times, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, The Daily Collegian and LancasterOnline. He grew up in Lancaster, Penn., with a love for baseball that’ll never fade, but could also talk basketball or football for days.