One of the most concerning developments from the 2024 Vikings season was Will Reichard’s regression in the last third of the season. Reichard went 10 of 14 on field goal attempts (71.4%), and something about him seemed off. I think fans were willing to dismiss those struggles and chalk them up to rust.
Fast forward to 2025 training camp, and Reichard is still missing routine kicks. As of August 3, Reichard had gone 13 for 18 (72.2%) on field goal attempts, missing twice from inside 40 yards during practice on August 2.
Reichard’s quad injury likely contributed to his late-season slump. The Vikings also have a legitimate punting battle between incumbent Ryan Wright and Oscar Chapman.
Hailing from Australia, Chapman is part of the international player program and offers his signature banana punts, which are notoriously hard for punt returners to catch. The presence of two punters means Reichard must work with two different holders on field goal attempts, which makes his job more complicated because he needs to build chemistry with a new punter/holder.
Here’s the thing: The clutch college kicker who holds the NCAA record for the most points scored in CFB history still exists. The Minnesota Vikings may be a snake-bitten franchise when it comes to kickers, but Reichard’s clutch gene didn’t randomly disappear the moment he donned the purple and gold.
Reichard was exactly as advertised, going 14 of 14 on FGs in Minnesota’s first seven games during his rookie year. That stretch of games offered enough hope for me to feel comfortable saying that Vikings fans shouldn’t panic, because ‘Will the Thrill’ is coming. It’s only a matter of time.
Reichard’s stoic demeanor, combined with his experience in high-stakes games during his five seasons as a starter for Alabama, bodes well for his future with the Vikings. In games decided by a three-point margin, Reichard made 19 of his 21 field goal attempts, including a 33-yard game-winner against the Texas Longhorns. Reichard also made all of his extra point attempts in those close games, going 26 for 26.
Will the Vikings give Reichard the time he needs to get back in rhythm, or will they repeat the same mistake that the old coaching staff made? No matter how talented a kicker is in college, it takes time for them to transition from college to the pros.
Daniel Carlson was an accomplished kicker at Auburn who never missed an extra point during his collegiate career. Carlson had a career year in 2016, going 28 of 32 on field goal attempts, and Minnesota drafted him in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
In his rookie year, Carlson missed all three of his field goal attempts in Week 2 against the Green Bay Packers. Had he made one of those kicks, the Vikings would have completed a comeback victory at Lambeau Field against their biggest division rival. Instead, the game ended in a tie.
Out of frustration, Mike Zimmer asked Rick Spielman to cut Daniel Carlson just two games into his rookie year. The Vikings didn’t give Carlson a chance to build his confidence, and the Las Vegas Raiders reaped the benefits, signing All-Pro talent for free.
Mike Zimmer, Mike Priefer, and Rick Spielman fell into the trap of replacing a young kicker the moment they started to lose confidence in themselves. Due to the franchise’s history with volatile kickers choking at the worst possible moment, Vikings fans also have a penchant for busting out the pitchforks and demanding to replace the kicker the moment they start to struggle.
Kevin O’Connell, Matt Daniels, and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must avoid the mindset of their predecessors and that held by much of the fan base. To maximize their return on investment in Will Reichard, Minnesota’s brass must prioritize his development and remain patient, even during times of adversity. If they create an environment where Reichard isn’t afraid of failure, his confidence will blossom again, knowing that the team has his back regardless of the outcome.