''For the American basketball player, see
Jeff Wilkins (basketball).''
'Jeff Allen Wilkins' (born
April 19,
1972 in
Youngstown, Ohio) is an
American football placekicker who currently plays for the
St. Louis Rams of the
NFL. He previously played for the
San Francisco 49ers and
Philadelphia Eagles and played
college football at
Youngstown State University.
Wilkins gained early recognition as a student athlete at Austintown Fitch High School in
Austintown, Ohio. During this period, he won All-State honors as kicker and also served as the team's starting quarterback.
College career
At
Youngstown State University, Wilkins made a school record 66 field goals, with a long of 54 (another school record). He was also an outstanding punter, averaging 38 yards per punt.
Professional career
Wilkins signed with the
Philadelphia Eagles in 1994, but played in just 6 games and did not attempt a single field goal or extra point. The following season, he joined the 49ers. While he only played in 7 games, he had a superb season, kicking 12 of 13 field goals. In 1996, he finally saw duty as his team's full time kicker and did not disappoint, kicking 30 of 34 field goals and all 40 extra point attempts.
In 1997, he joined the Rams, where he has played the rest of his career up to this point and became the team's all time leading scorer. Wilkins assisted his team to a championship win in
Super Bowl XXXIV, kicking 3 of 4 field goals and two extra points in the Rams 23–16 win over the
Tennessee Titans. He also kicked a 50–yard field goal in the Rams 20–17 loss in
Super Bowl XXXVI.
In 2003, Wilkins kicked an NFL record-tying 39 field goals (then shared with former
Miami Dolphins and current
New Orleans Saints kicker
Olindo Mare), which stood until surpassed by
Neil Rackers' 40 field goals in 2005.
In St. Louis' opening game of the 2006 season, Wilkins set a franchise record by kicking 6 field goals in their 18–10 win over the
Denver Broncos. He also became the first Rams player ever to score over 1,000 points.