Jeff Wilkins is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for over a decade. He began his career as an undrafted free agent with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994, but was released before the start of the regular season. He then signed with the San Francisco 49ers, where he spent the next two seasons as a backup kicker and punter.
In 1997, Wilkins signed with the St. Louis Rams, where he would spend the majority of his career. He quickly established himself as one of the most reliable kickers in the league, making over 80% of his field goal attempts in each of his first five seasons with the team. He was particularly effective from long range, making 17 field goals of 50 yards or more during his time with the Rams.
Wilkins was a key contributor to the Rams' success during the early 2000s, which included a Super Bowl victory in 2000 and another appearance in the big game in 2002. He made several clutch kicks during the team's playoff runs, including a game-winning field goal in overtime of the 2001 NFC Championship Game against the Philadelphia Eagles.
In addition to his success on the field, Wilkins was also known for his durability and consistency. He played in all 16 games of a season nine times during his career, and finished with a career field goal percentage of 81.9%. He was also named to the Pro Bowl in 2003, and was a two-time All-Pro selection.
After spending his entire career with the Rams, Wilkins was released by the team in 2008 due to salary cap constraints. He briefly signed with the Atlanta Falcons, but was released before the start of the regular season. He officially announced his retirement from the NFL in 2009.
Since retiring from football, Wilkins has remained involved in the sport as a coach and mentor. He has worked with several high school and college kickers, and has also served as a consultant for NFL teams. He has also been active in charitable work, including the creation of the Jeff Wilkins Foundation, which supports various causes in his hometown of Youngstown, Ohio.
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