Mike Nugent is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for over a decade. He began his football career at Ohio State University, where he played for four years and set several school records. In 2005, Nugent was drafted by the New York Jets in the second round of the NFL Draft.
Nugent played for the Jets for four seasons, during which he set a franchise record for most field goals in a single season. He then played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Arizona Cardinals before joining the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010. Nugent played for the Bengals for seven seasons, during which he became the team's all-time leading scorer.
Throughout his career, Nugent was known for his accuracy and consistency as a kicker. He made over 80% of his field goal attempts and was particularly effective from long range. Nugent also had a strong leg and was able to consistently kick touchbacks on kickoffs.
Despite his success as a kicker, Nugent struggled with injuries throughout his career. He missed several games due to various injuries, including a torn ACL in 2008. In 2016, Nugent was released by the Bengals after missing several key kicks, including two extra points in a single game.
After leaving the Bengals, Nugent played for several other teams, including the Dallas Cowboys, Chicago Bears, and Oakland Raiders. He struggled with consistency during this time and was released by several teams after missing key kicks.
Nugent announced his retirement from the NFL in 2020 after 15 seasons. He finished his career with 253 field goals made and a career field goal percentage of 81.4%. Nugent was also known for his philanthropic work off the field, including his support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and other charitable organizations.
Overall, Mike Nugent had a successful career as a kicker in the NFL. He was known for his accuracy and consistency, but also struggled with injuries and inconsistency at times. Despite these challenges, Nugent was able to play for over a decade and leave a lasting impact on the teams he played for.
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