Ryan Longwell is a former American football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons. He began his career in 1997 as an undrafted free agent with the San Francisco 49ers, but was released before the start of the regular season. He then signed with the Green Bay Packers, where he spent the next nine seasons.
During his time with the Packers, Longwell established himself as one of the most accurate kickers in the NFL. He made 226 field goals and 361 extra points, and his 964 points scored are the most in franchise history. He was also named to the Pro Bowl in 2004.
In 2006, Longwell signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent. He spent the next six seasons with the team, and continued to be a reliable kicker. He made 135 field goals and 202 extra points, and his 607 points scored are the fourth-most in franchise history. He was also named to the Pro Bowl in 2008.
Longwell retired from the NFL in 2013, having played in 241 regular season games. He made 361 of his 434 field goal attempts, and 527 of his 539 extra point attempts. His 1,687 points scored are the 13th-most in NFL history.
Off the field, Longwell has been involved in various charitable endeavors. He and his wife, Sarah, founded the Ryan Longwell Foundation in 2004, which supports organizations that help children and families in need. He has also been active in the NFL's Play 60 program, which encourages children to be physically active for at least 60 minutes a day.
Overall, Ryan Longwell had a successful career as an NFL kicker, and his accuracy and reliability made him a valuable asset to the teams he played for. His contributions on and off the field have made him a respected figure in the football community.
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