Michael Nugent (born March 2, 1982) is an American former professional
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
placekicker
In gridiron football, the placekicker (PK), or simply kicker (K), is the player responsible for attempts at scoring Field goal (football), field goals and extra points. In most cases, the placekicker also serves as the team's kickoff specialist ...
who played in the
National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...
(NFL). He played
college football
College football is gridiron football that is played by teams of amateur Student athlete, student-athletes at universities and colleges. It was through collegiate competition that gridiron football American football in the United States, firs ...
for the
Ohio State Buckeyes
The Ohio State Buckeyes are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Ohio State University, located in Columbus, Ohio. The athletic programs are named after the colloquial term for people from the state of Ohio and after the state tree, ...
, where he won the
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County, Florida, Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns ...
in 2004, and was twice recognized as a consensus
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
. He was selected by the
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...
in the second round of the
2005 NFL draft
The 2005 NFL draft, the 70th in league history, took place on April 23 and 24, 2005 NFL season, 2005. The draft was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City and was televised for the 26th consecutive year, with coverage on E ...
, and also played for the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...
,
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...
,
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...
,
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
,
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
,
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team based in Oakland, California, from its founding in 1960 to 1981, and again from 1995 to 2019 before Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas, relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan ...
, and
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...
during his 16-year career.
Early life
Nugent was born in
Centerville, Ohio
Centerville is a city in Montgomery County, Ohio, United States. A core suburb of Metro Dayton, its population was 24,240 as of the 2020 census.
History
Following the signing of the Treaty of Greenville, which opened the Northwest Territory to ...
.
He attended
Centerville High School, and played kicker and quarterback on the Elks football team. He was a teammate of linebacker
A. J. Hawk on the school's football team.
As a senior kicker, he converted on five out of seven
field goal
A field goal (FG) is a means of scoring in gridiron football. To score a field goal, the team in possession of the ball must place kick, or drop kick, the ball through the goal, i.e., between the uprights and over the crossbar. Consequently, ...
attempts of greater than fifty yards (24 of 27 altogether), kicked a 55-yard field goal twice, and was 29 out of 29
extra point
Extra, Xtra, or The Extra may refer to:
Arts, entertainment and media Film
* The Extra (1962 film), ''The Extra'' (1962 film), a Mexican film
* The Extra (2005 film), ''The Extra'' (2005 film), an Australian film
Literature
* Extra (newspaper), ...
attempts.
College career
While attending
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University (Ohio State or OSU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbus, Ohio, United States. A member of the University System of Ohio, it was founded in 1870. It is one ...
, Nugent played for coach
Jim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel (born December 5, 1952) is an American politician and retired college football coach who has served as the 67th lieutenant governor of Ohio since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Tressel previously was the president ...
's
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team competes as part of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, representing Ohio State University in the Big Ten Conference. Ohio State has played its home games at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio, since 1 ...
team from 2001 to 2004.
During his four-year career at Ohio State, he broke or tied 22 school records, including most points in a career by any player at Ohio State (356).
He completed 72 of 88 field goal attempts and 140 of 143 extra point attempts. He was recognized as a consensus first-team
All-American
The All-America designation is an annual honor bestowed on outstanding athletes in the United States who are considered to be among the best athletes in their respective sport. Individuals receiving this distinction are typically added to an Al ...
as a sophomore in
2002
The effects of the September 11 attacks of the previous year had a significant impact on the affairs of 2002. The war on terror was a major political focus. Without settled international law, several nations engaged in anti-terror operation ...
and again as a unanimous All-American senior in
2004
2004 was designated as an International Year of Rice by the United Nations, and the International Year to Commemorate the Struggle Against Slavery and Its Abolition (by UNESCO).
Events January
* January 3 – Flash Airlines Flight 60 ...
, and received the
Lou Groza Award
The Lou Groza Award is presented annually to the top college football placekicker in the United States by the Palm Beach County, Florida, Palm Beach County Sports Commission. The award is named after former Ohio State Buckeyes and Cleveland Browns ...
as the nation's top college placekicker in 2004.
Nugent also was part of three Bowl wins – 2003 & 2004 Fiesta Bowl / 2004 Alamo Bowl, and was part of the
2002 Ohio State Buckeyes Division I National Championship team. He became the first kicker in school history to earn team
most valuable player
In team sports, a most valuable player (MVP) award is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particular competition, or ...
honors.
Career statistics
Inducted into the Ohio State University Athletic Hall of Fame; September 6, 2019
Professional career
New York Jets
Nugent was selected by the
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Jets compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The team p ...
in the second round (47th overall) of the
2005 NFL draft
The 2005 NFL draft, the 70th in league history, took place on April 23 and 24, 2005 NFL season, 2005. The draft was held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City and was televised for the 26th consecutive year, with coverage on E ...
. As a rookie, Nugent converted all 24 extra point attempts and 22 of 28 field goal attempts. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December 2006. In the 2006 season, he converted 34 of 35 extra point attempts and 24 of 27 field goal attempts. In the 2007 season, he converted 23 of 24 extra point attempts and 29 of 36 field goal attempts. During the opening game of the
2008 NFL season
The 2008 NFL season was the 89th regular season of the National Football League (NFL), themed with the slogan "Believe in Now."
Super Bowl XLIII, the league's championship game, was at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, on February 1, ...
, Nugent injured his quadriceps following an extra point. To replace Nugent the Jets signed
Jay Feely
Thomas James Feely (born May 23, 1976) is a former professional football player. He started his playing career as a placekicker with the Florida Bobcats in the Arena Football League (AFL) as a free agent in 1999 before playing for several Na ...
, who performed so well in the position that he became the Jets' starter while Nugent, who eventually recovered from his injury, was forced to stay on the bench.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
As an
unrestricted free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player or manager who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under a contract at present ...
in the 2009 offseason, Nugent signed a one-year contract with the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...
on March 4 and won the job over
Matt Bryant
Steven Matt Bryant (born May 29, 1975), nicknamed "Money Matt", is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Baylor Bears, and was signed as ...
in the preseason due to Bryant's injury. After converting just two of his first six tries (2 blocked) through four games, Nugent was released by the Buccaneers on October 5.
Arizona Cardinals (first stint)
Nugent signed with the
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in the Phoenix metropolitan area. The Cardinals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West division. The ...
on December 16, 2009, as a temporary replacement for the injured
Neil Rackers
Neil William Rackers (born August 16, 1976) is an American former professional American football, football player who was a placekicker for 12 seasons in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Illinois Fighting I ...
.
He was waived by the Cardinals on January 2, 2010.
Cincinnati Bengals

Nugent signed with the
Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals are a professional American football team based in Cincinnati. The Bengals compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its h ...
on April 23, 2010.
He competed with
Dave Rayner throughout training camp and the preseason for the Bengals starting job. Nugent eventually won the competition when the Bengals released Rayner on September 4, 2010, after Nugent made 54- and 52-yard field goals in the team's final two preseason games.
Nugent was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for the month of September by going 8 for 8 on field goal tries in the Bengals' first three games of the season.
In the 2010 season, Nugent converted all 17 extra point attempts and 15 of 19 field goal attempts.
In 2011, Nugent set franchise records for points (132) and field goals (33). In the 2011 season, he converted 33 of 34 extra point attempts and 33 of 38 field goal attempts. He signed a one-year contract tender with the Bengals for the 2012 season.
On March 10, 2013, the Bengals re-signed Nugent to a two-year deal.
On September 7, 2014, Nugent tied the NFL record for most field goals made in one half with five.
On January 4, 2015, Nugent kicked a career-long 58-yard field goal during the AFC first-round playoff game against the Indianapolis Colts. On October 11, 2015, Nugent made a winning field goal against the Seattle Seahawks in overtime in Week 5, 2015.
In Nugent's seven-year run in Cincinnati, he helped the Bengals win the
AFC North
The American Football Conference – Northern Division or AFC North is one of the four Division (sport), divisions of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The division was created after the NFL realign ...
Division Championship in 2013 and 2015. He also played in the Bengals 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015 AFC Wild-Card Playoff games.
Nugent was released by the Bengals on December 13, 2016, after missing his sixth extra point of the season. Head coach Marvin Lewis described it as a "difficult decision" and noting that Nugent was a "tremendous teammate" and had been an integral part of the team for seven seasons.
New York Giants
On August 1, 2017, Nugent signed with the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...
where he would compete with
Aldrick Rosas
Aldrick Rosas ; (born December 30, 1994) is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Southern Oregon Raiders. Rosas was selected to the Pro B ...
for the starting position. At the conclusion of the preseason, Nugent was cut from the Giants' roster on September 2, 2017.
Dallas Cowboys
On October 24, 2017, Nugent was signed by the
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex. The Cowboys compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. T ...
as a stand-in for injured
Dan Bailey, reuniting with
Rich Bisaccia
Richard Bisaccia (born June 3, 1960) is an American football coach who is the assistant head coach and special teams coordinator for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as an assistant coach for the D ...
who was his
special teams
In American football, the specific role that a player takes on the field is referred to as their position. Under the modern rules of American football, both teams are allowed 11 players on the field at one time and have "unlimited free substitu ...
coach with the
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (colloquially known as the Bucs) are a professional American football team based in Tampa, Florida. The Buccaneers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC S ...
. He was released on November 26, after Bailey was deemed healthy from his previous groin injury. He made 7 out of 9 field goals in four games.
Chicago Bears
On December 4, 2017, the
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
signed Nugent to replace the injured
Cairo Santos. In Week 17, Nugent tied his personal record when he converted a 55-yard field goal. He finished the 2017 season converting 15 of 17 extra points and 11 of 13 field goal attempts.
Oakland Raiders
On August 4, 2018, Nugent signed with the
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders were a professional American football team based in Oakland, California, from its founding in 1960 to 1981, and again from 1995 to 2019 before Oakland Raiders relocation to Las Vegas, relocating to the Las Vegas metropolitan ...
. He was placed on injured reserve on September 26, 2018, after suffering a hip injury in Week 3.
New England Patriots
On October 3, 2019, Nugent signed with the
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots are a professional American football team based in the Greater Boston area. The Patriots compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC East, East division. The Pa ...
after they placed
Stephen Gostkowski
Stephen Carroll Gostkowski ( ; born January 28, 1984) is an American former professional football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. A member of the New England Patriots for most of his career, he is th ...
on injured reserve. He was released on October 29, 2019, after missing two kicks in a game against the
Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns are a professional American football team based in Cleveland. The Browns compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team is named after ...
. In four games with the Patriots, Nugent went 5-of-8 on field goals and 15-of-16 on extra points.
Arizona Cardinals (second stint)
On September 18, 2020, Nugent was signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster on December 12 and 19 for the team's weeks 14 and 15 games against the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The ...
and
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia. The Eagles compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC East, East division. The team plays its ...
, and reverted to the practice squad after each game. On December 25, 2020, Nugent was promoted to the active roster. His only missed field goal came against the
Los Angeles Rams
The Los Angeles Rams are a professional American football team based in the Greater Los Angeles, Greater Los Angeles area. The Rams compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC West, West ...
in Week 17 when the kick was blocked.
NFL career statistics
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nugent, Mike
1982 births
Living people
Players of American football from Dayton, Ohio
American football placekickers
Ohio State Buckeyes football players
All-American college football players
New York Jets players
Tampa Bay Buccaneers players
Arizona Cardinals players
Cincinnati Bengals players
New York Giants players
Dallas Cowboys players
Chicago Bears players
Oakland Raiders players
New England Patriots players