Rookie kicker Ryan Fitzgerald has been named the NFC special teams player of the week following his performance in the Carolina Panthers’ recent win over the Dallas Cowboys. Fitzgerald, who joined the Panthers as an undrafted rookie from Florida State, secured his team’s 30-27 victory with a last-second 33-yard field goal.
Tight end Tommy Tremble commented on Fitzgerald’s composure under pressure: “I mean, he’s got nerves of steel, man. And we believe every single time he goes out there, he’s going to make the kick. And so him going out there icing the game, awesome. I’m really happy for him.”
This season, Fitzgerald has made 10 of his 11 field goal attempts and is perfect on extra points in Week 6. His longest successful attempt was a 57-yarder against Atlanta earlier this year. Against Dallas, he also converted a 55-yard field goal before making the game-winner.
Fitzgerald’s performance contributed to bringing the Panthers to a .500 record for the first time since 2021. Reflecting on his experience with the team so far, Fitzgerald said: “Yeah, it’s awesome; I mean, it’s a lot of fun. I mean, I’m so competitive in nature and, just to be on a team that has that drive and that fight regardless of the score, regardless of the outcome, that these guys want to go to work, I’m so excited to be a part of that.”
With a current field goal success rate of approximately 90.9 percent (10-of-11), Fitzgerald would rank second all-time if he maintained this pace over at least 100 attempts—behind Cameron Dicker and ahead of Justin Tucker.
After Sunday’s game-winning kick, Fitzgerald emphasized teamwork: “I think I have to continue to prove myself,” he said Sunday. “I mean, I haven’t made it just because you know of one solid game, and every week I’ve got to keep finding new ways to get better and help this team. Offense did a great job giving me a chip shot, and at that point I just need to do my job. JJ and Sam did theirs, a great snap, great hold, protection up front was great all game, so I just got to do my job at that point.”
