 Lutz with theDenver Broncos in 2025 | |||||||||||||
| No. 3 – Denver Broncos | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Placekicker | ||||||||||||
| Roster status | Active | ||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||
| Born | (1994-07-07)July 7, 1994 (age 31) Newnan, Georgia, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 184 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school | Northgate (Newnan, Georgia) | ||||||||||||
| College | Georgia State (2012–2015) | ||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2016: undrafted | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of 2025 | |||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
William Lutz (born July 7, 1994), nicknamed "Big Nutz Lutz",[1] is an American professionalfootballplacekicker for theDenver Broncos of theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theGeorgia State Panthers and signed with theBaltimore Ravens as anundrafted free agent in 2016. Lutz has also played for theNew Orleans Saints.
Lutz was born on July 7, 1994, inNewnan, Georgia. Both his mother and father, Julie and Robert (Bob) Lutz, work in education and together have another son, Wesley.[2] Julie served in various education jobs throughout Lutz's childhood, including as a principal ofCanongate Elementary School inSharpsburg, Georgia[3] and more recently, as the Dean atTruett McConnell University inCleveland, Georgia.[4] Bob was a middle school science teacher atMadras Middle School in Newnan for a number of years.[5]
Lutz attendedNorthgate High School in Newnan, where he competed inAmerican football,soccer andcross country running. In Lutz's senior year, the Northgate Vikings went undefeated (9–0) in the regular season.[6] The team defeatedNorth Clayton High School in the first round of the Georgia AAAA football playoffs, before falling toEast Paulding High School in the second round, concluding Lutz'shigh school football career. Lutz then enrolled atGeorgia State University.
Lutz was thekickoff specialist during the 2012 season and became theplacekicker for Georgia State after four games. At the end of the 2012 season, Lutz made 4-of-7 (57%)field goals and was a perfect 18-for-18 onextra points.[7] Lutz attempted his first field goal againstWilliam & Mary.[8] Lutz kicked a season-long 40-yard field goal againstRhode Island.[9]
At the end of the 2013 season, Lutz made 8-of-12 (67%) field goals and 25-of-26 (96%) extra points for 49 points.[7] Lutz kicked a school record 53-yard field goal againstAlabama.[10]
Lutz was named thepunter as well midway through the 2014 season.Phil Steele named Lutz to the Midseason All-Sun Belt first team. Lutz finished the 2014 season kicking 7-for-8 (88%) on field goals and 35-for-35 on extra points.[7] Lutz averaged 39.0 yards on 16 punts.[11] Lutz kicked a 26-yard game-winning field goal with four seconds left to lift GSU to a 38–37 victory overAbilene Christian in the 2014 season-opener.[12]
Lutz was the punter and the placekicker for the 2015 season. Lutz averaged 44.3 yards on 65 punts, the second-best season average in school history.[13] Lutz ended the 2015 season kicking 12-for-19 (63%) on field goals and 42–43 (98%) on extra points for 78 total points.[7] Lutz scored a career-high 11 points with two field goals and five extra points againstTexas State.[14]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Bench press | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft11+1⁄2 in (1.82 m) | 184 lb (83 kg) | 30+1⁄2 in (0.77 m) | 9 in (0.23 m) | 12 reps | ||||||||
| All values fromPro Day[15] | ||||||||||||
On May 5, 2016, Lutz signed with theBaltimore Ravens after going undrafted in the2016 NFL draft.[16] He was waived by the Ravens on August 29, 2016.[17]
On September 5, 2016, Lutz signed with theNew Orleans Saints.[18]
On September 18, 2016, against theNew York Giants, Lutz had a field goal blocked byJohnathan Hankins, which was recovered byJanoris Jenkins for a Giants touchdown.[19] On October 16, 2016, Lutz kicked a game-winning 52-yard field goal to defeat theCarolina Panthers, 41–38.[20] On October 30, 2016, Lutz kicked a career-best four field goals against theSeattle Seahawks.[21][22] Lutz earnedNational Football Conference (NFC)Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 6 and Week 8 of the 2016 season.[23][24] The only other Saints rookies to win the honor twice in a season were punterThomas Morstead and returnerReggie Bush.[23] On December 18, 2016, Lutz made the 22nd and 23rd field goals of his rookie season, setting the record for the most field goals made by a rookie in franchise history.[25] Lutz ended the season with 28 successful field goals.[26] Lutz was named to thePFWA All-Rookie Team for 2016.[27]
On September 11, 2017, Lutz tied his career high with four field goals in the season opening loss to theMinnesota Vikings onMonday Night Football.[28]
On September 30, 2018, Lutz matched his career-high of four field goals, in a Week 4 victory over the Giants.[29] Lutz was later named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September 2018, having made 10 of 11 attempted field goals and 11 of 11 extra-point attempts.[30]
On March 13, 2019, Lutz signed a five-year contract extension with the Saints.[31][32]
In Week 1 of the 2019 season, against theHouston Texans, Lutz was a perfect 3-for-3 on extra points and 3-of-4 field goals.[33] His 58-yard game-winning field goal was the longest game-winning field goal with no time remaining in the fourth quarter or overtime in a season opening game in NFL history. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance.[34]
In Week 2 of the 2020 season, against theLas Vegas Raiders onMonday Night Football, Lutz scored the first points inAllegiant Stadium history and the first ever points scored in the NFL inLas Vegas when he kicked a 31-yard field goal on the opening drive of the game.[35] In Week 5 against theLos Angeles Chargers, Lutz was a perfect 3 for 3 on field goal attempts and 3 for 3 on extra point attempts (scoring a total of 12 points) during the 30–27 win. On October 14, 2020, Lutz was named the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Week 5.[36]
On September 6, 2021, Lutz was placed on injured reserve.[37][38]
Lutz returned from his injury for the 2022 season. He converted all 33 extra point attempts and 23 of 31 field goal attempts in 17 games.[39]
On August 29, 2023, Lutz was traded to theDenver Broncos for a 2024 seventh-round pick.[40] Lutz was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November of the 2023 season.[41] In the 2023 season, he converted 29 of 31 extra point attempts and 30 of 34 field goal attempts.[42]
On March 12, 2024, Lutz signed a two-year contract extension with the Broncos.[43] Lutz also stated he would change his number from 16 to 3, his number when he was with New Orleans afterRussell Wilson was released.[44]
In Week 3 of the 2024 season, Lutz converted four field goals and two extra points in a 26–7 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[45] Later that season in Week 12, Lutz earned another AFC Special Teams Player of the Week, connecting on all five field goals and both extra point tries, securing a 29-19 win over the Las Vegas Raiders.[46]
Lutz became the fifth-fastest player in NFL history to reach the career 1,000-point mark, with an extra-point in a win against theBrowns on Monday Night Football.[47]
In October 2025, Lutz was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for the second time in his career after completing 100% of his field goal and extra point attempts, including a 57- and 55-yarder.[48] He won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the Broncos' Week 11 win over theKansas City Chiefs, going 5-for-5 on field goal attempts and kicking the game-winner.
On November 21, 2025, the Broncos signed Lutz to a three-year, $16.1 million contract extension.[49]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | Field goals | Extra points | Points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FGA | FGM | Lng | Pct | XPA | XPM | Pct | ||||
| 2016 | NO | 16 | 34 | 28 | 57 | 82.4 | 50 | 49 | 98.0 | 133 |
| 2017 | NO | 16 | 36 | 31 | 53 | 86.1 | 50 | 47 | 94.0 | 140 |
| 2018 | NO | 16 | 30 | 28 | 54 | 93.3 | 53 | 52 | 98.1 | 136 |
| 2019 | NO | 16 | 36 | 32 | 58 | 88.9 | 49 | 48 | 98.0 | 144 |
| 2020 | NO | 16 | 28 | 23 | 53 | 82.1 | 58 | 57 | 98.3 | 126 |
| 2021 | NO | 0 | Did not play due to injury | |||||||
| 2022 | NO | 17 | 31 | 23 | 60 | 74.2 | 33 | 33 | 100.0 | 102 |
| 2023 | DEN | 17 | 34 | 30 | 52 | 88.2 | 31 | 29 | 93.5 | 119 |
| 2024 | DEN | 17 | 34 | 31 | 55 | 91.2 | 46 | 46 | 100.0 | 139 |
| 2025 | DEN | 17 | 32 | 28 | 57 | 87.5 | 39 | 39 | 100.0 | 123 |
| Career | 148 | 295 | 254 | 60 | 86.1 | 409 | 400 | 97.8 | 1,162 | |
| Year | Team | GP | Field goals | Extra points | Points | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FGA | FGM | Lng | Pct | XPA | XPM | Pct | ||||
| 2017 | NO | 2 | 3 | 2 | 57 | 66.7 | 7 | 7 | 100.0 | 13 |
| 2018 | NO | 2 | 6 | 5 | 45 | 83.3 | 4 | 4 | 100.0 | 19 |
| 2019 | NO | 1 | 3 | 2 | 49 | 66.7 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 8 |
| 2020 | NO | 2 | 3 | 2 | 42 | 66.7 | 5 | 5 | 100.0 | 11 |
| 2024 | DEN | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 1 |
| 2025 | DEN | 2 | 6 | 4 | 50 | 66.7 | 4 | 4 | 100.0 | 16 |
| Career | 10 | 22 | 15 | 57 | 68.2 | 23 | 23 | 100.0 | 68 | |
Wil Lutz kicked field goals of 22, 53, 21 and 41 yards, the last with 1:57 left to give the Saints a 25–20 lead and force the Seahawks to score a touchdown to win.
Kamara ran for three second-half touchdowns, Wil Lutz matched his career high with four field goals and the Saints' defense shut down the New York Giants after giving up an early touchdown in a 33–18 win on Sunday.
