| Personal information | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born: | (1989-05-23)May 23, 1989 (age 35) Metairie, Louisiana, U.S. | ||||||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||
| Weight: | 180 lb (82 kg) | ||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||
| High school: | Archbishop Rummel (LA) | ||||||||||||
| College: | Millsaps | ||||||||||||
| Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2011 | ||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Career CFL statistics | |||||||||||||
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| Career Arena League statistics | |||||||||||||
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Taylor Russolino (born May 23, 1989) is an Americangridiron footballplacekicker who is a free agent. He kicked anXFL-record 58-yard field goal during the2020 XFL season.
A native ofMetairie, Louisiana, Russolino did not play football until his senior year of high school. Originally a soccer player, Russolino was approached by the high school football coach and soccer coach to kick for the football team as their normal kicker was playing in a baseball playoff tournament.[1] After participating in a Ray Guy kicking camp, he dropped soccer after receiving advice from NFL kickerJohn Carney to pursue a football career.[2]
Russolino playedcollege football atMillsaps College at theDivision III level, where he was a three-time all-conference selection, and setting multiple kicking records for the program.
Russolino signed his first professional contract with theMarion Blue Racers of theContinental Indoor Football League in 2013.[3] He signed with theNew Orleans VooDoo of theArena Football League in February 2014.[3] He played in three games, going 11-for-18 on extra point attempts and missed his only field goal attempt.[4] He was placed oninjured reserve on April 9, 2014.[5]
Russolino signed with theSpokane Empire of theIndoor Football League in March 2016.[6][7] Russolino was drafted by theShanghai Skywalkers in theChina Arena Football League draft in June 2016.[8] Russolino was named to the All-Pro South Division All-Stars. He was also one of eight players named to the CAFL Fan's Dream Team.
Russolino signed with theMontreal Alouettes of theCanadian Football League (CFL) on October 26, 2017, to replace their injured regular kickerBoris Bede.[9] Russolino played in two games,[10] punting 19 times for an average of 38.3 yards per punt, and making two of his three field goal attempts.[11] He was released on November 30, 2017.[12]
Russolino signed with theBC Lions of the CFL during training camp on May 18, 2019,[13] and was released before the season on May 30, 2019.[14]
Russolino was added to theSt. Louis BattleHawks' roster in November 2019.[15] While with the BattleHawks, he set theXFL record for longest made field goal, with a 58-yard field goal.[16] While with the BattleHawks, he started aGoFundMe page for front-line workers during theCOVID-19 pandemic, a group which his fiancée was a part of.[17] He was named to the 2020 midseason All-XFL team.[18] He had his contract terminated when the league suspended operations on April 10, 2020.[19]
Russolino was signed to theDenver Broncos practice squad on December 7, 2020.[20] He was signed after former punter and XFL broadcasterPat McAfee recommended him to Broncos special teams coordinatorTom McMahon.[21] Russolino was elevated to the active roster on December 18 for the team's week 15 game against theBuffalo Bills to replaceBrandon McManus, who was inCOVID-19 protocols, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[22] Russolino's practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 11, 2021.[23]
On November 17, 2022, Russolino was drafted by theArlington Renegades of theXFL.[24] He re-signed with the team on January 26, 2024.[25] He was released on April 22, 2024.[26]