Jeff Wilkins
Encyclopedia
For the American basketball player, see Jeff Wilkins (basketball)
.
Jeffrey Allen Wilkins (born April 19, 1972 in Youngstown, Ohio
) nickname
d "Money" is a former American football
placekicker
in the National Football League
for the San Francisco 49ers
, Philadelphia Eagles
and St Louis Rams. He played college football
at Youngstown State University
. Wilkins is currently tied for second place all time in most consecutive PATs
without a miss at 371.
in the Youngstown, Ohio
suburb of Austintown
.
, Wilkins made a school record 66 field goals, with a long of 54 (another school record). He was also an outstanding punter, averaging 38 yards per punt. Wilkins was also a member of both the 1991 and 1993 Division I-AA National Championship teams with the Penguins
, the first two of four national championships the school won in the 1990s with future Ohio State
head coach Jim Tressel
. Wilkins was inducted in the YSU Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
in 1994, but played in just six games and did not attempt a single field goal or extra point. The following season, he joined the 49ers. While he only played in seven games, he had a superb season, kicking 12 of 13 field goals. In 1996, he finally saw duty as his team's full time kicker and did not disappoint, kicking 30 of 34 field goals and all 40 extra point attempts.
In 1997, he joined the Rams, where he played the remainder of his career and became the team's all time leading scorer. Wilkins assisted his team to a championship win in Super Bowl XXXIV
, kicking three of four field goals and two extra points in the Rams 23–16 win over the Tennessee Titans
. He also kicked a 50–yard field goal in the Rams 20–17 loss in Super Bowl XXXVI
.
In 2003, Wilkins kicked an NFL record-tying 39 field goals (then shared with former Miami Dolphins
, New Orleans Saints
, and current Seattle Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare
), which stood until surpassed by Neil Rackers
' 40 field goals in 2005.
In St. Louis' opening game of the 2006 season, Wilkins set a franchise record by kicking six field goals in their 18–10 win over the Denver Broncos
. He also became the first Rams player ever to score over 1,000 points.
On November 11, 2007, Wilkins kicked his 300th career field goal against the New Orleans Saints. Wilkins announced his retirement from the NFL on February 29, 2008.
Jeff Wilkins (basketball)
Jeffrey Wilkins is a retired American professional basketball player in the NBA. A 6'11" 230 lb center, Wilkins played college basketball at Illinois State University and was selected with the 15th pick in the 2nd round of the 1977 NBA Draft by the San Antonio Spurs.He signed with the Spurs in...
.
Jeffrey Allen Wilkins (born April 19, 1972 in Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
) nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d "Money" is a former American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
for the San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers are a professional American football team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team was founded in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference and...
, Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and St Louis Rams. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
. Wilkins is currently tied for second place all time in most consecutive PATs
Convert
The convert or try, in American football known as "point after", and Canadian football "Point after touchdown", is a one-scrimmage down played immediately after a touchdown during which the scoring team is allowed to attempt to score an extra one point by kicking the ball through the uprights , or...
without a miss at 371.
Early life
He played for Austintown Fitch High SchoolAustintown-Fitch High School (Youngstown, Ohio)
Austintown Fitch High School is a public high school in Austintown, Ohio, near Youngstown. It is the only high school in the Austintown Local School District. The school nickname is the Falcons, with mascots being Freddie and Frieda Falcon...
in the Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown, Ohio
Youngstown is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Mahoning County; it also extends into Trumbull County. The municipality is situated on the Mahoning River, approximately southeast of Cleveland and northwest of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
suburb of Austintown
Austintown, Ohio
Austintown is a census-designated place in Mahoning County, Ohio, United States. It is part of the Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 31,627 at the 2000 census...
.
College career
At Youngstown State UniversityYoungstown State University
Youngstown State University, founded in 1908, is an urban research university located in Youngstown, Ohio, United States. As of fall 2010, there were 15,194 students and a student-faculty ratio of 19:1. It is recognized as being one of the premier schools in the country, comparable to Ivy League...
, Wilkins made a school record 66 field goals, with a long of 54 (another school record). He was also an outstanding punter, averaging 38 yards per punt. Wilkins was also a member of both the 1991 and 1993 Division I-AA National Championship teams with the Penguins
Youngstown State Penguins
Youngstown State University is in NCAA Division I. Nicknamed the Penguins, they play in the Horizon League and Missouri Valley Football Conference, and compete in the following sports:*Baseball *Basketball *Cross Country...
, the first two of four national championships the school won in the 1990s with future Ohio State
Ohio State Buckeyes football
The Ohio State Buckeyes football team is an intercollegiate varsity sports team of The Ohio State University. The team is a member of the Big Ten Conference of the NCAA, playing at the Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly Division I-A, level. The team nickname is derived from the state...
head coach Jim Tressel
Jim Tressel
James Patrick Tressel is a gameday consultant for the Indianapolis Colts, and former collegiate football head coach at both The Ohio State University from 2001 to 2011 and at Youngstown State University from 1986 to 2000. Tressel is most notable for his time at Ohio State. He was hired by the...
. Wilkins was inducted in the YSU Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.
Professional career
Wilkins signed with the Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 1994, but played in just six games and did not attempt a single field goal or extra point. The following season, he joined the 49ers. While he only played in seven games, he had a superb season, kicking 12 of 13 field goals. In 1996, he finally saw duty as his team's full time kicker and did not disappoint, kicking 30 of 34 field goals and all 40 extra point attempts.
In 1997, he joined the Rams, where he played the remainder of his career and became the team's all time leading scorer. Wilkins assisted his team to a championship win in Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV
Super Bowl XXXIV featured the National Football Conference champion St. Louis Rams and the American Football Conference champion Tennessee Titans in an American football game to decide the National Football League champion for the 1999 regular season...
, kicking three of four field goals and two extra points in the Rams 23–16 win over the Tennessee Titans
Tennessee Titans
The Tennessee Titans are a professional American football team based in Nashville, Tennessee, United States. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Previously known as the Houston Oilers, the team began play in 1960 as a charter...
. He also kicked a 50–yard field goal in the Rams 20–17 loss in Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
.
In 2003, Wilkins kicked an NFL record-tying 39 field goals (then shared with former Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
, New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
, and current Seattle Seahawks kicker Olindo Mare
Olindo Mare
Olindo Franco Mare is an American football placekicker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He was originally signed by the New York Giants as an undrafted free agent in 1996...
), which stood until surpassed by Neil Rackers
Neil Rackers
Neil William Rackers is an American football placekicker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL Draft...
' 40 field goals in 2005.
In St. Louis' opening game of the 2006 season, Wilkins set a franchise record by kicking six field goals in their 18–10 win over the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He also became the first Rams player ever to score over 1,000 points.
On November 11, 2007, Wilkins kicked his 300th career field goal against the New Orleans Saints. Wilkins announced his retirement from the NFL on February 29, 2008.