David Akers
The most accurate kicker of his era, whose powerful leg and clutch performances defined the Philadelphia Eagles for over a decade.
Born 1974 (age 52)·American football player·Birthday: December 9·Generation X
Biography
David Akers didn't just kick footballs; he weaponized them, becoming the emotional heartbeat and consistent scoring threat for the Philadelphia Eagles throughout the 2000s. After a brief, unmemorable start in Washington, he landed in Philadelphia and quickly turned special teams into a genuine advantage. With a compact, powerful swing, he booted field goals from distances that forced opponents to rethink fourth-down strategy, including a then-record 63-yarder in a playoff atmosphere. His reliability in pressure moments was the bedrock for teams that went to five NFC Championship games and a Super Bowl. Beyond the stats, Akers was a fiery competitor, his celebrations unleashing the passion of Philadelphia fans. Though his career ended with stops in San Francisco and Detroit, his legacy is painted in Eagles green, as the man who scored more points for the franchise than any player before him.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
David was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When David Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
David's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set the NFL record for the longest made field goal in a playoff game, a 63-yard kick for the 49ers in 2012.
- Became the Philadelphia Eagles' all-time leading scorer with 1,323 points over 12 seasons.
- Selected for six Pro Bowls and was a five-time First-team All-Pro, highlighting his sustained elite performance.
Did You Know?
He played soccer and football at the University of Louisville but was not drafted by an NFL team.
Akers is an accomplished magician and has performed at charity events.
He once made a game-winning field goal against the New York Giants just days after having an emergency appendectomy.
“You have to have a short memory, whether you make it or miss it.”
