Matt Prater
He redefined the limits of the kicking game with a thunderous leg that shattered the NFL's longest field goal record.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American football player·Birthday: August 10·Millennials
Biography
Matt Prater's path to becoming one of football's most formidable kickers was anything but straight. Undrafted out of UCF, his early career was marred by off-field struggles, leading to a release from Detroit and a stint out of football. His redemption began with the Denver Broncos in 2007, where he not only secured a job but began building a reputation for clutch, long-distance accuracy. The pinnacle came on a cold December day in 2013, when Prater launched a 64-yard field goal for the Broncos, breaking a record that had stood for over four decades. His consistency from beyond 50 yards became a strategic weapon for every team he played for, from Denver to Detroit and Arizona, turning high-risk situations into reliable points and forcing opponents to rethink their end-of-half defense.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Matt was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
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 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Broke the NFL record for longest field goal with a 64-yard kick in 2013, a record he held for eight years.
- Holds the NFL career record for most field goals made from 50 or more yards.
- Kicked a record 59-yard field goal in the Pro Bowl following his record-breaking season.
- Was a key component of the Denver Broncos' record-setting offense that reached Super Bowl XLVIII.
Did You Know?
His record 64-yard field goal was set at the mile-high altitude of Denver, which he later said gave him an extra five yards of distance.
He served a four-game suspension to start the 2011 season for violating the league's substance abuse policy, a turning point he credits for saving his career.
He began his college career as a soccer player at UCF before walking on to the football team.
“I just tried to hit it solid. I knew I had the leg, it was just a matter of hitting it straight.”
