Ryan Longwell
The unflappable kicker whose golden boot in Green Bay's frozen tundra delivered clutch points and a Super Bowl XXXI victory.
Born 1974 (age 52)·American football player·Birthday: August 16·Generation X
Biography
Ryan Longwell's NFL story is one of quiet, consistent excellence, forged in the most demanding kicking environment in sports: Lambeau Field. Undrafted out of California, he found a home with the Green Bay Packers after a brief, unseen stint in San Francisco. In Green Bay, he mastered the art of kicking in wind, snow, and bitter cold, becoming the franchise's all-time leading scorer during his tenure. His reliability was a cornerstone of the Packers' success in the late 90s and early 2000s, and his steady leg contributed directly to the team's Super Bowl XXXI win. Later, he brought the same calm precision to the Minnesota Vikings, where he continued to pile up points. Longwell never sought the spotlight, but his accuracy in pressure moments made him one of the most trusted specialists of his era.
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.
Ryan 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 Ryan 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
Ryan'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
- Was the Green Bay Packers' all-time leading scorer at the time of his departure from the team.
- Kicked for the Packers in their Super Bowl XXXI championship victory over the New England Patriots.
- Scored over 1,000 points for two different franchises (Green Bay Packers and Minnesota Vikings).
- Held a career field goal accuracy of over 82% during his 15-season NFL career.
Did You Know?
He and quarterback Brett Favre were teammates in Green Bay and were later reunited with the Minnesota Vikings.
He never missed an extra point attempt during his entire nine-year tenure with the Green Bay Packers.
He attended the same high school (Bend Senior High in Oregon) as fellow NFL kicker Mike Vanderjagt.
He was signed by the Seattle Seahawks specifically for their 2012 playoff run.
“In Green Bay, you learn to block out the wind and the noise.”
