Anders Carlson (American football)

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This article is about the NFL kicker. For other people named Anders Carlson, see Anders Carlson.

Anders Carlson
No. 41 – San Francisco 49ers
Position:Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1998-06-16) June 16, 1998 (age 26)
Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
Height:6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)
Weight:219 lb (99 kg)
Career information
High school:The Classical Academy (Colorado Springs, Colorado)
College:Auburn (2017–2022)
NFL draft:2023 / round: 6 / pick: 207
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 8, 2024
Field goals:32
Field goal attempts:38
Field goal %:84.2
Longest field goal:55
Touchbacks:38
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Anders Bjorn Carlson (born June 16, 1998) is an American professional football placekicker for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Auburn, and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL draft. As a placekicker, he has been recognized as both a high school and collegiate All-American, as well as an All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) First Team and Lou Groza Award semifinalist selection.

Early life

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Carlson attended and played football, soccer, and basketball at The Classical Academy (Titans) in Colorado Springs, Colorado.[1] In 2014, as a sophomore, he made four of six field goal attempts with a long of 44 yards, as well as nine out of 10 extra-point attempts (PATs). In 2015, as a junior, he made 11 of 18 field goal attempts with a long of 52 yards, and 37 of 38 PATs. In 2016, as a senior, he made 13 of 23 field goal attempts, including a long of 51 yards, and all 49 of his PATs.[2]

Carlson was invited to and played in the 2017 Under Armour All-America Game.[3] A three-star college prospect was the highest-rated prep kicker recruit in the nation coming out of high school. ESPN rated him a top-10 overall recruit prospect in the state of Colorado.[1] He committed to play college football for the Auburn Tigers over scholarship offers from Oklahoma State and Vanderbilt.[4]

As a soccer player, Carlson helped the Titans to the 2014 and 2015 Class 4A State finals.[5][6]

College career

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2017 season

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In 2017, Carlson redshirted his true freshman football season at Auburn as he served as the backup placekicker to his older brother, Daniel.[1]

2018 season

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In 2018, prior to his redshirt freshman, Carlson gained attention after kicking a 62-yard field goal at Auburn's practice facility.[7] That season, he successfully converted 15 of 25 field goal attempts, including two 53-yard field goals, which were the second-longest field goals made in Auburn program history by a freshman. He also converted all 44 PATs, including going 9-for-9 in the 2018 Music City Bowl against Purdue. He further forced 51 touchbacks on 70 total kickoffs. On November 24, 2018, against in-state rival Alabama, he recorded his first and only career reception, a 3-yard catch on a fake field goal play.[1]

2019 season

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In 2019, Carlson entered his redshirt sophomore season as an SEC Media Preseason All-Southeastern Conference (SEC) Second Team and SEC Coaches Preseason All-SEC Third Team placekicker.[8][9] He earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after making all four of his field goal attempts – from 43 (twice), 44, and 52 yards – in Auburn’s 48–45 upset win over Alabama in the “Iron Bowl.”[10] His 52-yard field goal attempt against Alabama tied his brother, Daniel, and Al Del Greco, for Auburn’s longest field goal ever in Iron Bowl history.[11] His third PAT made against Arkansas set an NCAA record for consecutive successful PATs (303) by Auburn kickers; a streak started by former Auburn kicker, Cody Parkey, in 2013 and that spanned six seasons, 78 games, and five different Auburn kickers.[12] He finished his 2019 campaign by making 18 out of 25 field goal attempts and 48 out of 49 PATs, as well as 47 touchbacks on 78 kickoffs.[1]

2020 season

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In 2020, entering his redshirt junior season, Carlson was selected to the SEC Media Preseason All-SEC Third Team and the Phil Steele All-SEC Fourth Team.[1][13] That season, he made 20 out of 22 field goal attempts, including a long of 50 yards, and 24 out of 25 PATs.[1] He was twice selected to the Lou Groza “Star of the Week” list for his kicking efforts against Arkansas and Mississippi State.[1]

His 2020 season performance earned him Lou Groza Award (best placekicker in college football) semifinalist,[14] American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FBS Coaches’ All-America Second Team,[15] Phil Steele All-America Honorable Mention, and Associated Press (AP) All-SEC First Team[16] honors.[1]

2021 season

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In 2021, as a redshirt senior, he made 14 of 21 field goal attempts with a long of 49 yards, as well as 35 of 36 PATs.[1] On November 13, in Auburn’s game against Mississippi State, he suffered a season-ending torn ACL.[17]

Carlson’s career performance places him with the fifth-most points (275), third-most field goals made (53), and sixth-most PATs made (116) in Auburn program history.[1]

Carlson earned Special Teams MVP honors for Auburn’s 2018, 2019, and 2021 “A-Day” spring football games.[18][19] Auburn's 2020 A-Day was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[20]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span
6 ft 5 in
(1.96 m) 		218 lb
(99 kg) 		31+5⁄8 in
(0.80 m) 		9+1⁄2 in
(0.24 m)
All values from NFL Combine[21][22]

Green Bay Packers

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Carlson was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round (207th overall) of the 2023 NFL draft.[23] He signed his rookie contract on May 5.[24]

In his rookie season, Carlson led the NFL in missed kicks with thirteen. In the Divisional Round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Carlson missed a field goal which would have given the Packers a seven point lead and forced the 49ers to tie the game rather than take the lead. The Packers would end up losing 24–21, ending their season.[25] Head coach Matt LaFleur and Carlson's Packer teammates came out in support of Carlson, with LaFleur stating that Carlson's missed kick was not the sole reason for the loss. On January 24, 2024, the Packers signed Jack Podlesny to compete with Carlson.[26]

The Packers released Carlson on August 27, 2024.[27]

San Francisco 49ers

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On October 15, 2024, the San Francisco 49ers signed Carlson to their practice squad,[28] and elevated him to the active roster for their game against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 20, 2024. In this game, he made both of his field goal attempts, including a career-long 55 yarder, but also missed an extra point attempt.[29]

NFL career statistics

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Regular season

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Year Team GP Field goals Extra points Total points
FGM FGA FG% <20 20−29 30−39 40−49 50+ Lng XPM XPA XP%
2023 GB 17 27 33 81.8 0–0 6–6 14–14 4–8 3–5 53 34 39 87.2 115
2024 SF 2 5 5 100.0 0–0 1–1 0–0 2–2 2–2 55 3 4 75.0 18
Total 19 32 38 84.2 0–0 7–7 14–14 6–10 5–7 55 37 43 86.0 133
Source: pro-football-referencecom

Postseason

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Year Team GP Field goals Extra points Total points
FGM FGA FG% <20 20−29 30−39 40−49 50+ Lng XPM XPA XP%
2023 GB 2 2 3 66.7 0–0 2–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 29 7 8 87.5 13
Total 2 2 3 66.7 0–0 2–2 0–0 0–1 0–0 29 7 8 87.5 13
Source: pro-football-referencecom

Personal life

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Carlson was born to parents, Jodie and Hans, in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He has two brothers, Nils and Daniel. Daniel Carlson is the placekicker for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL) and was also an All-American kicker at Auburn.[1]

In 2017, as a freshman at Auburn, he earned Academic Top Tiger and SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll recognition. In both 2018 and 2019, he earned AD Honor Roll honors. He earned SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition every year from 2018 to 2020. In both 2019 and 2020, he earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors.[1] In 2020, he graduated from Auburn with a degree in aviation from the university's College of Business. He is now pursuing his master's degree.[1]

Carlson is a Christian. He has said, “I think the biggest thing for me is just knowing my identity. I think for me, faith is a really big thing. My current thing I’m doing is football, but that’s not who I am. I’m just focused on the things I can control, but knowing my identity is not in football, it’s in God.”[30]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Anders Carlson – Football". Auburn University Athletics. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  2. ^ "Anders Carlson's High School Football Stats". MaxPreps.com. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  3. ^ "All-America". Under Armour Next Football. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  4. ^ "Anders Carlson, 2017 Kicker". n.rivals.com. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  5. ^ Kaniewski, Scott (November 6, 2014). "The Classical Academy makes 4A boys' soccer final in first year at 4A". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  6. ^ Kaniewski, Scott (November 14, 2015). "TCA soccer loses to Evergreen in state championship game". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  7. ^ Stanford, Callie (September 29, 2021). "How the Carlson brothers kicked their way into Auburn history". The Auburn Plainsman. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  8. ^ "2019 Preseason Coaches All-SEC Football Team announced". SEC Sports. August 15, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  9. ^ "2019 Preseason All-SEC: Conference announces media picks". Saturday Down South. July 19, 2019. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  10. ^ Shearer, Jeff (December 2, 2019). "Auburn's Zakoby McClain, Anders Carlson earn SEC honors". Auburn University Athletics. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  11. ^ Shearer, Jeff (December 2, 2019). "Iron Bowl notebook: 'surreal moment' for Bo Nix". Auburn University Athletics. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  12. ^ Ostendorf, Greg (April 2, 2020). "'Biggest blessing': How Auburn kicked its way into NCAA history". Auburn University Athletics. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  13. ^ "Preseason SEC media poll, All-SEC Team announced". secsports.com. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  14. ^ "Lou Groza Award Names Semi-Finalists and Local Awards Finalists". Palm Beach County Sports Commission. December 15, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  15. ^ "Alabama's DeVonta Smith & Tulsa's Zaven Collins Headline 2020 AFCA FBS Coaches' All-American Teams – AFCA". afca.com. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  16. ^ Iacobelli, Pete (December 23, 2020). "AP All-SEC football team: Classical Academy grad Anders Carlson of Auburn named to first team". The Denver Post. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  17. ^ "Auburn's Carlson out for season; Nix has surgery". ESPN.com. Associated Press. November 16, 2021. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  18. ^ "AuburnSports – Auburn's A-Day MVPs through the years". auburn.rivals.com. April 11, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  19. ^ "Rewinding Auburn's 2021 A-Day spring football game". MSN. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  20. ^ King, Nathan (March 17, 2020). "Auburn's 2020 A-Day game officially canceled". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  21. ^ "Anders Carlson Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  22. ^ "2023 NFL Draft Scout Anders Carlson College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 20, 2023.
  23. ^ "2023 NFL Draft: Packers select Auburn K Anders Carlson in sixth round, No. 207 overall". Packers.com. April 29, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2023.
  24. ^ "Packers sign eight draft picks". Packers.com. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  25. ^ Kuhagen, Christopher. "Anders Carlson takes brunt of Packers fans' frustration after heartbreaking playoff loss". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. USA Today. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  26. ^ "Packers sign K Jack Podlesny". www.packers.com. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  27. ^ "Packers announce roster moves". Packers.com. August 27, 2024.
  28. ^ "49ers Sign a Safety and Kicker to Practice Squad, Release a Wide Receiver". 49ers.com. October 15, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  29. ^ minabinett@al.com, Mark Inabinett | (October 21, 2024). "Auburn NFL roundup: Anders Carlson comes back with career-long kick". al. Retrieved October 22, 2024.
  30. ^ Mercer, Kevin (October 12, 2023). "Carlson brothers Anders and Daniel make NFL history, share deep faith in God". Sports Spectrum. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
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