Eagles Still Betting on Jake Elliott Despite Recent Struggles

Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott's poor performance was a topic of conversation heading into the offseason. Elliott was just 20-for-27 on field goals and missed one extra point last year. His 74.1% field-goal percentage was 37th best in the NFL.

Elliott told reporters in a recent press conference that he remains confident entering this season and said he wants to learn from the difficult conditions he faced last year.

“We played in a lot of really windy games last year, so it was a tough year condition-wise. I think the more I can put myself in those situations and try to counter that, [the better I'll perform].”

Elliott's own explanation points to the weather as one of the defining challenges of his 2025 season, but the numbers provide a more complicated picture.

According to Anthony DiBona's NFL weather research, Philadelphia played four games with winds above 10 mph, and Elliott went 7-for-8 on field goals in those contests. Opposing kickers went 3-for-3. Elliott also went 6-for-8 on extra points, compared with 5-for-7 for opposing kickers.

Interestingly, Elliott's field-goal percentage was worse in the three games Philadelphia played indoors, when he went 4-for-7. His indoor misses came from 42, 48 and 56 yards. The numbers don't necessarily support the idea that wind alone was responsible for Elliott's struggles, but they do provide context for why he viewed navigating difficult conditions as something he needed to improve.

Elliott has been the Eagles kicker for the past nine seasons, named to the Pro Bowl in 2021. While his career numbers remain above average, last season marked the second year in a row with dipped efficiency. In 2024, his field-goal percentage dipped 16%.

Despite any ups and downs in the regular season, Elliott has always shown up in the postseason. On the most recent championship run in 2024, the Memphis product made 10 of 11 field goals. That one miss was the only field goal Elliott has ever missed in the playoffs.

The Eagles declined to bring in any competition in training camp, likely due to Elliott's contract being fully guaranteed. If the team does decide to cut him due to his performance continuing to decline, waiting until next year gives the Eagles more cap savings and less dead money. It also shows that the organization has faith that the player that helped them win two Super Bowls will bounce back to form.