Raiders Got a Real Kick Out of Jaeger

The Las Vegas-Oakland-Los Angeles Raiders have had some outstanding kickers in their 63-year history, from old man George Blanda to Chris Bahr, to Sebastian Janikowski, and to Daniel Carlson, who might be the best in the National Football League right now.

Several others in between, including Jeff Jaeger, who kicked for the Silver and Black for seven seasons from 1989-95 and ranks fourth among all-time scoring leaders among kickers in franchise history.

“Jaeger was simply automatic,” said Steve Ortmayer, the Raiders special teams coach at the time. “When our offense would drive and come up short, we seldom came away with nothing because Jaeger was so reliable.

“He is one of the best in the league at kickoffs as well. A lot of guys can kick field goals, but there aren’t very many who can also kick off like that. That’s really important to us.”

The 5-11 195-pound Jaeger was selected in the third round (No. 82 overall) of the 1987 National Football League Draft by the Cleveland Browns out of the University of Washington, where he was a consensus All-American in 1986.

Jaeger broke all of the Browns’ rookie scoring records with 75 points by making 14-of-24 field goal attempts and all 33 of his extra-point tries while playing in only 10 games because of a foot injury, which cost him the 1988 season and the following year, free agent kicker Matt Bahr beat him out.

He wound up with the Raiders the next season, and the rest is Silver and Black History.

“That turned out to be an incredible break for the Raiders,” Ortmayer said.

Jaeger connected on 23-of-34 field goal attempts in his first season, 1989, and made all 34 extra point attempts, but that was only the beginning.

In those seven seasons, Jeager made 152-of-204 field goal attempts, never missing inside the 20-yard line, and 211 of his 216 extra point tries to wind up with 667 points.

“Yeah, if you put a good swing on the ball, unless there’s a hurricane, you’re going to make it,” Jaeger said of his kicking style. “But by thinking about (all the other factors), it takes the nerves away. But, it’s not always a gimmee. I’m telling my guys: ‘OK, everybody pay attention. Nobody jump offside. Nobody hold.’”

Jaeger’s best season with the Raiders came in 1991 when he was 29-of-34 (85.3 percent) on field goals and 29-of-30 on extra points for a total of 116 points, was selected All-Pro and played in the Pro Bowl.

In addition, Jaeger tied the Raiders franchise record for the longest field goal with a 54-yarder in 1992, broken by Janikowski’s 63-yarder in 2011.

In 1993, Jaeger made 35-of-44 field goal attempts, and 27-of-29 extra-point tries to lead NFL in scoring with a then-Raiders record of 132 points. That year, he also led the NFL in field goals made and tied the all-time NFL mark for field goal attempts, which also has been broken.

His most memorable game that season came against the Denver Broncos, when Jaeger kicked three field goals, including a 53-yarder in the final seconds to give the Raiders a 23-20 victory over their AFC West rival.

In 1993, the Raiders had to beat the Broncos at the Oakland Coliseum in the final game of the regular season to make the playoffs. Jaeger’s 47-yard field goal in overtime gave them a 33-30 victory after quarterback John Elway passed for 361 yards and three touchdowns, leading Denver to 13-0 and 30-13.

Throughout his career in Silver and Black, Jaeger gave the Raiders the kick they needed.

The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

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