Las Vegas Raiders: 50 greatest players in franchise history

It was only a matter of time before this guy cracked the list. Fan favorites like this don’t come around very often, but that’s just part of the charm of the powerful left leg that is attached to placekicker Sebastian Janikowski. Janikowski was a standout for the Florida State Seminoles in college, so much that the Raiders used their first-round pick on the guy in the 2000 NFL Draft.

Many people thought it was crazy to take a kicker at No. 17 overall, but little did the NFL world know that the Raiders would end up taking its best kicker in franchise history. Janikowski would catch on with the team during the tail-end of the first Jon Gruden era in Oakland, staying with the team throughout all the chaos of the last 15 years.

He would make his lone trip to the Pro Bowl in 2011 when Janikowski made 31 of his 35 field goal attempts, including an impressive 7-10 from over 50 yards out. His ability to make the long kick, as well as his durability, set him apart from many placekickers in his era. Through the 2016 NFL season, Janikowski holds franchise records for most points scored, most games played and longest field goal made.

However, a herniated disc in his back had Janikowski on injured reserve for the entire 2017 NFL season. He would subsequently lose his starting job to Giorgio Tavecchio. Janikowski might be in his 40s, but will begin a new chapter of his NFL career. He is signed by the Seattle Seahawks ahead of the 2018 NFL season.