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Graham Gano

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Graham Gano
refer to caption
Gano with the Panthers
Carolina Panthers
Personal information
Born: (1987-04-09) April 9, 1987 (age 37)
Dundee, Scotland[1]
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:196 lb (89 kg)
Career information
High school:Cantonment (FL) Tate
College:Florida State
Undrafted:2009
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 1, 2016
Field goals:153
Field goals attempted:192
Field goal %:80%
Longest field goal:59
Touchbacks:262
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Graham Gano (born April 9, 1987) is a Scottish American football placekicker for the Carolina Panthers[2] of the National Football League (NFL). He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football at Florida State University. Gano has also played for the Las Vegas Locomotives and the Washington Redskins. During his tenure with the Redskins, he attained the Redskins' franchise record for longest field goal at 59 yards in 2011.

Early years

Gano's father Mark was a United States Navy Master Chief Petty Officer stationed in Scotland when Gano was born. Gano has a long line of ancestors who served in the military, including his grandfather Richard Gano, of Martinsburg, West Virginia.[3] Gano grew up in Pensacola, Florida and attended J.M. Tate High School, where he was a two-sport star in football and track. In high school football, he was an All-American First-Team selection by USA Today and the nation's third-ranked kicker by Rivals.com.[4] Gano played in the CaliFlorida All-Star game, completing a 50-yard field goal in the game. During his senior season, Gano kicked three field goals over 55 yards (57, 64 and 65 yards) and had a 71-yard field goal made which was negated by a penalty. A total of 36 of his 38 kickoffs were touchbacks and he averaged better than 42 yards per punt as a senior.[4]

Track and field

As a standout track & field athlete, Gano was one of the state's top performers in the sprinting events. He captured three state titles in track at the 2005 FHSAA 3A District 1, winning the 100-meter dash, with a time of 10.55 seconds, the 200-meter dash, with a time of 21.70 seconds, and the 400-meter dash, with a time of 48.00 seconds.[5]

College career

Gano attended Florida State University from 2005 to 2008, playing as a kicker and punter for the Florida State Seminoles.

During his senior year in 2008, Gano finished first in the FBS for field goals made, percentage of field goals converted and 50-yard field goals made, and was the Lou Groza Award winner as the nation's top kicker. He was one of only two kickers in college to make over 90% of his field goal attempts in 2008. He was the highest scoring kicker in America and fourth overall in the FBS in scoring. He also was a Rivals.com, Scout.com and CBS Sports first team All-American. Gano was listed as Walter Camp, Associated Press, Sporting News, SI.com and Phil Steele second team All-American. He earned All-ACC First Team honors as well.

Gano was four-time ACC Specialist of the Week for his kicking performances against NC State, Virginia Tech, Clemson and Maryland. He also was a two-time Lou Groza Star of the Week honoree for his performances in Florida State's victories over NC State and Clemson. He was named offensive special teams player of the year for the Seminoles as selected by the Florida State coaching staff. He also led the ACC in field goals per game with a career-high 2.2 field goals per game average. Gano has the highest FG percentage in the ACC; in 2008 he made 92.3 percent of his field goal attempts (24 of 26) and led the league in field goals made with 24. He was also the ACC's leading scorer with 105 points and a 9.5 points per game average. Gano was also the only kicker in FSU history to convert over 90% of his field goals in a season. He is the only punter ever to be named the MVP of a bowl game, when he was named the Most Valuable Player in the Champs Sports Bowl. He holds the Seminoles single season record for 50-yard field goals, completing five straight attempts from 50 yards or longer. Despite only kicking for one season, he finished second in career 50-yard field goals at FSU behind two time Lou Groza Award winner Sebastian Janikowski.[4]

Professional career

Baltimore Ravens

Gano at Ravens training camp in 2009

Gano signed with the Baltimore Ravens as a free agent immediately after the 2009 NFL Draft. After the Ravens named Steve Hauschka as their kicker, the Ravens waived Gano on September 5.

Las Vegas Locomotives

Gano was signed by the Las Vegas Locomotives of the United Football League after being cut by the Ravens. He earned the first points for the league after converting a 32-yard field goal, and hit what was at the time a UFL record long field goal of 53 yards. He was also responsible for the winning field goal which gave the Locomotives the first ever UFL championship.[6] He finished the season leading the league in scoring and field goals made.[7]

Washington Redskins

Gano at Redskins training camp in 2012

On December 8, 2009, he was signed by the Washington Redskins, replacing Shaun Suisham. He successfully connected on his first NFL field goal attempt, a 46-yarder against the Oakland Raiders on December 13, 2009. Gano continued to play for the Redskins in the 2010 season. He cemented his status as a clutch kicker for the Redskins by contributing to 3 overtime game-winning field goals when playing the Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Due to his inconsistency in the 2010 season, the Redskins brought Shayne Graham to compete.[8] After a good performance in the preseason and horrible performance by Shayne Graham in the first preseason game, Gano was kept on the final roster before the start of the new season. In Week 9 against the San Francisco 49ers of the 2011 season, he kicked a 59-yard field goal breaking the Redskins' franchise record of 57 yards.[9] At the end of the season, he made 31 of 41 field goal attempts with five of the ten misses being blocked kicks.[10]

On March 3, 2012, the Redskins tendered a contract with Gano establishing exclusive negotiating rights and guaranteeing him a league minimum salary.[11] He was once again forced to compete for his job after the team signed Neil Rackers.[12] Originally it seemed that once again, Gano kept his spot on the Redskins' roster after Rackers was cut on August 27.[13][14] In a surprise transaction by the Redskins, Gano was released the next day after the team signed Billy Cundiff.[15]

Carolina Panthers

Graham Gano kicking in Super Bowl 50

On November 20, 2012, Gano was signed by the Carolina Panthers, replacing Justin Medlock. He would play the last six games of the season under head coach Ron Rivera and would convert nine out of eleven field goal attempts. For 2013, as of October 27, he is 10 for 10 with 3 for 3 past 50 yards.

On February 28, 2014, it was announced that Gano had signed a new four-year contract with the Panthers worth $12.4 million.[16]

On November 2, 2015 Gano kicked a game-winning 52-yard field goal in overtime against the Indianapolis Colts.[17] The made field goal helped move the Panthers to a franchise-best 7–0 start.

Gano had an NFL-leading 62 points in November 2015, going 15-for-17 on field goals and 17-for-18 on extra-point attempts. For his performance during November, Gano was awarded the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month.[18] He became only the second kicker in Panthers' franchise history to win the award (the first was John Kasay in September 1996). Through the first 12 weeks of the season, Gano ranked second in NFL in points scored with 110, trailing only New England Patriots kicker, Stephen Gostkowski (111).[19] During the Panthers 38–35 victory over the New York Giants to move them to 14–0, Gano kicked his second walk-off winner this season as time expired.[20] Gano finished the 2015 NFL season with 146 points, breaking John Kasay‘s team record for most in a season (145, 1996).[21] During the season, he also topped the NFL in touchbacks (69) and average kickoff distance (72.0 yards).[22] In Super Bowl 50, Gano was 1/2 on field goals and 1/1 on the PAT. In the third quarter with the Panthers down 6, Gano missed a field goal that hit off the right side of the goal post. The Panthers went on to lose the Super Bowl 24–10 to the Denver Broncos.

Career stats

UFL career stats

Season PAT PAT Pct. FG-FGA FG Pct. Long
2009 20/20 100% 13/16 81.6% 53
Total 20/20 100% 13/16 81.6% 53

NFL career stats

Season PAT PAT Pct. FG-FGA FG Pct. Long
2009 6/7 85.7% 4/4 100% 46
2010 28/28 100.0% 24/35 68.6% 49
2011 25/26 96.1% 31/41 75.6% 59
2012 20/21 95.2% 9/11 81.8% 51
2013 42/42 100.0% 24/27 88.9% 55
2014 34/34 100.0% 29/35 82.9% 53
Total 155/158 98.1% 121/153 79.1% 59

Awards and honors

References

  1. ^ http://sport.stv.tv/world-sport/1341558-meet-the-scots-born-star-ready-to-shine-in-extra-special-super-bowl/
  2. ^ http://www.digtriad.com/news/article/255139/13/Panthers-Sign-Graham-Gano-Waive-Justin-Medlock
  3. ^ "Long History Of Military Service Runs Deep In Graham Gano's Family - Redskins Journal". Blogs.fredericksburg.com. 2011-11-11. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
  4. ^ a b c 43   Graham Gano (1987-04-09). "Graham Gano Profile - Florida State University Official Athletic Site". Seminoles.com. Retrieved 2012-07-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  5. ^ http://fl.milesplit.com/meets/11117/results/23569
  6. ^ "Las Vegas tops Florida to win inaugural UFL championship - ESPN". Sports.espn.go.com. 2009-11-28. Retrieved 2012-07-29.
  7. ^ "UFL Stats: Player". ufl-football.com. Archived from the original on October 26, 2009. Retrieved 2009-12-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Jones, Mike (August 1, 2011). "Redskins place kicker Graham Gano welcomes competition in Shayne Graham". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
  9. ^ Jones, Mike (November 6, 2011). "Gano bounces back with franchise-record field goal". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2011-11-06.
  10. ^ "Redskins Retain Gano With Tender Offer". Redskins.com. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
  11. ^ "Redskins to make TE Fred Davis their franchise player". WashingtonTimes.com. Retrieved 2012-03-02.
  12. ^ Jones, Mike (August 16, 2012). "Redskins kickers Graham Gano, Neil Rackers hoping for their shot vs. Chicago Bears". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2012-08-23.
  13. ^ Jones, Mike (August 27, 2012). "Redskins release Neil Rackers". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  14. ^ Maske, Mark (August 27, 2012). "Graham Gano ready for opportunity after besting Neil Rackers in Redskins kicking competition". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  15. ^ Jones, Mike (August 28, 2012). "Redskins sign Billy Cundiff, release Graham Gano". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  16. ^ Sessler, Mark. "Graham Gano signed by Carolina Panthers for 4 years". NFL.com. Retrieved February 28, 2014.
  17. ^ "Can't-Miss Play: Gano hits game-winning field goal". NFL.com. Retrieved 2016-01-08.
  18. ^ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article47712665.html
  19. ^ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article47712665.html#storylink=cpy
  20. ^ http://blackandbluereview.com/stats-and-superlatives-panthers-giants/2/#
  21. ^ http://blackandbluereview.com/stats-and-superlatives-bucs-at-panthers-week-17/
  22. ^ https://twitter.com/PFF/status/694916370539089921
  23. ^ "2008 CBS Sports All-Americans".
  24. ^ "2008 CFN All-America Teams".
  25. ^ "Rivals.com 2008 All-America Teams".
  26. ^ Jones, Mike (November 6, 2011). "Gano bounces back with franchise-record field goal". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved 2013-04-18.
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