Evaluating the Difference in Skill between Kickers and Their Value to NFL Teams

Presenter

Jules Sylvester

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Muzzo Uysal, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board A95, Campus Center Auditorium, Row 5 (A81-A100) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Historically, the NFL kicker position has been perceived as inconsequential to the overall performance of a team by NFL executives and fans alike. As the desire to make analytical informed decisions grows in professional sports, the NFL increasingly relies on data and trends to make their personnel decisions. Curiously, amidst this analytical revolution, kickers remain overlooked, as the existing insights to the position are devoid of the nuance seen in the evaluation of other positions. Past research perpetuates the notion that there is no difference in skill between kickers, thus their inherent value to teams is limited if all players are equals. 

This research attempts to dispel the notion that kickers hold essentially no value to NFL teams by evaluating how important statistically good kicking is to an NFL team’s success through the measures of winning percentage, reaching the postseason, and margin of victory from 2002 to 2023. Using data mining and statistical modeling practices, this research will attempt to numerically quantify the value of a kicker to an NFL team. After determining the significance of the kicker position, this research will investigate significant trends that correlate to a kicker’s individual success. Through this research, NFL teams will have access to a better understanding of how they should perceive the kicker position and allocate their resources.

Keywords

Kicker, Kicking, NFL, Skill, Value

Research Area

Sports and Exercise Science + Physiology

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