If you’ve ever watched an NFL game and thought, “That kicker’s technique looks like a soccer shot,” you’re absolutely right. Nearly every modern NFL kicker owes their style — and in many ways, their success — to soccer. What began as an experiment in the 1960s has since transformed into the foundation of how every professional kicker trains today.

At Wilhoit Kicking Academy, we see that connection every day. Many young athletes who train with a kicking coach started out playing soccer. The footwork, balance, and body control they develop on the pitch translate beautifully to football kicking. In fact, some of the most successful NFL specialists began their careers as soccer players — proving that the two sports are more connected than most people realize.

The Birth of the Soccer-Style Kicker

To understand how soccer shaped football, you have to start with one man: Pete Gogolak. In the 1960s, Gogolak — a Hungarian immigrant and soccer player — joined the Buffalo Bills of the AFL. Instead of kicking straight on, like every other player at the time, he approached the ball at an angle and struck it with the instep of his foot — the way soccer players have done for centuries.

This was revolutionary. His “soccer-style” approach provided greater accuracy, control, and power compared to the old-school straight-toe technique. The results spoke for themselves — Gogolak became a consistent, reliable scorer, and soon other teams wanted the same edge.

By 1977, half of all NFL teams had adopted soccer-style kickers. By 1987, the old straight-toe method had vanished completely. The change was so dramatic that the NFL actually moved the goalposts from the goal line to the back of the end zone in 1974 — making field goals 10 yards harder to balance the advantage.

In less than 25 years, a soccer player had completely rewritten football’s approach to kicking.