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Profile of Neil Rackers
 

Neil Rackers

 
- Arizona Cardinals
 
Neil Rackers Email :
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Company Name : Arizona Cardinals
 
Company Website : www.azcardinals.com
 
Company Address : PO Box 888
, Phoenix, AZ,
United States,
 
Neil Rackers Profile :
- Arizona Cardinals
 
Neil Rackers Biography :

Entered the league as a sixth-round draft pick by Cincinnati in 2000; spent three seasons with Bengals but was released on the final roster cut on 2003. He signed with the Cardinals two months later following an injury to Bill Gramatica and has been with Arizona ever since.

In the midst of his sensational 2005 season, signed a four-year extension on 11/8/05 that will keep him under contract with the Cardinals through 2009.

His 116 points scored in 2006 rank as the third-highest single-season total in team history.

Selected to his first career Pro Bowl in 2005, joining Jim Bakken as the only Cardinal kickers so honored.

In ’05 established a new NFL record by connecting on 40 field goals, breaking the previous mark of 39 set by Miami’s Olindo Mare in 1999 and matched by St. Louis’ Jeff Wilkins in 2003.

Also connected on 31 consecutive field goal attempts in 2005 to shatter the previous franchise record of 11 set by Bill Gramatica in 2001 (NFL record: 42 by Indy’s Mike Vanderjagt, 2002-04).

Scored 140 points in 2005, the third-most in the NFL and a new franchise record, passing Neil O’Donoghue (1984) and Jim Bakken (1967) who both had 117 points.

Despite not kicking off in the final five games of 2005, led the NFL with 22 touchbacks. Set the Cardinals franchise record for touchbacks in a season with 23 in 2004, the previous record was 19 set in 1997 by Joe Nedney and Kevin Butler.

Established new franchise records for field goal percentage (95.2), field goal attempts (42) and field goals made (40) in 2005.

The Pro Football Hall of Fame received the shoes worn by Rackers on 10/24/04 when he earned a spot in the NFL record books. By connecting on field goals of 55, 55 and 50 yards in the Cardinals 25-17 win vs. Seattle (10/24), Rackers earned a share of the NFL’s all-time record for most field goals of 50+ yards in a single game, tying Morten Andersen who set the record in 1995. The Hall of Fame also received the shoes and ball from his record setting 40th field goal of the 2005 season.

Pro Career:

Originally a sixth-round pick by the Bengals in 2000 (169th overall), Rackers spent three seasons in Cincinnati before being released on 9/1/03 in their final roster cut. He then signed with the Cardinals on 11/11/03 to handle the kicking responsibilities while Bill Gramatica recovered from a back injury and has remained with the team ever since. Rackers signed a four-year contract extension on 11/8/05 which will keep him under contract with the team through the 2009 season.

2006: Had his second consecutive 100-point season, totaling 116 points with 17 touchbacks while appearing in all 16 games connected on a 29-yard field goal in the first quarter and converted the extra point following Adrian Wilson’s franchise record 99-yard interception return for a TD to temporarily give the Cardinals the lead in the second quarter @ Atl (10/1) connected on two-of-two extra point attempts and on field goals of 41 and 45 yards vs. KC (10/8); 41-yard field goal in the second quarter gave him his 500th career point connected on field goals of 21 and 50 yards (missing from 41 yards), was two-of-two on extra point attempts and converted a perfect onside kick in the final minute of the game to give the Cardinals a shot at a last second win @ Min (11/26) turned in his best performance of the season, connecting on field goals of 25, 39, 37 and 32 yards while converting two extra points @ SF (12/24).

2005: Set a new NFL record for field goals in a season, connecting on 40 of 42 field goals and was named to his first career Pro Bowl scored all 12 Cardinals points in the home opener vs. StL (9/18), connecting on field goals from 29, 26, 48 and 35 yards out; hit the end zone on all five kickoffs, recording touchbacks on four recorded the Cardinals only points for the second week in a row with 12 points @ Sea (9/25); connected on two field goals from 50 or more yards for 10 career field goals of 50 or more yards; recorded three touchbacks extended his consecutive field goal streak to 16 hitting six-of-six attempts for a new career-best six field goals in a single game; hit the endzone on nine kickoffs, recording touchbacks on seven vs. SF (10/2) connected on the game deciding field goal which gave the Cardinals a 13-10 lead vs. Ten (10/23) connected on his 11th career field goal from beyond 50 yards and his 22nd consecutive field goal of the season after hitting from 52 and 47 yards @ Dal (10/30) connected on four field goals vs. Sea (11/6) to increase his record to 26 consecutive field goals; hit is 12th 50+ yard field goal of his career and set the new franchise mark for field goals over 40 yards in a season connecting on is 13th connected on field goals of 51 and 28 yards @ Det (11/13) to extend his consecutive streak to 28; made two crucial tackles on kickoff returns set the franchise record for field goals in a season with his 31st field goal of the year @ StL (11/20) ended his streak of consecutive field goals when his first attempt of the day, a 43-yarder, went wide left; connected on a 42-yarder later in the day vs. Jax (11/27) suffered a torn calf muscle in his left leg in practice on 12/1 and was deactivated for the game @ SF (12/4) set the NFL record for field goals in a season hitting numbers 39 and 40 to tie and break the record @ Ind (1/1); tied the record with a 28-yard field goal in the second quarter and broke the record with a 42 yarder in the fourth quarter scored 11 points for the NFC in the Pro Bowl, leading the conference to a win.

2004: Re-wrote the Cardinals record books by kicking 23 touchbacks in 2004, the most in team history missed only three attempts from inside of 50 yards and nailed five from beyond 50 yards, including three in one game (vs. Seattle 10/24) kicked a league long 57-yarder against Denver in the preseason hit two field goals from beyond 50 yards vs. NE (9/19), nailed attempts from 51 and 52 yards but came up short on a 58-yard attempt that was deflected scored the only points of the day for the Cardinals on a 30-yard field goal @ Atl (9/26) tied the NFL record for most 50+ yard field goals in a game with three vs. Sea (10/24), connected on attempts from 55, 55, and 50 yards out tying Morten Andersen’s record set in 1995; entering the season, had attempted five field goals of 50+ yards and connected on only three of them; named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance connected on two of three field goals vs. SF (12/12) and nailed four kickoffs for touchbacks to tie the individual record of 17 set by Joe Nedney in 1997 scored all 12 Cardinals points and set a then career-high in field goals made and attempted, connecting on four-of-six attempts in the season finale vs. TB (1/2), connected from 40, 45, 39 and 31 yards out while missing attempts of 35 (WL) and 47(WL).

2003: Joined the Cardinals in mid-season and handled kicking duties for final seven contests made nine-of-12 field goal tries, perfect on eight PATs, for 35 points first action in Cardinal uniform @ Cle (11/16) and connected on 42-yard field goal in second quarter, 26-yarder in third period for Cards only points remained perfect as a Cardinal with field goals of 22 and 27 yards and three PAT conversions in addition to his first touchback on kickoff vs. StL (11/23) saw 35-yard try in fourth quarter sail wide right in bid to tie game vs. Car (12/14), atoned with 44-yarder for the tie with 1:09 left in regulation; the ensuing kickoff sailed three yards deep into end zone for touchback in season finale vs. Min (12/28) converted first half field goals from 22 and 26 yards after Cards pulled within 1712 with two minutes left in game, completed a successful onsides kick recovered by Damien Anderson as ensuing possession resulted in game-winning touchdown and 1817 victory.

2002: Accounted for 75 points on 15 field goals (18 attempts, 83.3 percent) and 30 PATs (32 attempts) for the Bengals made 12 of his final 13 field goals, only a missed 52-yarder prevented him from tying a Cincinnati record of 13 consecutive successful field goals perfect 13-for-13 from inside 45 yards converted attempts from 21 and 54 yards in season opener vs. SD (9/8), the latter a then career-best made three field goals from 51, 18, and 25 yards vs. Jax (12/15).

2001: Connected on 17-of-28 field goal tries and 23-of-24 PATs for 74 points made eight of last 10 field goals, including game winners in final two contests Bengals recovered both onside kick attempts, tied for league-best won training camp competition with former Dallas Cowboy and Carolina Panther kicker Richie Cunningham made 52-yarder @ Jax (11/11) came through from 36, 47 and 33 yards in season opening win vs. NE (9/9) as five of his six kickoffs reached the end zone, four for touchbacks trying game vs. Pit (12/30) with missed field goals from 32 and 28 yards and missed PAT with game tied at 2323; made 34-yarder earlier in game, and atoned with 31-yarder 4:08 into overtime for the victory.

2000: Rookie season produced 12 field goals in 21 attempts and 21 PATs for 57 points with the Bengals opened season with three misses, including one field goal try blocked good from 23, 38 and 34 yards vs. Mia (10/1) took pitch from holder Daniel Pope on fake field goal try and tackled for five-yard loss @ Pit (10/15) converted season-long 45-yarder @ Ten (12/10) capped rookie season with game-winner from 27 yards out as time expired in season finale win vs. Jax (12/17) .

College:

Set Illinois season scoring mark with 110 points as senior in 1999 connected on 20 of 25 field goal tries and all 35 extra points over one half (56.7 percent) of his kickoffs were touchbacks (38-of-67).

Personal:

Full name Neil William Rackers earned 11 varsity letters in baseball, soccer and football at Aquinas-Mercy (St. Louis, MO) High School earned all-conference honors in all three sports posted batting averages of .480 and .420 as prep junior/senior, led school to consecutive state titles in soccer owns degree in speech communications from Illinois ... married, he and his wife Rachel have a son Jacob and a daughter Annabel.

 
Neil Rackers Colleagues :
Name Title Email

William Bidwill

Chmn., Owner, VP Please login

Michael Bidwill

Pres. Please login

William. Bidwill

Exec. VP, Chief Business Officer Please login

Rod Graves

CFO Please login

Ron Minegar

Exec. Assist., Paralegal Please login


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