Steelers Reward Veteran Kicker With Record-Breaking Extension After 60-Yard Game-Winner
The Pittsburgh Steelers wasted no time in rewarding their most reliable special teams weapon. Just two days after his 60-yard game-winning kick against the New York Jets, the franchise announced a lucrative contract extension for their veteran kicker, making him the highest-paid player at his position in NFL history.
The moment itself felt like a statement. With the score tied and the clock expiring in Week 1, the ball sailed off his foot and cleared the uprights with room to spare, electrifying Acrisure Stadium. That single kick didn’t just deliver a win — it reshaped his market value overnight.
Chris Boswell, who has been with the Steelers since 2015, now surpasses Harrison Butker and Justin Tucker atop the kicker salary rankings. His new extension, according to multiple league sources, is worth more than $26 million over four years, with an annual average above $6.5 million — a milestone no other kicker has reached.
Boswell nails a career long 60-yarder to give Pittsburgh the lead!
PITvsNYJ on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/jm0DRH9d6B— NFL (@NFL) September 7, 2025
"This is a tough position, and consistency is everything," said head coach Mike Tomlin. "Boswell has earned the trust of this organization time and time again. That kick on Sunday was just another reminder of why he belongs here long term."
The 34-year-old veteran had previously been playing under a deal signed in 2022, which carried a modest $5 million annual average. While that was once tied for the top spot in the league, the market has since shifted, with kickers like Butker ($6.4M AAV) and Jake Elliott ($5.5M AAV) overtaking him. This extension restores Boswell’s place at the top.
The timing of the move is significant. Boswell staged a quiet “hold-in” during training camp, skipping full participation as he sought an upgrade. The Steelers resisted at first but ultimately struck a deal after his Week 1 heroics underscored his value in close contests.
The extension provides security for Boswell while giving Pittsburgh stability at a critical position. With cap flexibility created by recent restructures, the Steelers managed to lock down their Pro Bowl kicker without jeopardizing future roster moves.
For Steelers fans, the deal represents more than just a financial decision. It’s a message that consistency, reliability, and clutch performances will always be rewarded in Pittsburgh. Boswell’s 60-yarder may have been the kick of his career — and now it’s also the kick that got him paid.
Bears $53 Million Investment Had One of Worst Week 1 Performances in the NFL
Monday night in Chicago was supposed to be the beginning of a new era for the Bears, particularly on offense, with their revamped offensive line taking center stage. Instead, their 27–24 loss to the Vikings felt all too familiar.
Jonah Jackson, brought in as a key part of that rebuilt interior, struggled badly in his debut. Penalties, blown protections and missed assignments made his first impression a rough one, and for quarterback Caleb Williams, it meant spending much of his 2025 debut running for his life.
The Bears were in control for most of the night, building a 17–6 lead before Minnesota stormed back in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t just one breakdown that flipped the game; it was a pile of self-inflicted mistakes.
Twelve penalties for 127 yards made sustaining drives nearly impossible, and too often it was the offensive line putting Chicago behind schedule. Jackson was flagged early and often, setting the tone for an offense that never looked settled.
Jonah Jackson’s Bears Debut vs. Minnesota Vikings Week 1 Was About as Bad as it Gets
Chicago Bears PFF Pass Block Grades week 1:
1. Darnell Wright 86.02. Joe Thuney 70.92. Drew Dalman 58.73. Braxton Jones 56.45. Jonah Jackson 22.6
— Daniel Coltun (@danielcoltun) September 9, 2025
For Jackson, the night unraveled almost immediately. Two false starts in the first half derailed promising drives and left Chicago’s offense playing uphill.
“We said going into Week 1 that the team that would make the least number of mistakes would win the game,” Bears head coach Ben Johnson said after the loss. “Unfortunately, we were on the wrong side of that. We made too many there late in the game, myself included. There were a number of things that I could have done better, a number of things that a number of guys could have done better. When you look down at the stat sheet and you see 12 penalties, that’s got to get cleaned up in a hurry.”
Per PFF, Jackson played a total of 46 pass block snaps and 20 run block snaps. He allowed five hurries and was flagged twice, netting a 31.0 overall grade and an absolutely wretched 22.6 pass block grade, the latter of which was the second-worst amongst all guards who played more than two pass-block snaps.
Considering the fact the Bears just extended him, it was a disappointing debut to say the least.
Why Jonah Jackson Matters to Caleb Williams and the Bears’ Future
GettyChicago Bears right guard Jonah Jackson struggled mightily in his 2025 debut against the Minnesota Vikings.
Chicago invested heavily in its offensive line this offseason to help give Williams stability in his second year and avoid a repeat of last season’s protection issues, when the team allowed a league-high 68 sacks. Paired with Joe Thuney and Drew Dalman, the goal is for Jackson to help anchor the middle.
After trading for Jackson this offseason, the Bears did something rather odd considering he hadn’t yet played a snap for them: they inked him to a $53 million extension with just under $30 million guaranteed.
The Bears don’t need perfection from their guards, but they can’t survive with constant first-and-15 situations, or with their quarterback forced to freelance on every series.
The Bears drafted Williams to be the face of the franchise, but even the most dynamic quarterbacks need protection to succeed. Jackson doesn’t have to be a star—he just has to do his job without making a ton of errors. If he can settle in, this group still has the potential to grow into what the front office envisioned. If not, the Bears and their fans could be in for more games like they had against the Vikings.
