Jeff Wilkins

"For the American basketball player, see Jeff Wilkins (basketball)."Infobox NFLretired


name=Jeff Wilkins
|width=
caption=
position=Placekicker
number=14
birthdate=birth date and age|1972|4|19
Youngstown, Ohio
deathdate=
debutyear=1994
finalyear=2007
undraftedyear=1994
college=Youngstown State
teams=
* Philadelphia Eagles (1994)
* San Francisco 49ers (1995-1996)
* St. Louis Rams (1997-2007)
stat1label=FG Att
stat1value=375
stat2label=FGM
stat2value=307
stat3label=Pct
stat3value=81.9
stat4label=Pts
stat4value=1416
nfl=WIL088118
highlights=
* Pro Bowl selection (2003)
* All-Pro selection (2003)
* Super Bowl champion (XXXIV)

Jeffrey Allen Wilkins (born April 19, 1972 in Youngstown, Ohio) nicknamed "Money" [cite web |url= http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/gamecenter/recap/NFL_20060910_DEN@STL|title= Linehan's offense does little, but kicker, defense dump Denver |accessdate=2008-05-13 |date=2006-09-10 |format= |work= ] is a former American football placekicker. He played 14 years in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles and St Louis Rams and attended Youngstown State University. Wilkins is currently tied for 1st place all time in most consecutive PATs without a miss at 371.

Wilkins gained early recognition as a student athlete at Austintown Fitch High School in Austintown, Ohio. During this period, he won All-State honors as kicker and also served as the team's starting quarterback.

College career

At Youngstown State University, Wilkins made a school record 66 field goals, with a long of 54 (another school record). He was also an outstanding punter, averaging 38 yards per punt. Wilkins was also a member of both the 1991 and 1993 Division I-AA National Championship teams with the Penguins, the first two of four national championships the school won in the 1990's with future Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel. Wilkins was inducted in the YSU Sports Hall of Fame in 2003.

Professional career

Wilkins signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1994, but played in just 6 games and did not attempt a single field goal or extra point. The following season, he joined the 49ers. While he only played in 7 games, he had a superb season, kicking 12 of 13 field goals. In 1996, he finally saw duty as his team's full time kicker and did not disappoint, kicking 30 of 34 field goals and all 40 extra point attempts.

In 1997, he joined the Rams, where he has played the rest of his career up to this point and became the team's all time leading scorer. Wilkins assisted his team to a championship win in Super Bowl XXXIV, kicking 3 of 4 field goals and two extra points in the Rams 23–16 win over the Tennessee Titans. He also kicked a 50–yard field goal in the Rams 20–17 loss in Super Bowl XXXVI.

In 2003, Wilkins kicked an NFL record-tying 39 field goals (then shared with former Miami Dolphins and current New Orleans Saints kicker Olindo Mare), which stood until surpassed by Neil Rackers' 40 field goals in 2005.

In St. Louis' opening game of the 2006 season, Wilkins set a franchise record by kicking 6 field goals in their 18–10 win over the Denver Broncos. He also became the first Rams player ever to score over 1,000 points.

On November 11, 2007, Wilkins kicked his 300th career field goal against the New Orleans Saints. Wilkins announced his retirement from the NFL on February 29, 2008. [Citation |last= |first= |title=Rams kicker Wilkins retires after 14 seasons |url=http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7855844/Rams-kicker-Wilkins-retires-after-14-seasons |publisher="FOX Sports" |date=2008-02-29 |accessdate=2008-03-01]

References