Daniel Carlson

Daniel Vilhelm Carlson was born on January 23, 1995, in Dallas, Texas, and grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He attended The Classical Academy before playing college football for the Auburn Tigers. During his time at Auburn, Carlson demonstrated exceptional talent, never missing an extra point throughout his collegiate career. He became the all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Conference (SEC) football history with 480 career points, a record he held until 2023. His consistent performance earned him three selections to the All-SEC Team First Team and three Second-team All-American honors from 2015 to 2017. These achievements highlighted his reliability and skill, making him a notable prospect for the NFL.

Carlson was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. After a brief stint with the Vikings, he was waived early in his rookie season. However, his professional career found stability when he signed with the Oakland Raiders in October 2018. With the Raiders, Carlson quickly became a key player, setting a new team record for field goal accuracy in 2018. Over the years, he has consistently ranked among the league’s top kickers, co-leading the NFL in scoring in both the 2020 and 2021 seasons. His ability to perform under pressure is evident in numerous game-winning field goals, including those against the Arizona Cardinals in 2018, and pivotal kicks in the 2021 season against the Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, and Los Angeles Chargers, securing playoff berths for his team.

His career progression with the Raiders has been marked by significant milestones, including being named First-Team All-Pro in 2022 and Second-Team All-Pro in 2021. In December 2021, Carlson signed a four-year, $18.4 million extension, affirming his value to the franchise. He is currently recognized as the fifth-most accurate kicker in NFL history. Carlson’s consistent contributions and clutch performances have solidified his reputation as a reliable and high-performing professional athlete in the demanding environment of the NFL, demonstrating a sustained level of excellence throughout his career.