Jeff Wilkins

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

Jeff Allen Wilkins (born April 19, 1972 in Youngstown, Ohio) nicknamed "Money" is an American football placekicker who currently plays for the St. Louis Rams of the NFL. He previously played for the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles and attended Youngstown State University. 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.

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.