Matt Gay of the Colts is the first player in NFL history to make four field goals of at least 50 yards

In the frenzy of NFL trades that occurred in the spring, Matt Gay’s signing as the Indianapolis Colts’ free agent class in March barely registered.

However, Indianapolis’ signing of Gay is starting to appear to be one of the offseason’s smarter moves.

The Colts surprisingly won 22-19 on the road at M&T Bank Stadium because to the fifth-year kicker’s 53-yard conversion in overtime. He became the first man in NFL history to make four field goals of 50 yards or longer in a single game.

Gay stated that Sunday’s effort was unusual, as he made five kicks overall, including three from 53 yards and two each from 31 and 54 yards.

Gay was “really just in that blackout mode where I wasn’t thinking too much,” the witness claimed.

“When I’m not thinking about anything, and I’m just back there kicking, it means I’m fluid,” Gay said.

On Sunday, the Colts were playing without their starting quarterback Anthony Richardson, so they needed every bit of Gay’s powerful leg. Due to the concussion he suffered last week against the Houston Texans, the fourth overall choice in the 2023 draught was unable to play, and the Colts’ offence was far more constrained with backup Gardner Minshew at the lead.

Gay saw it as a chance to repay the team’s faith in him at the precise time when his efforts were most required.

“As much as you do it in practice and you try to get that respect of your teammates and things like that,” he said, “nothing does it like a game.”

Gay’s teammates were quick to notice that the kicker was gaining more and more confidence.

“That boy was nailing them,” linebacker Zaire Franklin said. “People underestimate the power of the kicking game.”

Franklin later added, “That boy is a savage, man. Whatever he needs, I got him.”

From his days as a college football player to his unexpected switch to place kicking (which started at a specialist camp at the University of Utah in 2017), Gay’s journey has taken some interesting turns. Gay’s impressive debut season even earned him the Lou Groza Award that same year as the best kicker in college football.

Even his journey to Indianapolis was unique given that he spent a few of months in 2020 on the Colts’ practise squad before settling down for good with the Los Angeles Rams.

Gay’s historic day coincided with an afternoon when he played with Ravens kicker Justin Tucker, one of the all-time greats. At the end of regulation, Tucker’s 61-yard field goal attempt was blocked, giving Gay the chance to later kick the game-winning field goal.

“He’s arguably the greatest of all time and I have nothing but respect for what he’s done and the success he’s had,” Gay said of Tucker.