Raiders officially have a massive Daniel Carlson problem on their hands
The Las Vegas Raiders may soon need to consider replacing kicker Daniel Carlson after the 2025 NFL season, as his consistency appears to have faded. Throughout team history, both the Oakland and Las Vegas Raiders have featured iconic kickers. George Blanda paved the way for Sebastian Janikowski, and just two years after Janikowski’s retirement, the franchise found Daniel Carlson midway through the 2018 season.
Carlson quickly became a fan favorite in Raider Nation, earning the nickname “Cash Money Carlson” for his pinpoint accuracy and reliability in clutch moments. For several seasons, he was a near-automatic scorer for the Silver and Black. But his performance has noticeably declined in recent years, especially during the 2025 campaign, where he no longer appears as sharp or confident.
Performance struggles in 2025
The Week 9 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars showcased his current struggles. Carlson’s opening kickoff failed to reach the landing zone, immediately setting a poor tone. Later, he missed an extra point in the first half—mistakes that proved costly as Las Vegas went to overtime and ultimately lost by one point.
Meanwhile, the Jaguars’ second-year kicker, Cam Little, nailed an NFL-record 68-yard field goal before halftime, highlighting the contrast between the two kickers’ performances.
Head coach Pete Carroll all but admitted how frustrating this was during his postgame media availability.
Author’s summary
Daniel Carlson’s declining reliability has put the Raiders in a difficult spot, forcing the team to confront problems once unimaginable for their usually trusted kicker.