By: Chloe Wilson

Culture Editor

Nineteen-season NFL veteran Matt Prater just joined the Buffalo Bills, making him the oldest person to ever play on the team. Prater was coaching his son’s youth football team when he received the call from the Bills to hop on a plane and substitute for their injured kicker, Tyler Bass. 

He flew out that weekend and got only about a day of practice at the Bills stadium. Soon after, he would go on to win the Buffalo Bills vs. the Baltimore Ravens game with a score of 41-40 as the clock ran out. The 32-yard field goal led the team to victory and the whole crowd rejoiced. The team celebrated by lifting Prater over their heads. Despite only having a 0.9 percent chance of victory, they concluded the game with a 15-point comeback.

The Bills’ offensive lineman, Dion Dawkins, poked fun at Prater explaining, “The oldest guy in the world, ain’t he? I’m thankful for him. I’m glad that somebody could come in on Thursday and help us big (because) every piece matters, he came in, understood the assignment, we got the job done.” It is safe to say that Prater deserved the tremendous amount of praise fans gave him after the historical comeback.

But Prater is no newbie to the league. He received numerous awards, including a spot on the NFL Pro Bowl roster in 2013. Additionally, he played college football at UCF and earned second-team All-American honors in 2003.

Before the game, Prater explained to 2024 MVP quarterback Josh Allen, “I promise I’m going to give you everything I have tonight.” And he did just that. After signing with the team, Prater continued this promise with a 52-yard field goal and three extra points in week 2, a 30-10 win against the New York Jets. His performances in these past few games have placed pressure on the injured reserve for the Bills, Tyler Bass. Last week, Bills’ head coach Sean McDermott explained, “Prater is the guy for the foreseeable future, Tyler is our guy (for long-term circumstances).”

Prater began his NFL journey with the Detroit Lions in 2006, signing as an undrafted free agent. Over the years, he has played for several teams, including the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, Detroit Lions (again), Arizona Cardinals, and Buffalo Bills. Prater holds the NFL record for most career field goals from 50 yards or more, with 82 successful kicks.

As the Bills continue their run to the playoffs, eyes will be on Prater and his legacy to lead them. McDermott beamed after the Ravens game, sharing, “I couldn’t be prouder, I’m happy for Matt, just joining us here and being able to do that. There’s a lot that went into it before that, but just awesome to execute at that level with the game on the line. I was very confident in him when he went out there.”

(Sources: A to Z Sports, Buffalo Bills, Buffalo Rumblings, NBC, NFL, Sports Illustrated)