The Minnesota Vikings don’t have a ton to walk away with from the 2025-2026 season. Not even a good draft pick after a 4-8 start to the year.
Their 9-8 finish after five consecutive wins got them the 18th overall pick. This means they were the best team in the NFL by record to not make the playoffs. Classic.
Fortunately, there is one thing they will be walking away with. A second-year standout for these Vikings received an NFL monthly honor.
Vikings Kicker Will Reichard Given Monthly NFC Honors
GettyEAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – DECEMBER 21: Will Reichard #16 of the Minnesota Vikings kicks a field goal against the New York Giants in the fourth quarter of a game at MetLife Stadium on December 21, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
The report comes from the Minnesota Vikings’ official website via Rob Klelfield.
“Celebrations are in full swing for Will Reichard.
The Vikings kicker was celebrated Thursday, on the eve of his 25th birthday, as the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December/January. Reichard was a perfect 12-for-12 on field goals and 12-for-12 on PATs from Weeks 14-18 to improve his second-season totals to 33-for-35 (94.3 percent) and 31-for-31.”
Klelfield continued on Reichard:
“Reichard’s last miss of the year happened all the way back in Week 8. His string of fortunes in December started with six total FGs against NFC East opponents Washington, Dallas and New York, and continued Christmas Day against the Lions when he struck three more, including a pair of 50-yarders in a 23-10 win.
That long range was a staple of Reichard’s indelible campaign, in which he converted 11 out of 13 attempts from 50-plus yards, tied with Brandon Aubrey and Chase McLaughlin for the most in the NFL.”
It may sound crazy, but the Vikings may actually have a kicker. Not that they haven’t had before, but the proposition always feels like a crazy one. No one is safe from Minnesota‘s kicker curse.
The most recent example is Blair Walsh, whom was a top kicker in the league for the Vikings, and still had the all-time embarrassing 27-yard miss to advance in the playoffs in 2015.
Will Reichard Is the Moment
GettyMINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – DECEMBER 25: Will Reichard #16 of the Minnesota Vikings is congratulated by Josh Oliver #84 after kicking a field goal against the Detroit Lions during the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium on December 25, 2025 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Klelfield noted some of the major emphasis points of Reichard’s 2025 campaign:
“Looking closer, the conference recognition was the result of Reichard striking three points in the team’s shutout of the Commanders on Dec. 7, outperforming NFC Pro Bowl kicker Aubrey on Sunday Night Football at Dallas on Dec. 14, persevering the cold and wind in New Jersey on Dec. 21 and repeatedly booming the ball into the net with Snoop Dogg and friends in the Vikings building and the Lions playoff life fading to black. The distances against the Packers were shorter — but the kicks were just as sweet.”
In a season that saw J.J. McCarthy struggle and Justin Jefferson be washed out of the offense, it’s refreshing to see a Viking get some well-deserved recognition.
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