Matt Gay kicked for the Indianapolis Colts for two seasons, and as it turned out, that was two seasons too many. He was signed in 2023 to a four-year deal worth $22.5 million, the richest ever for a free agent kicker at the time. He wasn't worth the money.
That is something the Washington Commanders found out in their Thursday Night Football loss to the Green Bay Packers in Week 2. After being released by the Colts this offseason, he signed with the Commanders and was supposed to fix their kicking woes.
After all, Washington has a good team. It is expected to compete for the NFC East crown and potentially a Super Bowl run, but it will also play in a lot of tight games where the kicker must come through. Against Green Bay, Gay did not.
Matt Gay proves to be the same kicker he was with the Indianapolis Colts for the Washington Commanders
When he was in Indy, Gay began his time by looking like a free agent steal. He made four field goals from beyond 50 yards in a 2023 Week 3 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. That number was a record in a single game. He made another beyond 50 in Week 6, and then things started going poorly.
He was still solid from under 50 yards, but in the NFL, kickers make their money by keeping teams in games or winning a game or three by making long kicks. After 2023's Week 6, Gay would make just three of eight from beyond 50. In 2024, he made just three of nine.
Indy decided it needed better production and let Gay walk. It was the right move.
The Commanders, however, had more faith. It backfired. Against the Packers, when a couple of long field goals would have changed the momentum of the game, Gay let the team down. He made one from 51 yards in the first half, but in the second half, he missed his two attempts from beyond 50.
One was excusable, as the attempt was from 58 yards. But kickers are being successful on those tries more often in the current NFL. The other attempt was 52, a kick an NFL veteran should make.
Kicker Matt Gay: “I take full responsibly for this loss.”
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) September 12, 2025
Missed FGs from 58 and 52 yards. pic.twitter.com/t95dUaZIj1
Was Matt Gay the reason the Commanders lost to the Packers? Not solely, but he was one of them. He took the blame for the loss after the game. That is a stand-up thing for the former Indianapolis Colts kicker to do, but in reality, Washington might need to look for a new kicker soon.