Anders Carlson Bio
Anders Bjorn Carlson is an American professional football placekicker currently playing for the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League. He played college football for the Auburn Tigers from 2017 to 2022 and was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Carlson has earned recognition as both a high school and collegiate All-American, including Second-team All-American honors and First-team All-Southeastern Conference selections in 2020. He has also been a Lou Groza Award semifinalist, honoring the best placekicker in college football.
Early Life and Background
Anders Bjorn Carlson was born on June 16, 1998, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to parents Hans and Jodie Carlson. He attended The Classical Academy in Colorado Springs, where he played multiple sports including football, soccer, and basketball. As a sophomore in 2014, he made four of six field goal attempts with a long of 44 yards and converted nine of ten extra-point attempts. His junior season saw improvement with 11 of 18 field goal attempts and a long of 52 yards, along with 37 of 38 extra-point conversions.
In his senior year of 2016, Carlson connected on 13 of 23 field goal attempts with a long of 51 yards and successfully made all 49 of his extra-point attempts. He was rated as a three-star college prospect and was the highest-rated prep kicker recruit in the nation. ESPN also ranked him as a top-10 overall recruit prospect in the state of Colorado. Carlson committed to play college football at Auburn University over scholarship offers from Oklahoma State and Vanderbilt.
Path to Professional Football
Carlson arrived at Auburn University in 2017 and redshirted his true freshman season as the backup placekicker to his older brother, Daniel Carlson. The 2018 season marked his emergence, as he gained national attention after kicking a 62-yard field goal at Auburn’s practice facility. That year, he successfully converted 15 of 25 field goal attempts, including two 53-yard kicks that ranked as the second-longest field goals made by a freshman in Auburn program history.
Carlson’s breakthrough came during the 2019 season when he earned SEC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after making all four field goal attempts from 43, 43, 44, and 52 yards in Auburn’s 48-45 upset win over Alabama in the Iron Bowl. His 52-yard field goal tied his brother Daniel and Al Del Greco for Auburn’s longest field goal in Iron Bowl history. He also set an NCAA record for consecutive successful extra-point conversions with 303, a streak that spanned six seasons and 78 games. Carlson continued his strong performance in 2020, making 20 of 22 field goal attempts and earning Second-team All-American, First-team All-SEC, and Lou Groza Award semifinalist honors.
Anders Carlson Career
Auburn Tigers (2017–2022)
Throughout his college career at Auburn, Carlson established himself as one of the most reliable kickers in the SEC. His 2021 season was cut short by a season-ending torn ACL suffered against Mississippi State on November 13. Despite the injury, his career performance placed him with the fifth-most points (275), third-most field goals made (53), and sixth-most extra points made (116) in Auburn program history. He earned Special Teams MVP honors at Auburn’s A-Day spring games in 2018, 2019, and 2021.
Carlson graduated from Auburn in 2020 with a degree in aviation from the College of Business while pursuing a master’s degree. He earned Academic Top Tiger and SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll recognition in 2017, and maintained strong academic standing with AD Honor Roll honors in 2018 and 2019, along with CoSIDA Academic All-District honors in 2019 and 2020.
Green Bay Packers (2023)
Carlson was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round (207th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft and signed his rookie contract on May 5. In his rookie season, Carlson led the NFL in missed kicks with thirteen. In the Divisional Round playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Carlson missed a field goal that would have given the Packers a seven-point lead. The Packers lost the game 24-21, ending their season. Head coach Matt LaFleur and his teammates publicly supported Carlson following the miss.
San Francisco 49ers (2024)
On October 15, 2024, Carlson was signed to the San Francisco 49ers practice squad. He was elevated to the active roster for their game against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 20, where he made both of his field goal attempts including a then career-long 55-yarder, but also missed an extra point attempt. The 49ers released him on November 5, 2024.
New York Jets (2024–2025)
Carlson signed with the New York Jets practice squad on November 8, 2024, and was elevated to the active roster for the game against the Indianapolis Colts on November 17. During that game, Carlson set a new career long by kicking a 58-yard field goal. He remained the Jets kicker until being designated inactive for the December 29 game and was released on December 30, 2024. Carlson signed a reserve/futures contract with the Jets on January 14, 2025, but was released by the team on June 18, 2025.
Birmingham Stallions (2026–Present)
On April 14, 2026, Carlson signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League, continuing his professional football career in the spring football league.
Career Statistics
Across his NFL career through 2024, Carlson has made 34 of 40 field goal attempts (85 percent) with a long of 58 yards and 38 touchbacks. His collegiate career at Auburn saw him finish with 53 field goals made, 116 extra points, and 275 total points across five seasons.
Anders Carlson Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Carlson was born to Hans and Jodie Carlson in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He has two brothers, Nils and Daniel. His older brother, Daniel Carlson, is also a professional placekicker currently playing for the Las Vegas Raiders. Daniel was an All-American kicker at Auburn as well, creating a rare family legacy at the university. The Carlson brothers overlapped at Auburn when Anders redshirted his freshman season in 2017 while serving as Daniel’s backup.
Personal Life
Carlson is a Christian who has spoken openly about his faith, stating that his identity is rooted in God rather than in football. He has described faith as a significant part of his life, emphasizing that while football is his current pursuit, it does not define who he is. Carlson is also an accomplished soccer player, helping The Classical Academy reach the Class 4A State finals in both 2014 and 2015.
2025 Season Performance
Following his release from the New York Jets in June 2025, Carlson continued his professional football journey. The 2025 season represented a transitional period as he worked toward securing a permanent roster spot in the NFL or another professional league. His career has demonstrated resilience, having bounced back from early professional struggles to find opportunities with multiple organizations. His ability to kick long field goals, including his career-long 58-yarder set with the Jets, remains a valuable asset in the competitive landscape of professional placekicking.