2015 DETROIT LIONS MEDIA GUIDE

5 - MATT PRATER
Kicker Central Florida Estero, Fla.
Year: 9 Ht: 5-10 Wt: 211 Born: 8/10/84
Draft: FA-Det ‘06 Acquired: FA ‘14
Complete biographical information available on Detroitlions.com.
TRANSACTIONS
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Lions as an unrestricted free agent to a three-year contract on March 9, 2015.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Detroit Lions as a free agent on October 7, 2014.
‣ ¾ Suspension lifted on October 6, 2014.
‣ ¾ Released by the Denver Broncos on October 3, 2014.
‣ ¾ Suspended four games for violating the NFL Substance Abuse Policy on August 24, 2014.
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Broncos on July 2, 2012.
‣ ¾ Designated franchise player by the Broncos on March 5, 2012.
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Broncos on July 29, 2011.
‣ ¾ Re-signed by the Broncos on March 9, 2008.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Denver Broncos on December 19, 2007.
‣ ¾ Signed to the Dolphins practice squad on November 15, 2007.
‣ ¾ Released by the Falcons on September 17, 2007.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Atlanta Falcons on August 30, 2007.
‣ ¾ Released by the Dolphins on August 27, 2007.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Miami Dolphins as a free agent on January 11, 2007.
‣ ¾ Released by the Lions on August 27, 2007.
‣ ¾ Signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted rookie free agent on May 4, 2006.
PRO
Ninth-year kicker out of UCF who spent seven seasons (2007-13) with the Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons before
joining the Lions as a free agent in 2014.
‣ ¾ Prater was 3-for-3 on field goal attempts (22, 20 and 48 yards) in the Lions’ 22-21 comeback win vs. Atlanta at Wembley
Stadium in London. Connected on the game-winning 48-yard field goal as time expired, giving the Lions the win. Prater’s
48-yard field goal was his 10th career game-winning or game-tying field goal with less than 2:00 to play or in overtime.
• Prater now has seven career game-winning kicks with less than 2:00 to play in the fourth quarter or in overtime.
‣ ¾ Prater connected on 3-of-3 field goal attempts in the Lions’ 16-14 win over the Vikings (12/14) and accumulated 10 of
the team’s 16 points in the win. Prater made a 33-yard field goal with 3:38 left to play in the fourth quarter to give the
Lions the lead that they would hold on to the rest of the way.
• His 33-yard game-winner was his 11th career field goal made with less than 4:00 in the fourth quarter or in overtime
that tied the game or took the lead in the team’s win.
2014: Signed by the Lions as a free agent on October 7, 2014 and finished the season making 21-of-26 field goal attempts
(80.8-percent) and all 21 of his extra points. Since joining the team in Week 6, Prater’s 21 field goals made tied for seventh
in the NFL during that span.
‣ ¾ Successfully kicked a 52-yard field goal in Week 6 at Minnesota (10/12).
‣ ¾ Converted on a 21-yard field goal in Week 7 vs. New Orleans (10/19).
‣ ¾ Went 3-for-3, including the game-winning 48-yard field goal in Week 8 at Atlanta (10/26).
‣ ¾ Converted 2-of-3 field goals, including a 50-yarder in Week 10 vs. Miami (11/09).
‣ ¾ Made two field goals in Week 11 at Arizona (11/16).
‣ ¾ Converted 3-of-4 field goals in Week 12 at New England (11/23).
‣ ¾ Went 2-of-2 on field goals in Week 13 vs. Chicago (11/27).
‣ ¾ Converted 2-of-2 field goals in Week 14 vs. Tampa Bay (12/07).
‣ ¾ Went 3-of-4 on field goals, including the go-ahead kick to win the game in Week 15 vs. Minnesota (12/14).
‣ ¾ Converted 2-of-3 field goals in Week 16 at Chicago (12/21).
‣ ¾ Went 2-of-2 on field goals in the NFC Wild Card game at Dallas (1/4).
2013: Named to his first Pro Bowl and the Associated Press’ All-Pro Second Team, as he connected on 25 of his 26 field
goal attempts and set a new NFL record for extra points in a season with 75.
‣ ¾ Went three-for-three on field goal attempts in Week 4 vs. Philadelphia (9/29), including a 53-yarder.
‣ ¾ Kicked the game-winning 28-yard field goal to give the Broncos a 51-48 victory in Week 4 at Dallas (10/6).
‣ ¾ Broke the NFL record for the longest field goal made with a 64-yard make in Week 14 vs. Tennessee (12/8).
COLLEGE
In 46 career games at the University of Central Florida, Prater finished his career tied for first in school history in field
goals made (50) and ranked fourth in scoring (258 pts.). Made 17-of-26 (.654) field goal attempts as a senior with a 49-
yard long for UCF.
DETROIT LIONS
PLAYER PROFILES