Brandon McManus

After going undrafted in the 2013 NFL Draft, McManus signed with the Indianapolis Colts on April 28, 2013. On August 25, McManus was waived prior to the start of the season by Indianapolis.[6]

On January 2, 2014, McManus signed a reserve/futures contract with the New York Giants.[7] He played in 4 preseason games for the team prior to being traded to Denver.

On August 26, 2014, the New York Giants traded McManus to the Denver Broncos to cover for the loss of the Broncos' starting kicker Matt Prater, who began the 2014 NFL season serving a four-game suspension. He became their starting kicker following the release of Prater on October 3, 2014.[8] McManus was waived by the Broncos on November 11, 2014, after the team decided to sign free agent Connor Barth as his replacement.[9] He was quickly re-signed by the Broncos after clearing waivers and spent the rest of the season as the team's kickoff specialist.[10] In 11 games with the Broncos as the primary placekicker, McManus converted all 41 extra point attempts and nine of 13 field goal attempts.[11]

McManus in 2015

Going into the 2015 season, the Broncos brought both Barth and McManus to training camp. McManus won the job, proving more consistent than he had been in 2014, and the Broncos cut Barth.[12] On September 13, 2015, he became the third kicker in NFL history to make multiple field goals of 56 or more yards in the same game, joining Sebastian Janikowski and Greg Zuerlein, who both achieved the feat in the 2012 season.[13] On October 18, McManus made the game winning overtime field goal to propel the Broncos to a 26–23 overtime win over the Cleveland Browns.[14] He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October.[15] He finished the 2015 season converting 35 of 36 extra point attempts and 30 of 35 field goal attempts.[16] In the Divisional Round of the playoffs, McManus tied an NFL-postseason record by making five field goals in a 23–16 victory over the Steelers at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.[17] After defeating the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship, McManus and the Broncos advanced to the Super Bowl.[18] In Super Bowl 50, he played a crucial role by making three field goals on three attempts and an extra point in the 24–10 victory over the Carolina Panthers.[19] His ten post-season field goals that year was also a Broncos franchise record.[20]

In the 2016 season, McManus converted 32 of 33 extra point attempts and 29 of 34 field goal attempts.[21]

On March 7, 2017, the Broncos placed a second round restricted free agent tender on McManus.[22] On September 11, 2017, McManus signed a three-year contract extension with the Broncos.[23] In the 2017 season, McManus converted all 27 extra point attempts and 24 of 32 field goal attempts.[24]

In the 2018 season, McManus converted all 35 extra point attempts and 20 of 25 field goal attempts.[25] In the 2019 season, McManus converted 25 of 26 extra point attempts and 29 of 34 field goal attempts.[26]

On September 11, 2020, McManus signed a four-year, $17.2 million contract extension with the Broncos through the 2024 season.[27] In Week 4 against the New York Jets, McManus hit a 53-yard field goal that stood as the game-winner in the 37–28 win, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[28] In Week 6 against the New England Patriots, McManus scored all 18 of his team's points, converting 6 field goals during the 18–12 win. McManus was named the AFC Special Teams of the Week for his performance in Week 6.[29] He was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list by the team on December 14, 2020,[30] and activated on December 23.[31] In the 2020 NFL season, McManus converted 24 of 27 extra point attempts and 28 of 34 field goal attempts.[32]

In Week 14 of the 2021 season, McManus converted all five extra points and a 52-yard field goal in a 38–10 win over the Detroit Lions, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[33] In Week 17, McManus kicked a career-long 61-yard field goal against the Los Angeles Chargers at the end of the first half. [34] In the 2021 season, McManus converted 33 of 34 extra point attempts and 26 of 31 field goal attempts.[35]

In the 2022 season, McManus converted 25 of 27 extra point attempts and 28 of 36 field goal attempts.[36]

On May 23, 2023, McManus was released by the Broncos and designated as a post-June 1 cut. At the time of his release, he was the last remaining member of the Super Bowl 50 winning team still with the team.[37]

On May 25, 2023, McManus signed a one-year deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.[38]

In Week 4 of the 2023 season, McManus went a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals against the Atlanta Falcons in London and was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.[39]