Steelers Kicker Boswell Missed Three Field Goals

Chris Boswell has struggled to start the 2026 season with three missed field goals in four games.

Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Football

Expressive sports illustration of a kicker mid-swing in Steelers black and gold uniform against a blurred stadium background. — Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell has struggled early in the 2026 season, missing three field goal attempts through the team's first four games. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should fans be concerned when a veteran player on their local team starts underperforming?

Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Chris Boswell has missed three field goal attempts through the first four games of the 2026 season. His recent performance included a miss during the Steelers' 27-24 loss to the Cleveland Browns.

Why it matters

Accurate kicking is a critical component of scoring for the Steelers, and Boswell's recent inconsistencies have impacted the team's ability to capitalize on scoring drives. This early season trend creates concern regarding the reliability of the kicking unit in close games.

Boswell has missed three field goals in four games during 2026, a notable change after missing only five of 32 attempts during the 2025 season. Historically, the kicker missed seven field goals in 2018 and eight in 2022.

The players

Chris Boswell

He is the veteran placekicker for the Pittsburgh Steelers who recently signed a contract extension.

Pittsburgh Steelers

This is a professional American football team based in Pittsburgh that competes in the NFL.

Cleveland Browns

They are a professional American football team that competes in the AFC North division.

Cameron Johnston

He is the new holder for the Pittsburgh Steelers field goal unit.

Christian Kuntz

He serves as the long snapper for the Pittsburgh Steelers special teams unit.

The details

The misses occurred across the team's early schedule, including games against the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. Boswell, who signed a contract extension during the 2026 offseason, works with new holder Cameron Johnston and long snapper Christian Kuntz.

Boswell missed seven field goals during the 2018 season.
Boswell missed eight field goals during the 2022 season.
Boswell missed five field goals on 32 attempts in 2025.
Boswell received a contract extension during the 2026 offseason.
Boswell missed three field goals during the first four games of 2026.

Season Trajectory

These early misses threaten the Steelers' efficiency in a highly competitive division where narrow margins often decide the playoff picture. The team's ability to overcome these struggles in the kicking game is vital to maintaining their standing throughout the 2026 season.

The misses complicate the Steelers' scoring efficiency, forcing the offense to pursue more aggressive red-zone strategies to compensate for lost points. Fantasy managers should monitor the kicker's accuracy closely given his reduced reliability in early 2026 contests.

The takeaway

Reliability in the kicking game is essential for high-level success in the NFL as teams often rely on field goals to bridge the gap in tight games. Players and staff must focus on refining the timing between the snapper, holder, and kicker to restore consistency.