After missing two critical field goals during the Cleveland Browns’ Week 14 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, veteran kicker Dustin Hopkins continues to have the full support of head coach Kevin Stefanski, despite ongoing struggles throughout the season.
The Browns suffered a 27-14 defeat to one of their biggest rivals, with Hopkins missing field goals from 38 and 43 yards. These misses proved costly, allowing the Steelers to pull away in the second half. They also added to Hopkins’ tally of league-leading missed field goals, bringing his total to nine for the season. Yet, Stefanski remains steadfast in his belief in the veteran kicker.
“He’s our kicker,” Stefanski said after the game. “We expect him to make those kicks. He’s a veteran, he’s a pro, and I trust that he’ll work through it.”
Hopkins, standing at his locker and addressing reporters, took full accountability for his performance.
“I’m paid to make those kicks,” Hopkins admitted. “I want to succeed, not just for myself but for my teammates, the coaching staff, ownership, and the city of Cleveland. It’s frustrating because I put so much time and effort into my craft, and to see it not pay off is disappointing. This has been a frustrating season.”
Despite his struggles, Hopkins revealed that he feels mentally strong, even if that might seem perplexing to fans given his inconsistent performance. Over the course of the 2024 season, Hopkins has missed at least one kick in all but four games. Of his nine total misses, six have gone wide left, including one of the two against the Steelers. Attempting to adjust for that tendency, Hopkins admitted to overcompensating on his second attempt, which he subsequently pushed wide right early in the third quarter.
This pattern of inconsistency has been evident in previous weeks. Three weeks ago, Hopkins missed two field goals in the first half against the New Orleans Saints and believed he had found a mechanical fix at halftime. However, he never got the opportunity to attempt another kick in that game, and the issues have lingered since.
“Honestly, every week, I feel like I’m on the verge of solving it,” Hopkins said. “I’ll think, ‘This swing thought will work,’ but it doesn’t. Usually, when you find a fix, it lasts for a few weeks before you need to make another adjustment. But this season, it’s like I’m starting from scratch every single week. It’s been tough.”
Hopkins is not without his supporters. Stefanski isn’t the only one expressing confidence in the kicker. His former college teammate, quarterback Jameis Winston, has also been a constant source of encouragement. Winston, who played with Hopkins at Florida State, spoke highly of his resilience.
“Dustin is one of the most determined people I know,” Winston said. “I’ve seen him overcome challenges before, and I know he’ll do it again. He’s going through a tough time, but he holds himself to a high standard, and he’ll keep working until he gets better. That’s just who he is.”
What makes Hopkins’ struggles this season even more puzzling is the stark contrast to his success in 2023. Last season, Hopkins was one of the most reliable kickers in the NFL, converting a career-high 91.7% of his field goal attempts. He was perfect on all eight of his kicks from beyond 50 yards, including setting a career-high with multiple 58-yard field goals. This year, however, his success rate has dropped to a career-worst 64%, and he has made just half of his attempts from 50 yards or more.
The pressure of such a dramatic decline in performance would weigh heavily on anyone, particularly in a role like placekicking, where success is binary. Yet, Hopkins remains focused on his job and isn’t dwelling on the possibility of being replaced.
“I’m not worried about my job security,” he said. “And that’s not because I don’t care—it’s the opposite. I care deeply about performing well for this team, for this locker room, and for this organization. They’ve been so supportive, and I want to do right by them. All I can do is focus on the next opportunity and work to improve.”
As the Browns head into the final weeks of the season, both Hopkins and the team will be hoping he can rediscover the form that made him so reliable in the past. For now, his focus remains on working hard, addressing the issues, and making the most of every opportunity he gets to redeem himself.
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