Seven cities. Eight stints. Twenty months. That was Chase McLaughlin’s first two seasons as an NFL kicker.
First came the Bills, who brought him on as an undrafted free agent in May 2019 and waived him that August. Then the Vikings signed him to their practice squad for all of nine days, cutting him an hour after McLaughlin and his now wife, Jessica, signed an apartment lease. Less than a month later he started a four-game run with the Chargers, then three for the Niners and four more for the Colts, finishing his rookie campaign by signing a contract extension in Indianapolis … only to hit waivers again the following training camp.
Returning to the Vikings’ practice squad for the start of 2020, McLaughlin lasted a full two months in Minnesota this time but still never saw the field. From there he joined the Jaguars’ active roster, replacing the injured Josh Lambo for three games before the Jets claimed him to finish out the season. Between these spells, McLaughlin estimates, he has also traveled to attend tryouts or workouts for “easily a third of the league.” As for the exact total, “I couldn’t even tell you. Lots of keeping the bags packed, lots of living out of hotels, staying ready, that’s for sure.”
