Ramiz Ahmed (born July 27, 1995) is an American football kicker who is a free agent. He played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack and holds the record for the longest field goal in USFL history at 61 yards. Ahmed has also been a member of the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL).
![]() Ahmed with the Birmingham Stallions in 2024 | |
Personal information | |
---|---|
Born: | Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. | July 27, 1995
Height: | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
Weight: | 193 lb (88 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) |
College: | Nevada (2017–2018) |
Position: | Kicker |
Undrafted: | 2019 |
Career history | |
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
Player stats at PFR |
Early life
editA Las Vegas native, Ahmed originally attended Faith Lutheran High School, where he played on the varsity soccer team as a freshman.[1][2] He did not play football until his second year, when he transferred to Bishop Gorman High School and joined their team as a kicker.[1] Ahmed was the starter on the 2013 state championship team, making 6-of-11 field goals, 71-of-74 PATs and hitting 67 touchbacks in 93 attempts.[1]
College career
editAhmed first attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) before transferring to Arizona State University (ASU), though he did not play football at either school.[1][3] Ahmed transferred again in January 2017, this time to the University of Nevada, Reno, where he made the Wolf Pack football team as a walk-on.[1] Though he struggled with inconsistency on field goals, Ahmed's powerful right leg caught the team's attention at a student tryout conducted six days before the season opener.[1][3] "He came out just banging the ball, just destroying it," said special teams coordinator Tommy Perry, who compared his kicks to "a shotgun going off."[3] By this time he was a junior, Ahmed had to wait a few weeks to get cleared before making his college debut as the Wolf Pack's starting kickoff specialist in their second game against Toledo.[1][3] He recorded three touchbacks in three attempts and was named the team's special teams player of the week for his performance.[1] In total, Ahmed had 28 touchbacks in 55 attempts and earned academic all-conference honors in his first season.
During his senior year, Ahmed became the starting kicker. He made 15 of 20 field goals and 40 of 44 PATs.[4]
Professional career
editHeight | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
5 ft 11+1⁄4 in (1.81 m) |
182 lb (83 kg) |
29+7⁄8 in (0.76 m) |
9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | |||||||||
All values from Pro Day[5] |
Chicago Bears
editOn April 17, 2020, he signed with the Chicago Bears as competition for Eddy Piñeiro.[6][7] On August 11, Ahmed was waived, making Piñeiro the Bears' kicker for the 2020 season.[8]
Pittsburgh Maulers
editOn March 10, 2022, Ahmed was drafted by the Pittsburgh Maulers of the United States Football League in the seventh round of the 2022 USFL supplemental draft.[9][10]
In Week 8, Ahmed made a 61-yard field goal against the New Jersey Generals, marking as the longest field goal in USFL history.[11]
Green Bay Packers
editOn August 14, 2022, Ahmed signed with the Green Bay Packers.[12] He was waived on August 30, 2022.[13] He was signed to the practice squad on September 5, 2022.[14] On November 12, 2022, he was elevated to the active roster for the game against the Dallas Cowboys.[15] He handled kickoffs as starter Mason Crosby dealt with a sore back, kicking off six times, three of which going for touchbacks.[16][17] On November 14, 2022, Ahmed was reverted to the Packers practice squad.[18] On December 31, 2022, Ahmed was elevated to the active roster from the practice squad.[19] During warm-ups for the team's week seventeen game against the Minnesota Vikings Ahmed suffered a groin injury and did not play during the game despite being elevated to once again handle kickoff duties.[20] After the game on January 2, 2023, Ahmed returned to the team's practice squad while the team signed fellow kicker Matt Ammendola.[21][22] On January 16, 2023, Ahmed's contract with the team expired.[23]
Birmingham Stallions
editOn April 16, 2024, Ahmed signed with the Birmingham Stallions of the United Football League (UFL).[24] He was released on May 28.[25]
Washington Commanders
editAhmed signed with the Washington Commanders on June 4, 2024.[26] He was released by Washington on August 13.[27]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Murray, Chris (September 14, 2017). "Ramiz Ahmed goes from Nevada student to Wolf Pack starter in three weeks". Reno Gazette-Journal. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ "Ramiz Ahmed's Soccer Stats". MaxPreps. Retrieved April 4, 2022.
- ^ a b c d Finley, Patrick (May 27, 2020). "How Ramiz Ahmed went from a college tryout to the Bears' latest kicker". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "26 – Ramiz Ahmed". nevadawolfpack.com.
- ^ "2019 Draft Scout Ramiz Ahmed, Nevada NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ Lieser, Jason (April 21, 2020). "Kicker drama is back as Bears plan competition between Eddy Pineiro, Ramiz Ahmed". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
- ^ Ellis, Cam (April 17, 2020). "Bears sign Ramiz Ahmed to compete with Eddy Pineiro for the starting kicker job". RSN. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "Roster Move: Bears waive kicker Ramiz Ahmed". chicagobears.com. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
- ^ "USFL DRAFT 2022: SUPPLEMENTAL DRAFT PICK-BY-PICK RESULTS". Fox Sports. March 10, 2022. Retrieved March 11, 2022.
- ^ "USFL Draft 2022: Supplemental Draft pick-by-pick results". American Football International. March 12, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Maulers' Ramiz Ahmed kicks 61-yard field goal in USFL game". ProFootballTalk. June 4, 2022. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "Packers sign K Ramiz Ahmed". packers.com. August 14, 2022. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved August 14, 2022.
- ^ "Press release: Packers announce roster moves". packers.com. August 30, 2022. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
- ^ "Packers sign K Ramiz Ahmed to practice squad". packers.com. September 5, 2022. Retrieved September 5, 2022.
- ^ "Packers sign CB Corey Ballentine to active roster". packers.com. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
- ^ Huber, Bill. "Packers Elevating Kicker For Sunday vs. Cowboys; Here's Why". Sports Illustrated Green Bay Packers News, Analysis and More. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "Ramiz Ahmed (K): Bio, News, Stats & more". packers.com. Retrieved November 14, 2022.
- ^ "Ramiz Ahmed: Reverts to practice squad". CBSSports.com. November 14, 2022. Retrieved November 15, 2022.
- ^ "Packers elevate K Ramiz Ahmed, RB Tyler Goodson for gameday". packers.com. December 31, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2022.
- ^ "The Packers had two kickers active. Mason Crosby kicked and Ramiz Ahmed didn't. Here's why". Packers News. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Ramiz Ahmed: Back to practice squad Monday". CBSSports.com. January 3, 2023. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Packers sign TE Austin Allen, K Matt Ammendola to practice squad". packers.com. Retrieved January 3, 2023.
- ^ "Ramiz Ahmed: Deal with Green Bay runs out". CBSSports.com. January 17, 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2023.
- ^ "UFL Transactions". UFLBoard.com. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
- ^ "UFL Transactions". UFLBoard.com. Retrieved May 29, 2024.
- ^ "Commanders sign K Ramiz Ahmed". Commanders.com. June 4, 2024. Retrieved June 4, 2024.
- ^ "Commanders sign WR Martavis Bryant, release K Ramiz Ahmed". Commanders.com. Retrieved August 13, 2024.