According to ESPN.com’s Field Yates, the Packers claimed rookie kicker Gabe Brkic off waivers. He was claimed from the Minnesota Vikings squad on Monday. The corresponding move was to release kicker Dominik Eberle.
Official Announcement:
The Packers claimed K Gabe Brkic off of waivers from the Vikings and waived K Dominik Eberle.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) June 13, 2022
Who is Gabe Brkic?
Last season at Oklahoma, Brkic was one of three finalists for the Lou Groza Award.
- He went 20-of-26 on field-goal attempts and all but one of his 58 point-after attempts in 2021.
- Brkic tied for the NCAA lead with five field goals from 50-plus yards.
- He also tied the FBS single-game record with three field goals from beyond 50 yards against Tulane. One of those, a 56-yarder, was the school’s longest in the no-tee era.
- The missed extra point was the only one in his three seasons on the job.
“My dad’s best friend, when we were younger, he told me that kicking a football is like parallel parking,” Brkic told The Oklahoman. “So, every kick I just think, ‘I’m going to parallel park this football through the goalpost.’ That’s it.”
He said offseason workouts, which allowed him to put on 25 pounds during his Oklahoma career, were a big factor in his strong leg. So, too, are his mullet and mustache.
“He’s a funny guy,” then-Sooners coach Lincoln Riley said. “He doesn’t take anything too serious. … I think he’s made that an advantage in his game. He’s a fun guy, man. I think the guys really like (and) respect him. He’s got a good balance and perspective on things. This will be Mason Crosby’s new kicking competition in Green Bay.
For more Wisconsin Sports News:
Follow me on Twitter at @mcquadewarnold and follow us @WiSportsHeroics for more great content. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in Wisconsin sports, click here! Also, check out our merch store for some amazing WSH merchandise!
