Sanders attended and played college football at New Mexico from 2014 to 2017.[2] In his collegiate career, he converted 111-of-112 extra point attempts and 25-of-35 field goal attempts, with a career-long of 53 yards.[3][4]
Out of college, he was touted as the top pro kicking prospect in the country by kicking coach Brent Grablachoff of Kicking World.[5]
Sanders was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the seventh round, 229th overall, of the 2018 NFL draft.[8] He was one of two kickers to be drafted that year.[9] He was named the Dolphins starting kicker following the release of undrafted rookie Greg Joseph.[10]
He made his NFL debut in the season opener against the Tennessee Titans. He converted all three field goal attempts and both extra point attempts in the 27–20 victory.[11]
In Week 6, against the Chicago Bears, he converted the game-winning field goal in overtime.[12]
In 16 games, Sanders made 18 of 20 field goals on the year, and this 90-percent field goal conversion rate was the fifth best in team history.[13] He also converted 35 of 36 extra point attempts. After his first season, Sanders was named to the Pro Football Writers of America 2018 all-rookie team.[14]
In Week 13, against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sanders, despite being a kicker, recorded his first career receiving touchdown when he caught a one-yard touchdown pass from punter Matt Haack in the 37–31 win. The play marked the NFL's first touchdown pass to a kicker since October 16, 1977.[16][17] Sanders won the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award for his performance.[18]
In Week 14, against the New York Jets, Sanders converted on a franchise-record seven of eight field goal attempts in the 22–21 loss.[19] He was also named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his performance in December.[20]
He finished the 2019 season with 29 of 30 extra point attempts converted and 23 of 30 field goal attempts converted.[21]
In Week 5, against the San Francisco 49ers, Sanders was a perfect 5 for 5 on field goal attempts and 4 for 4 on extra point attempts, scoring a total of 19 points, during the 43–17 win, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his performance.[22] He also earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October after converting all 11 field goal attempts and all seven extra point attempts for the month.[23]
In Week 10, against the Los Angeles Chargers, he missed his first kick of the year. He was the last perfect kicker in the NFL.
Sanders was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for his performance in November.[24]
In Week 16, Sanders converted both extra point attempts and went 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 44-yard game winner in a 26–25 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[25]
After the 2020 season, he tied with Daniel Carlson and Younghoe Koo for the scoring title.[26] He also received First-team All-Pro honors.[27] He made 36 of 39 field goals and also made all 36 extra point attempts.[28]
On February 16, 2021, Sanders signed a five-year, $22 million contract extension with the Dolphins, making him one of the highest paid kickers in the NFL.[29]
In Week 10, during a prime-time game against the Baltimore Ravens, Sanders hit 3 of 3 field goal attempts and made his only extra point attempt in the 22–10 win.[30]
In Week 18, against the New England Patriots, Sanders converted his two field goal attempts and all three extra point attempts in the 33–24 win.[31]
For the season, Sanders made 23 of 31 field goals and 34 of 35 extra point attempts.[32]
In Week 2, against the Ravens, Sanders converted a career-high six extra point attempts in the 42–38 victory.[33] In the 2022 season, Sanders converted 41 of 44 extra point attempts and 26 of 32 field goal attempts.[34]
In Week 3, against the Denver Broncos, Sanders set the NFL record for the most converted extra points in a single game by completing all 10 of his attempts in the 70–20 victory, breaking the previous record of nine which had stood since 1966.[35]
In Week 16, against the Dallas Cowboys, Sanders went 5 for 5 on field goals, including a franchise record three 50+ yard field goals in a single game and a new career long of 57 yards, and converted the team's only extra point, securing a playoff spot for the Dolphins.[36][37] He finished the 2023 season converting 58 of 59 extra point attempts and 24 of 28 field goal attempts.[38]
