
The Carolina Panthers signed kicker Graham Gano to a four-year contract Friday, avoiding free agency.
Financial terms were not released by the team.
Gano converted 24 of 27 field goal attempts last season to establish a career high with an 88.9 field-goal percentage. He set a franchise record and tied for the NFL lead for the most made field goals of 50 yards or more with six. He was the only kicker in the NFL with more than three attempts from 50-plus yards without a miss from that distance.
Gano also placed 76 of 82 kickoffs in the end zone with 63 touchbacks to lead the NFL with a 77.8 touchback percentage, the highest in the NFL since 1994.
“The special teams unit was a large part of our success last year and we are excited to keep Graham as a part of our team,” coach Ron Rivera said in a statement. “Graham has shown range and accuracy in his field-goal kicking, and his strong leg has been a weapon for us on kickoffs.”
Gano joined the Panthers in 2012, playing in the final six games of the season. Gano has converted 33 of 38 field-goal attempts, including seven of eight from 50-plus yards in 22 games with the Panthers.
The five-year NFL veteran has made 92 of 118 field-goal attempts in his career. Gano tied the NFL record for the most overtime field goals in a season with three in 2010, previously accomplished by Jason Hanson with the Detroit Lions in 1994 and John Kasay with Carolina in 2003.
Gano spent the first three years of his NFL career with the Washington Redskins.