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Florida State Kicking Legend’s Jersey to be Retired in Opener
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- Florida State Kicking Legend’s Jersey to be Retired in Opener
(Kyle Terada/USA TODAY Sports)
When No. 38 of Florida State trotted out to attempt afield goal or PAT, Sebastian Janikowski was money in the bank.
The left-footed assassinwas the dagger to heart personified, with his powerful left leg being the equalizer,driving the Seminoles to victory.
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On August 29, before kicking off the season openeragainst New Mexico State, Janikowski's No. 38 jersey will be officially retiredby Florida State. Janikowski is one of only 13 Florida State players to havetheir jersey retired.
Born in Poland, Janikowski started his sports careeras a talented soccer player. He later immigrated to the United States andentered high school at Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Florida. Janikowskicontinued his soccer pursuits, but was later recruited by the football coach.
Playing American football for only three years,Janikowski made his presence felt immediately. He kicked four field goals pfover 50 yards, including a 60-yarder. At the time, that was third-best in the storiedhistory of Florida high school football. Janikowski once kicked an 82-yardfield goal in a high school practice.
In 1996, Janikowski was named USA Today High SchoolAll-America and was heavily-recruited by all the top programs in collegefootball, but he could not resist the recruiting pitch from the late, great Bobby Bowden . Janikowski suited up for the Seminoles for three seasons from1997-1999.
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As the only two-time winner of the Lou Groza Award,presented to the nation's top kicker in college football, Janikowski has bootedhimself into gridiron immortality.
In his first season in Tallahassee, Janikowski earned FreshmanAll-America honors and set a school record for longest field goal, a booming56-yarder against Wake Forest.
During his sophomore season of 1998, Janikowski kicked27 field goals and notched 123 points in the scoring column, setting Florida Stateand ACC records in a season.
In the national championship season of 1999, Janikowskiwas yet another nail in the coffin of Seminoles opponents as he converted47-of-47 extra point attempts, and made 23 field goals, which led the NCAA. Healso led the nation in points scored with 116 as the Seminoles hoisted the trophyas the kings of college football.
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At 6-foot-1, 260 pounds, Janikowski was built like alinebacker or undersized defensive lineman. He owns the school career recordfor field goal percentage at 84.4 percent. In addition, Janikowski is second inschool history in field goals made of 50+ yards with five. And, Janikowski isthird all-time at Florida State in points scored with 324.
As one of only five kickers ever to be drafted in thefirst round, Janikowski was selected No. 17 overall in the 2000 NFL Draft bythe Oakland Raiders . Janikowski is the Raiders all-time leading scorer with 1,799points after playing 18 seasons with the team. He was named to the Pro Bowl andsecond-team All-Pro in 2011.
For his NFL career that also included one season with the Seattle Seahawks, Janikowski made 436 field goals, with a long of 63 yards. He posted acareer field goal percentage of 80.4 percent and scored a total of 1,913 points.
In 2025, Janikowski was named first-team AssociatedPress (AP) All-Time All-American. He is also on the 2027 ballot for the College Football Hall of Fame. In addition, Janikoswki was inducted into the Florida State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2013, and named to the All-ACC 50th Anniversary Team.
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No. 38 struck fear in opponents inclose games, as no lead was safe. All the opposition could do was stand indisbelief as Janikowski pierced the uprights from seemingly anywhere on thefield, giving the Seminoles the lead, and ultimately, a victory.
