Bengals all-time postseason kicker Evan “Money Mac,” McPherson lived up to his name when reports surfaced Friday he has agreed to a three-year extension keeping him in Cincinnati through 2027.
McPherson, a playoff hero as a rookie who has remained one of the club's most popular players, turned 25 last month during the week he began his fourth training camp.
A fifth-round draft pick out of the University of Florida in 2021, McPherson reported to Paycor Stadium as the Bengals' greatest long-range kicker and one of the NFL's best. His club-record 21 field goals of at least 50 yards are the most by any NFL kicker in his first three seasons. He's also tied with Pittsburgh's Chris Boswell and Arizona's Matt Prater for most 50-yarders in the last three years.
Asked how he keeps an edge, McPherson once told Bengals.com, "The guys on the other team. From the aspect, if you don't perform well, they'll bring in somebody to out-perform you."
During the Bengals' 2021 run to the Super Bowl, McPherson's walkoff kicks delivered wins to clinch the AFC North and AFC championship, as well as an AFC Divisional win. He has made all 19 of his field-goal attempts in the postseason, second on the all-time list to begin a career behind Robbie Gould's 29.
Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons has no qualms sending him out there for those long ones.
"We've attempted long field goals with him. More so than at any point in my time here," Simmons told Bengals.com earlier this year. "I think we trust he can make those. We don't even think twice about it. Just send him out there and let him go. He's been solid. I think he's kicked off pretty well this year. He's kicked off probably better than in his other years, more consistent."
McPherson comes into 2024 ranked third on the Bengals' all-time field goal percentage list at 83.9, behind Shayne Graham's 86.8 and Randy Bullock's 84.9.
