For two years, Michigan State's Jonathan Kim was one of the best kickers in the Big Ten.
Not only was Kim one of the Big Ten's best, but he was also one of the most accurate kickers in the country with a huge leg. He hit a career-long 58-yarder in 2023 and then built on that solid first year as a full-time starting placekicker with a 19-for-21 season with a long of 53 yards in 2024. This was good enough to earn him All-Big Ten second team honors.
Over the weekend, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Chicago Bears.
J Kim is on his way to Chicago ✍️ pic.twitter.com/pd71j8xRwn
— Michigan State Football (@MSU_Football) April 26, 2025
Kim started his career at North Carolina before transferring to Michigan State in 2023 under Mel Tucker. He came to Michigan State to win games and compete in the Big Ten, but unfortunately that never happened. That didn't stop him from being one of the most accurate kickers in the country, though, making 80 percent of his field goal attempts over two years.
While he did inexplicably miss two extra points this past season, he improved on his accuracy from long range. He was 11-for-12 on field goals longer than 40 yards in 2024 and 18-for-24 over his two years at Michigan State from 40-plus. That type of big leg and accuracy is going to make the Bears happy as long as they keep him on board behind Cairo Santos.
The veteran Santos is 34 this year and is on contract through 2027 so there's a chance that Kim will have to look for an opportunity elsewhere if he doesn't make the roster, but he's good enough to be his replacement eventually.
Kim will be a fan favorite somewhere in the NFL eventually.