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Arizona Cardinals kicker Chad Ryland has been awarded the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in Week 6 against the Los Angeles Rams, the team announced.
Ryland accounted for every point in Arizona's 18-16 upset victory at SoFi Stadium, converting six field goals to lift the Cardinals to their second win of the season. It marks the first time Ryland has received the weekly honor and makes him the ninth kicker in franchise history to earn the award.
Following the win, Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur praised the special teams unit. "I think our special teams has been really good all year," LaFleur said. "I think they're an edge for us for sure in all units. I told the guys last night I didn't plan on using our punt team. We obviously had a few punts, but for the most part, did a pretty good job of controlling the ball. I never want to see six kicks again unless they're extra points. But if you're going to kick it, you might as well make it. I'm very happy for those guys."
Ryland was re-signed in free agency during the offseason and won a training camp competition with Josh Karty to secure Arizona's kicking duties. After delivering several crucial kicks for the organization in 2024, Ryland experienced some inconsistency in 2025. This season, however, he has largely delivered when called upon, including makes from 34, 30, 22, 38, 27, and 43 yards on Sunday.
According to the team's media relations department, Ryland is the second Cardinals player to earn NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors this season, joining Simi Fehoko, who was recognized after Arizona's Week 1 win at the Los Angeles Chargers. It is the first time since 2015 that two different Cardinals players have each been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in the same season (David Johnson and Chandler Catanzaro).
Ryland's six field goals and 18 total points are both career highs. Only once in franchise history has a player made more field goals in a single game (Jim Bakken, 7, on Sept. 24, 1967, at Pittsburgh). His six field goals in Los Angeles are the most in a single game in the NFL this season, and the 43-yarder was his fifth career game-winner. He became the first NFL player to record six or more field goals in a game since Houston's Ka'imi Fairbairn on Jan. 4, 2026, against Indianapolis.
Through six weeks, Ryland is tied for third in the NFL in made field goals (14) and ranks fourth in total points (54) in 2026.