Rams repeating old mistakes with Harrison Mevis

TL;DR

The Los Angeles Rams are sticking with kicker Harrison Mevis for the 2026 season, despite past issues with their special teams. Coach Sean McVay's decision to not seek competition for Mevis raises concerns about repeating previous mistakes.

Key points

Rams retain Harrison Mevis as their kicker for 2026
Joshua Karty was released due to performance issues
Mevis had strong accuracy but limited long-distance attempts
Concerns exist about repeating past mistakes with special teams

Los Angeles Rams

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JANUARY 18: Harrison Mevis #92 of the Los Angeles Rams exits the field after the game against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) | Getty Images Harrison Mevis is a good kicker, which is all the Los Angeles Rams were looking for when the team decided to release former sixth round pick Joshua Karty midway through the season. When a team’s kicking situation gets so bad that they feel compelled to fire the kicker in November, the bar isn’t set very high. Going into 2026 with Mevis as the only kicker on the roster, it’s clear that Sean McVay has clearly not changed his mind to believing that L.A. needs to raise the bar on special teams, potentially dooming the Rams to more of the same mistakes in the phase of the game that the franchise consistently ignores. Even despite how last season ended in the NFC Championship. Mevis is not at fault for all, most, or even a significant fraction of L.A.’s problems on special teams last year. Yes, he was one of the few bright spots. That being said, just because someone isn’t the biggest problem on a football team does not mean that he isn’t representative of the most major issue of all: The Rams could not care less about special teams and going into another season with a kicker who might need to be replaced in six months is repeating the mistakes of every other year under McVay. Even the aliens are trying to communicate through Mevis that something is amiss:

Q&A

Why did the Rams release Joshua Karty?

The Rams released Joshua Karty due to poor performance in their kicking situation, prompting the need for a change midway through the season.

What were Harrison Mevis's stats in the 2025 season?

In the 2025 season, Harrison Mevis made 16 of 17 field goals and was perfect on 48 extra points, with two successful kicks from over 50 yards.

What are the concerns about Harrison Mevis as the Rams' kicker?

Concerns about Mevis include his lack of attempts from long distances and the potential for pressure on McVay if he performs poorly, as the Rams have a history of changing kickers frequently.

How does Harrison Mevis compare to other kickers in the NFL?

While Mevis was accurate, other kickers like Charlie Smyth have demonstrated greater long-distance capabilities, suggesting Mevis may not be as valuable in critical situations.