Raiders’ Janikowski wants to kick all the way to Las Vegas

ALAMEDA — If Sebastian Janikowski has his way, he’ll still be kicking when he’s 42 years old and the Raiders have moved to Las Vegas.

The 39-year-old Janikowski said Wednesday he wants to stay in the NFL until someone kicks him out. Janikowski has spent 17 seasons in Oakland and says he still wants to be playing when the team moves in 2020.

“I hope so, that’s my goal,” he said. “That’s not my decision.”

Janikowski would be 42 at the start of the 2020 season. Playing that long as a kicker is far from unprecedented. Indianapolis’ Adam Vinatieri will turn 45 this season and former Raiders kicker George Blanda played his final game at the age of 48 in January 1976.

Janikowski was a first-round pick by the Raiders in 2000 and has been with the team ever since. After three straight playoff berths to start his career, Janikowski endured years of losing before getting back to the playoffs last year when Oakland lost in the first round to Houston.

Janikowski is still an effective kicker. He made 29 of 35 field goal attempts last season, missing just once inside of 50 yards. His 55 career field goals from at least 50 yards are the most in NFL history, passing Jason Hanson’s previous record of 52.

Janikowski said he feels he is still improving and credits time in the weight room and the recent use of film to study his technique.