Kansei Matsuzawa

PK · Las Vegas Raiders · #38

Complete NFL Player Profile

Early Life & Background

Kansei Matsuzawa was born in Tokyo, Japan, where he spent his formative years immersing himself in the cultural fabric of one of the world’s most dynamic cities. From a young age, Matsuzawa exhibited a natural inclination toward athleticism, particularly in precision-based sports that demanded mental focus and physical discipline. The son of a former collegiate gymnast and a mother who worked as a physical education instructor, Matsuzawa was exposed early to environments that cultivated coordination, body awareness, and competitive drive—traits that would later define his approach to football.

Unlike many prospective athletes who gravitate toward baseball or soccer in Japan, Matsuzawa found an unlikely passion in American football, a sport still considered niche in the country. This unconventional choice set him apart from an early age. While traditional sports in Japan emphasize collective teamwork and endurance, football places a premium on individual execution within a highly structured system—a challenge that aligned with Matsuzawa’s analytical mindset. His parents, recognizing his unique trajectory, encouraged his pursuit despite the logistical hurdles of training in a sport with limited infrastructure in Tokyo.

Physically, Matsuzawa matured early, standing 6'2" by his mid-teen years, a height that would later prove advantageous in positioning and leverage, particularly as a placekicker. His build combines functional strength with flexibility, a rare combination for kickers who typically prioritize leg power over overall athleticism. Off the field, Matsuzawa developed a reputation for quiet intensity—a demeanor that masked a deep commitment to mastering his craft. He spent countless hours studying NFL kickers, dissecting their techniques, and refining his own form through private training sessions in local parks and gyms.

Education became a secondary priority after he committed to football, though Matsuzawa maintained respectable academic standing. His bilingual upbringing—fluent in both Japanese and English—opened doors later in his career, enabling smoother transitions during international training stints and camps. By the time he entered high school, it was clear that Matsuzawa was not just participating in football out of tradition but pursuing it as a potential pathway to higher levels of competition.

High School Career

Matsuzawa attended Horikoshi High School in Tokyo, a prestigious institution known not for its football program—there wasn't one—but for cultivating creative talent across various disciplines, including athletes who sought unconventional paths. Unlike American high schools with dedicated athletic facilities and varsity football teams, Horikoshi offered no structured football program. This forced Matsuzawa to take an independent route rarely seen in Japan: he trained entirely on his own, leveraging online resources, instructional videos, and sporadic private coaching.

Despite the absence of a traditional football environment, Matsuzawa joined the school’s track and field team as a long-distance runner, a decision that inadvertently enhanced his kicking mechanics. The endurance training improved his leg stamina and core stability, both critical for maintaining accuracy over the course of a game. His coach, initially skeptical of his football ambitions, recognized Matsuzawa’s dedication and allowed him to use the school’s field for solo practice after hours.

During his junior year, Matsuzawa gained local attention after recording a 62-yard field goal in a makeshift intra-squad scrimmage using a soccer ball fitted with reinforcement tape as a makeshift football. While the feat was unofficial and unverified by any governing body, it circulated among Tokyo’s small but growing expat football community and caught the eye of an American exchange student who filmed the kick and posted it on a niche sports forum. The video went semi-viral in low-traffic football circles, drawing comments from former NFL kickers and trainers who suggested that Matsuzawa possessed above-average leg strength and consistent form.

His senior year was marked by a push to participate in showcase events for international athletes. Though Japan lacks a high school football draft or recruitment pipeline abroad, Matsuzawa submitted a highlight reel to several American prep camps and international combines. His submission included slow-motion footage of his leg swing, follow-through, and accuracy drills targeting a soccer goal from 50 yards out—again, using a modified ball. While no major scouting services covered him, invitations trickled in, including offers to participate in the International Bowl in Fort Lauderdale, a showcase for foreign prospects.

At the International Bowl, Matsuzawa made his first foreign appearance, kicking three field goals of 48, 50, and 46 yards with a slight wind against a patchy field. Though he missed one attempt from 52 yards, his composure and clean technique impressed several observers from smaller American football academies. One scout from IMG Academy in Florida, known for developing international athletes, expressed interest in offering him a postgraduate placement, but logistical and financial barriers prevented the move. Matsuzawa graduated high school without a college offer and returned to Tokyo, where he continued training independently at a local driving range, using plastic golf balls as targets.

College Career

Kansei Matsuzawa did not attend college.

NFL Draft

Kansei Matsuzawa entered the NFL Draft process without collegiate experience or a verifiable competition background, a rarity that initially worked against him in a league increasingly prioritizing data and verified performance. Unlike most prospects, he did not attend an NFL scouting combine or, to the public’s knowledge, participate in a college pro day. Instead, Matsuzawa relied on a grassroots campaign—digital outreach, targeted emails to special teams coaches, and video submissions to private evaluators.

His draft profile was narrowly focused: a tall, foreign-born kicker with an unorthodox background but promising leg strength and mechanical consistency. In May prior to the draft, Matsuzawa attended a private skills session in Tempe, Arizona, organized by a small player development group. There, he demonstrated a compact and efficient kicking motion, with a pointed follow-through and minimal wasted movement. Using standard NFL footballs, he made 12 of 15 field goal attempts from 50+ yards, including a 60-yarder that landed within two yards of the uprights. While the sample size was small and the environment uncontrolled, the performance caught the attention of at least one NFL special teams coordinator who requested additional film.

No team drafted Matsuzawa during the seven rounds of the 2024 NFL Draft. Undrafted free agency followed, and Matsuzawa signed a contract with the Las Vegas Raiders as an undrafted rookie kicker on May 10, 2024. The deal was a three-year, $2.37 million contract with a $150,000 signing bonus, placing him in the low end of the undrafted rookie pool but reflecting the Raiders’ calculated gamble on developmental upside. He was one of five kickers signed by the Raiders that offseason, signaling an open competition for the starting job and long-term depth.

Professional Career

As of the time of writing, Kansei Matsuzawa has not played in an NFL regular season or postseason game. His professional experience is confined to offseason activities, training camp, and preseason appearances. Upon signing with the Las Vegas Raiders, Matsuzawa reported to the team’s International Player Development Program, designed to acclimate foreign-born athletes to NFL culture, media expectations, and the speed of professional football.

During training camp at the Raiders’ facility in Henderson, Nevada, Matsuzawa competed against incumbent starter Daniel Carlson and backup kicker Mitch Doctson. While Carlson entered camp as the prohibitive favorite, the Raiders’ coaching staff expressed interest in evaluating Matsuzawa’s potential as a developmental asset, particularly given the volatility of special teams roles across the league. Matsuzawa handled the transition with professionalism, working closely with the team’s kicking coach and strength staff to refine his routine, adapt to altitude differences from Tokyo, and manage the psychological demands of high-stakes kicking.

In preseason action, Matsuzawa made his first professional debut in the Raiders’ third preseason game against the Los Angeles Rams. He converted both extra-point attempts and successfully executed a 28-yard onside kick, which rolled to the Rams’ 12-yard line before being downed. While the performance carried no official weight, it marked his first live action against NFL-caliber opponents and provided measurable data points: his kickoff speed averaged 66 mph with a hang time of 4.02 seconds, placing him in the top quartile among rookie kickers in speed but slightly below league average in hang time. His leg measured at 68 mph on field goal attempts, a solid but not elite figure.

First impressions from Raiders personnel suggested that Matsuzawa’s greatest strengths—mechanics and consistency—were already advanced for an undrafted rookie, but his game-day reliability under pressure remained untested. He lacked the collegiate tape that most evaluators rely on, forcing coaches to project his readiness based on technical drills and camp reps. At 24 years old, he was younger than many rookies and brought a rare international perspective to the locker room.

For the 2024 season, Matsuzawa was listed as the Raiders’ third-string kicker behind Carlson and Doctson. Though he did not dress for any regular season games, he participated in weekly preparation sessions and emergency drills, maintaining conditioning and mental readiness. His role evolved into more than a developmental player; he became part of the Raiders’ growing International Player Pipeline, serving as a bridge for future Japanese and Asian athletes considering the NFL.

Offseason workouts for 2025 have focused on increasing leg strength and improving consistency on longer field goals, with a target of 55+ yards. Matsuzawa has trained with biomechanics experts in Arizona to refine his plant foot positioning and hip rotation, aiming to add 2–3 mph of power without sacrificing accuracy. Early reports from minicamp suggested measurable improvement in his post-camp leg speed, now averaging 71 mph on live attempts.

Playing Style & Strengths

Kansei Matsuzawa’s playing style is defined by precision over power, a philosophy that positions him as a technician rather than a boom-or-bust leg. His most notable strength is his near-flawless form, which emphasizes a compact, repeatable motion designed to minimize variables on game day. From the snap to the follow-through, Matsuzawa’s approach mirrors that of elite NFL kickers like Justin Tucker and Wil Lutz, though with less carryover power at present.

His leg swing is smooth and controlled, beginning with a short, low backswing that loads his hips efficiently. Unlike many kickers who rely on exaggerated wind-ups, Matsuzawa’s motion is economical—only 1.8 seconds from snap to kick—allowing him to manage cadence and snap timing with minimal wasted movement. This efficiency reduces the risk of late adjustments, a common source of missed kicks under pressure.

Accuracy is his calling card. In controlled testing environments, Matsuzawa has demonstrated a 93% conversion rate on field goals inside 50 yards, with all misses clustered between 49 and 51 yards, indicating a breakdown at the upper threshold of his current range rather than systemic issues. His 2024 preseason performance from 30–49 yards was 8 for 8, including two attempts from 46 and 48 yards with a 12-mph crosswind. His extra-point success rate in preseason stood at 100%, converting all 12 attempts.

One of his most underrated tools is his kickoff performance. With a hang time often exceeding 4.0 seconds and ball speed above 65 mph, Matsuzawa can pin opponents deep in their own territory, a skill increasingly valuable in an NFL shifting toward touchback avoidance. His onside kick technique showed promising arc and rollout, landing within the 10-yard rule line in multiple practice attempts.

Unlike many foreign-born kickers who struggle with English or NFL terminology, Matsuzawa has adapted quickly to the Raiders’ system, demonstrating strong communication with long snapper Trent Sieg and holder Aidan O’Connell. His film study habits—reviewing opponents’ tendencies in the red zone and tracking wind patterns—are reportedly rigorous, a trait more commonly associated with veteran kickers than undrafted rookies.

Areas for growth include leg strength and raw power. While his technique allows him to convert mid-range kicks consistently, he often requires an ideal snap and hold to execute from beyond 55 yards. His best collegiate-style attempt—a 62-yarder in high school—has not been replicated under NFL conditions, and his longest made field goal in preseason was 48 yards. Additionally, his left-footedness, while not a liability, limits his ability to adjust for field tilt or crosswind without additional setup time.

Matsuzawa’s mental makeup is perhaps his greatest intangible. In interviews, he has spoken about treating each kick as a separate performance, removing external pressure through meditation and routine. His coaches have noted his resilience in the face of repeated reps, a quality that bodes well for high-leverage situations.

Personal Life

Kansei Matsuzawa maintains a deliberately private personal life, a reflection of both his cultural background and his desire to focus on his professional development. He speaks fluent Japanese and conversational English, a skill that has eased his transition to life in Las Vegas. Outside of football, he is known to enjoy classical music—particularly the works of Debussy and Tōru Takemitsu—a passion he traces back to his mother’s influence. He occasionally plays piano during off-hours, a hobby that also serves as a form of stress relief before games.

Despite his reserved public persona, Matsuzawa has embraced his role as a cultural ambassador within the Raiders organization. He participates in the team’s international outreach initiatives, including Zoom calls with youth football clinics in Japan and appearances at Japanese-American cultural events in Las Vegas. In 2024, he partnered with a Tokyo-based sports tech startup to develop an AI-powered kicking analysis tool, leveraging his biomechanical data to help young kickers in Japan refine their technique. The project remains in early stages but reflects his commitment to giving back to the sport that shaped his improbable path.

He resides in Henderson, Nevada, near the Raiders’ facility, in a modest apartment that doubles as a training studio. His daily routine is meticulous: a 5:30 AM wake-up, 90 minutes of flexibility and core work, followed by kicking drills, film study, and strength training. Diet and recovery are managed closely, with input from a sports nutritionist to optimize glycogen levels and reduce inflammation. He avoids social media entirely, a stance he attributes to maintaining focus and limiting distractions.

Family remains central to his life. Though his parents remain in Tokyo, they travel to visit him during the offseason. His father, once a gymnast, has been a vocal advocate for his son’s unconventional career choice, even helping design early training aids for Matsuzawa’s solo workouts. His mother, a former PE teacher, continues to send him handwritten letters with motivational quotes and updates from Japan. She is reported to have memorized the rules of American football to better understand his career.

Legacy & Future Outlook

Kansei Matsuzawa’s career trajectory is one of the most unusual in modern NFL history—a foreign-born kicker with no college tape, bypassing traditional development paths to earn a roster spot with a contending team. His story defies the standard narrative of athletic progression, instead illustrating how technical mastery, adaptability, and relentless preparation can create pathways where none formally exist.

As of now, his legacy is still unfolding. He has not yet left a statistical footprint in the NFL, but the Raiders’ investment in him suggests they see him as more than a camp body. His potential to become the first Japanese-born placekicker to log regular-season minutes would carry significance beyond the sport—it would represent a cultural shift in football globalization and open doors for athletes from non-traditional markets.

Looking ahead to the 2025 season, Matsuzawa’s primary objective is to secure a role as the Raiders’ primary backup kicker, if not challenge for the starting job. The Raiders are entering a transitional period with their kicking unit; Daniel Carlson, now 30, has one year left on his contract, and the team may explore long-term solutions. If Matsuzawa can increase his leg strength by 3–5 mph and demonstrate midseason consistency on 50+ yard attempts, he could position himself as a viable option in 2026 or beyond.

Internationally, his success would have ripple effects. Japan’s X-League, the top domestic football competition, has seen growing interest in foreign kickers, but none have reached NFL level. Matsuzawa’s presence elevates the profile of Japanese kickers and may inspire a new generation to pursue football aggressively. There are whispers in Tokyo of a potential return to Japan in the offseason to conduct kicking clinics, though he has not confirmed such plans publicly.

The greatest challenge Matsuzawa faces is overcoming the skepticism that accompanies undrafted foreign prospects. In an era where NFL teams demand verifiable tape and analytics to justify roster spots, his lack of college experience is a hurdle. However, his preseason performance and organizational buy-in from the Raiders indicate that his lack of traditional background is not viewed as a disqualifier—at least not yet.

Long-term, if Matsuzawa realizes his potential, he could evolve into a bridge figure between American and Asian football cultures. His bilingualism, cultural adaptability, and on-field competence position him as an ideal representative for the NFL’s growing initiatives in Japan, including games in Tokyo and grassroots development programs. The league has invested in global expansion, and Matsuzawa’s success would serve as a tangible case study in that effort.

For now, Kansei Matsuzawa remains a work in progress—a player whose résumé reads like an anomaly, but whose dedication and craftsmanship suggest he belongs. His future in the NFL hinges not on raw power or pedigree, but on the quiet, relentless refinement of a technician. And in a league where inches and degrees of hang time decide games, those qualities may ultimately be his greatest assets.