A former Denver Broncos kicker is attempting to extend his pro football career with hopes of returning to spring football.
Taylor Russolino, who served as an emergency kicker for the Broncos during the NFL’s COVID-19 season in 2020, wants to return to the St. Louis Battlehawks.
Hey @XFLBattlehawks …seeing the team is in need at the kicker position, why don’t we run in back and pick up right where we left off prior to Covid separating us? I was on my rise throughout the first half of that season. I love that city, I love that organization and am beyond… pic.twitter.com/birZXsuJvj
— Taylor Russolino (@tgrussolino) January 6, 2025
Russolino kicked for the Battlehawks, an XFL team at the time, in the spring of 2020. He joined Denver’s practice squad eight months later.
The Broncos were looking for an emergency fill-in kicker that season in case Brandon McManus caught the coronavirus. Denver ended up signing Russolino following a recommendation from ex-NFL punter Pat McAfee.
In his lone appearance with the Broncos that year, Russolino missed a 51-yard field goal wide right and went 1-of-3 on extra-point attempts. Then-coach Vic Fangio said he was disappointed after the game.
“Obviously, there was some wind out there, but it didn’t bother their kicker,” Fangio said. “Yeah, I thought he was going to kick better than he did.”
Russolino later spent time with the Arlington Renegades from 2023-2024. The 35-year-old kicker now hopes to return to spring football in 2025.
