McPherson was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the fifth round, 149th overall, of the 2021 NFL draft.[15] He signed his four-year rookie contract with the Bengals on May 17, 2021.[16]
McPherson was a perfect 5/5 on field goals during the Bengals' three 2021 preseason games, including a 57-yard kick. At the end of the preseason, the Bengals released their only other kicker on the roster, Austin Seibert, and named McPherson the starter for the regular season.[17] McPherson became the first player from Fort Payne High School ever to play in an NFL regular season game.[18]
McPherson made his first regular-season field goal attempt, a 53-yarder, in the season-opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 12, 2021. During overtime, McPherson kicked a 33-yard game-winning field goal to secure a 27–24 victory, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.[19][20] On November 21, McPherson tied an NFL record by making three field goals from over 50 yards in one game, going 4/4 on kicks from 54, 53, 51, and 47 yards in a 32–13 win over the Las Vegas Raiders, securing his second AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award in the process.[21][22] He also set the franchise record for most 50-yard field goals made in a season, breaking the old record of 4 set by Horst Muhlmann in 1970. On December 19, McPherson set the franchise record for longest field goal for the Bengals with a 58-yard kick against the Denver Broncos.[23]
McPherson finished the season 28-of-33 on field goal attempts (84.8%), including being 9-of-11 on field goals (81.8%) from 50+ yards. He was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team.[24] In the Bengals' Wild Card game against the Raiders, McPherson was 4-of-4 on field goals, assisting the team to a 26–19 victory that ge them their first postseason win in 31 years. Subsequently, in the Divisional Round, he again made 4-of-4 field goals, including two from over 50 yards. McPherson's 52-yard field goal as time expired ge the Bengals a 19–16 road victory over the Tennessee Titans to send them to their first AFC Championship Game since 1988. McPherson also became the first kicker in NFL history to kick at least four field goals in multiple games during the same postseason.[25] During the AFC Championship Game against the Kansas City Chiefs, McPherson was again 4-of-4 on his field goal attempts, including a game winning 31-yard field goal in overtime in the 27–24 win, advancing the Bengals to Super Bowl LVI, where he kicked two more field goals in the 23–20 loss.[26][27] McPherson's 14-of-14 playoff field goals set the record for most field goals made by a rookie, as well as ties the all-time record for most field goals made in a single postseason.[28] His 12 combined 50+ yard field goals in the regular season and playoffs also set the NFL record for most combined regular season and postseason 50+ yard field goals made by one player in a single season.[28]
2022 See also: 2022 Cincinnati Bengals seasonIn the season-opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers, McPherson set a franchise record for longest field goal with 59 yards.[29] However, after an injury to long snapper Clark Harris, McPherson had a potential game-winning extra point blocked and missed a 29-yard field goal in overtime, leading to a 23–20 loss.[30] Three weeks later, he converted both field goal attempts and all three extra points in a 27–15 victory over the Miami Dolphins, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.[31] During Seek 6, McPherson kicked a 52-yard field goal in the 30–26 victory over the New Orleans Saints.[32] He finished the season making 82.8% of his field goals, with a perfect 5/5 on field goals from 50+ yards. However, McPherson missed four extra points during the season, as well as one in the playoffs.[33] However, he remained perfect on postseason field goals, making all his attempts in the Bengals three playoff games to push his record up to 19/19.[34]
2023 See also: 2023 Cincinnati Bengals seasonIn the 2023 season, McPherson converted all 40 extra point attempts and 26 of 31 field goal attempts.[35]
2024 See also: 2024 Cincinnati Bengals seasonOn August 16, 2024, McPherson signed a three-year, $16.5 million contract extension with the Bengals.[36] In McPherson's Week 1 appearance, he successfully kicked a 51 yard field goal as the Bengals lost to the New England Patriots.[37] McPherson began to struggle throughout the season with missed kicks. He was one for two on extra point attempts during the Bengals' 26-25 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He had another costly miss when the Baltimore Rens defeated the Bengals 41-38 in overtime. McPherson's field goal would he oided overtime and given the Bengals the lead.[38] During Week 11 on Sunday Night Football against the Chargers, McPherson missed two field goal attempts, one for 48 yards and the other for 51 as the Bengals would lose 27-34.[39]
2025On November 23, 2025, McPherson kicked the Bengals franchise record longest field goal with a 63-yard field goal in an eventual 26–20 loss to the New England Patriots in Week 11. In the next game against the Rens, he converted all six field goal attempts and two extra points during the 32–14 road victory, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.[40]