During his four-year college career, Akers kicked a school-record 36 field goals (with a long of 51 yards against Texas A&M University), and ranks second on Louisville's all-time scoring list, with 219 points.

Between 1997 and 1998, as an undrafted free agent, Akers spent time trying to make the team with the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers.

Akers was signed by the Washington Redskins in 1998 and played in one game for them, making two extra points but missing two field goal attempts of 48+ yards each.

Akers' best statistical season was 2002 when he connected on 30 of 34 field goals (88.2%), scored a team-record 133 points, and made another Pro Bowl.

Akers left the game, but returned in the second half with a heavily taped leg to make two extra points and then kick the game-winning 28-yard field goal before collapsing in pain as his teammates mobbed him.

The second of these set an NFL record for consecutive field goals without a miss during the postseason, previously held by one-time Eagle Gary Anderson.

Akers eventually ran his streak to a record 19 consecutive postseason field goal conversions; it was snapped the very next week against the Arizona Cardinals.

Akers broke the 49ers' record for most points scored in a season in a 20–3 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in a Monday Night Football matchup on December 19, 2011.

In that same game against the Seahawks, Akers broke the all-time record for field goals in a season, surpassing Neil Rackers' 40 in 2005.

The overall record was shared with Jason Elam and Sebastian Janikowski (and later beaten by Justin Tucker of the Ravens in 2021 at Detroit, which was assisted as an indoor venue) until Broncos kicker Matt Prater broke the record with a 64-yard field goal on December 8, 2013, but those took place in Denver, Colorado, where altitude assistance on field goal kicks, similar to sprint running and throwing events, is known.

Likewise, Tucker's 66-yard (and Brandon Aubrey's 65-yard field goal in 2024) field goals took place in retractable roof stadiums with the roof closed, which is similar to situations in athletics where for years the pole vault record was set indoors, where weather conditions (wind, et al.) do not affect the wind blowing the ball during attempts.

The long field goals by Elam, Janikowski, and Prater were all made in Denver, where the ball has the ability to travel slightly farther in thinner air.

[9] On October 23, 2017, during a Monday Night Football matchup against the Washington Redskins, Akers was inducted into the Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame for his services during his 12 seasons with the team.

Akers made a dramatic speech complete with trash talk directed at Cowboys fans, reminiscent to what Drew Pearson did the previous year in Philadelphia.