Adam Vinatieri

Adam Vinatieri
A profile picture of Vinatieri wearing Colts gear
Vinatieri with the Colts in 2018
No. 4
Position:Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1972-12-28) December 28, 1972 (age 51)
Yankton, South Dakota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:212 lb (96 kg)
Career information
High school:Central (Rapid City, South Dakota)
College:South Dakota State (1991–1994)
Undrafted:1996
Career history
Career highlights and awards
NFL records
  • Most career points scored: 2,673
  • Most consecutive field goals made: 44
  • Most combined regular season and postseason games played: 397
  • Most career field goals made: 599
  • Most career field goals attempted: 715
  • Most seasons with 100+ points: 21
  • Most career overtime field goals: 11
  • Most field goals made in a postseason: 14 (2006, tied with Evan McPherson)
Career NFL statistics
Field goals:599/715
Field goal %:83.8%
Longest field goal:57
Points scored:2,673
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Adam Matthew Vinatieri (born December 28, 1972) is an American former professional football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 24 seasons with the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. Vinatieri is the NFL's all-time leading scorer at 2,673 points, in addition to holding the NFL records for field goals made (599), postseason points (238), and overtime field goals made (12).[1][2][3][4] He is considered one of the greatest placekickers of all time.[5][6]

Vinatieri joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1996, where he played for 10 seasons, and was a member of the Colts for 14 seasons. A four-time Super Bowl winner – three with the Patriots and one with the Colts – he has the most Super Bowl wins for a kicker. He is also the only player to score 1,000 points for two different franchises. Retiring in 2021 after a year in free agency, Vinatieri was the last active player whose career began in the 1990s.[7][8]

Celebrated for his kicking accuracy and success under pressure, Vinatieri completed several of the most crucial field goals in NFL history.[9][10] During the 2001–02 NFL playoffs, he converted the game-tying and winning kicks of New England's AFC Divisional Playoff game in blizzard conditions and the game-winning kick in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXVI, earning the Patriots their first championship. He would again convert a final-second kick to win Super Bowl XXXVIII, establishing himself as a key contributor of the Patriots' dynasty.[11][12] In 2019, Vinatieri was named to the National Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.

  1. ^ "NFL All-Time Scoring Leaders – National Football League – ESPN". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on September 19, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  2. ^ "Adam Vinatieri Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft, College". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
  3. ^ "NFL Total Field Goals Made Career Leaders". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on July 9, 2018. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  4. ^ "NFL Points Scored Career Playoffs Leaders". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on January 6, 2019. Retrieved January 6, 2019.
  5. ^ Stankevitz, JJ (August 3, 2022). "ESPN Names Adam Vinatieri The NFL's 'GOAT' Kicker". Colts.com. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  6. ^ "Bill Belichick Calls Adam Vinatieri 'The Greatest Kicker Of All-Time'". CBS – Boston. May 27, 2021. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "Age no opponent for some of NFL's veteran stars". USA Today. Associated Press. August 20, 2014. Archived from the original on November 13, 2015. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  8. ^ "NFL Career Field Goal Attempts Leaders". Pro Football Reference. Archived from the original on November 10, 2016. Retrieved December 7, 2016.
  9. ^ MacMullan, Jackie (February 2, 2004). "Mr. Clutch, no doubt about it". Boston.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
  10. ^ Saraceno, Joe (January 18, 2010). "Best decade ever by a kicker? Adam Vinatieri ruled the 2000s". USA Today. Archived from the original on February 21, 2016. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
  11. ^ Leger, Justin (May 26, 2021). "Five unforgettable Adam Vinatieri moments with Patriots". RSN. Archived from the original on September 26, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "Vinatieri Kicks Patriots to Super Bowl Win". The New York Times. Associated Press. February 1, 2004. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on July 18, 2022. Retrieved July 18, 2022.