Adam Vinatieri
Encyclopedia
Adam Matthew Vinatieri is an American football
placekicker
currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts
. He has played in six Super Bowl
s, four with the New England Patriots
and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001, 2003, and 2004 with the Patriots. Vinatieri is the first kicker ever to win four Super Bowl rings.
Vinatieri is generally considered to be one of the best clutch
kickers in the history of the National Football League
. Nicknamed "Automatic Adam" for his accuracy, and "Iceman" for his incredible poise under pressure, Vinatieri has converted several of the most crucial field goals in NFL history, including the game-tying and -winning kicks in blizzard conditions in the infamous "Tuck Rule Game", and game-winning kicks in the final seconds of two Super Bowls (XXXVI
, XXXVIII
). Adam often refers to his older brother Chad as his inspiration when he goes on to the field.
before graduating in 2003. Vinatieri attended Central High School (Rapid City, South Dakota) and was a letterman in football, wrestling, basketball, soccer, and track. In football, he earned first team All-State honors as a senior. He graduated from Central High School in 1991.
for two weeks in 1991 before deciding to return home to South Dakota. He was a four-year letterman at South Dakota State University
as a placekicker and punter. While there, he won two Division II titles and he finished up his college years as the school's all-time scoring leader with 185 career points.
(later rebranded as NFL Europe
), now defunct, and earned a roster position with the Amsterdam Admirals
as a placekicker and punter. In that season the Admirals lost the World Bowl III
against Frankfurt Galaxy
.
career, during which he played in four Super Bowl
s, winning three. His first Super Bowl appearance was in his rookie season of 1996, when he played with the Patriots in their 35-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers
in Super Bowl XXXI
. One of his kickoffs in the Super Bowl was returned by Desmond Howard
a Super Bowl record 99 yards for a touchdown. In the 2001 playoffs, during a blizzard against the Oakland Raiders
in the final game at Foxboro Stadium
, Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal to tie the game 13-13 and send it into overtime. The Patriots won the game on another field goal of 23 yards by Vinatieri.
In Super Bowl XXXVI
he kicked a 48-yard field goal on the final play to give the New England Patriots their first Super Bowl victory, a 20-17 win over the St. Louis Rams
. Two years later, and in an almost identical situation, he kicked a 41-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in Super Bowl XXXVIII
to boost the Patriots to another championship (after missing one field goal and having another attempt blocked in the first half). This time, the Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers
32-29, making Vinatieri the first player ever to be the deciding factor in two Super Bowl
games (Vinatieri kept the balls used on both of these kicks).
Vinatieri led the NFL in scoring in 2004 with 141 points (31-for-33 on field goals, and a perfect 48-for-48 on points after touchdown or PATs). His best game of the season came against the St. Louis Rams
, against whom he scored 16 points (4 field goals, 4 PATs), and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Troy Brown
on a fake field goal attempt (that pass gives him a career passer rating
of 122.9). He went on to score a field goal and three extra points in the Patriots 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles
in Super Bowl XXXIX
.
By the time Vinatieri finished his final season with the Patriots in 2005, he had kicked 18 game-winning field goals with less than one minute remaining, including those mentioned in the postseason. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, he had a career field goal percentage of 81.9 percent (263/321), fifth highest in NFL history. His career long is 57 yards. In his time in New England, his community involvement included helping Christian athletes, D.A.R.E., and the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau. He was a spokesperson for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island
's teen anti-smoking contest, and also appeared in commercials for Boston-based pizza Papa Gino's
. Vinatieri finished his 10 seasons with the Patriots as the team's all time leading scorer with 1,156 points. The Patriots have not re-issued Vinatieri's #4 since he left the team.
After the 2005 season, the Patriots chose not to place the franchise tag
on Vinatieri as they had the year before, allowing him to become a free agent. He had visited with the Green Bay Packers
, but left without a contract offer. On March 22, 2006, Vinatieri signed with the Indianapolis Colts
, replacing Mike Vanderjagt
who was signed by the Dallas Cowboys
. Vinatieri was signed to a five-year contract and received a $3.5 million signing bonus.
Vinatieri has had one kick blocked in the RCA Dome
. With the New England Patriots
, Vinatieri was perfect against the Colts in Indianapolis. In the second round of the 2006 AFC playoffs, Vinatieri kicked a playoff record-tying five field goals in the Colts
' 15-6 upset of the favored Baltimore Ravens
. The record of five field goals in a playoff game is one Vinatieri originally set himself against the Colts in the 2003 AFC Championship game.
The Colts reached Super Bowl XLI
after defeating the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. It was Vinatieri's fifth Super Bowl appearance, and his first with the Colts. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears
by a score of 29-17. Vinatieri was 3 for 4 on field goals, and 1 for 2 on points after touchdowns, the miss when punter/holder Hunter Smith
fumbled the snap on the extra-point attempt. He missed a 36 yard kick wide left at the end of the first half—the third time he has missed a kick in the Super Bowl. Although the Colts scored three touchdowns, the snap for the first point after was bobbled by the place holder, resulting in no kick. Super Bowl XLI was his fourth Super Bowl victory, one behind the record held by Charles Haley
. Vinatieri finished the 2006-07 postseason with 49 total points and 14 field goals, both NFL records. He is the only player to have 3 or more field goals in 4 consecutive postseason games.
2007 season
During the 2007 season, Vinatieri appeared in all 16 games and was 23-29 field goals (FGs) and 49-51 PATs for 118 points (both missed PATs were blocked). This season marked the 12th consecutive 100+ point season. He kicked his 20th career game-winning FG in the final minute of a 4th quarter or overtime with 24-yarder with :03 remaining vs. Kansas City on November 18, 2007. In the postseason that year, Vinatieri extended his NFL career post-season records in field goals (41), attempts (50), points (172) and consecutive games scoring (22).
2008 season
During the 2008 season he appeared in 16 games and was 20-25 FGs and 43-43 PATs for 103 points, his 13th consecutive season with over (100+) points. He made a 47-yard game-winner with :03 remaining against Minnesota on September 14, the 21st of his career. He made a 52-yard FG vs. New England on November 2 with 8:05 remaining for deciding points in 18-15 victory and was named AFC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week. Later that month, on November 23, Vinatieri hit a game-winner with :00 remaining at San Diego. This 51 yarder was both his longest game-winning FG and the 22nd game-winning FG of career.
2009 season
Vinatieri appeared in only 6 games for the Colts in 2009. In July 2009, Vinatieri had surgery on his right hip to alleviate a nagging injury, but the Colts expected that he would be ready for the season. However, Vinatieri struggled early in the season and complained of soreness in his knee. Doctors found loose cartilage in an MRI, and Vinatieri underwent arthroscopic surgery during the Colts' bye week. He was expected to miss 4–8 weeks while recovering. The Colts signed former Baltimore Ravens
kicker Matt Stover
to replace him. There was speculation over whether the Colts could cut Vinatieri, but Colts president Bill Polian
stated that Vinatieri would return when he was 100% healthy. Vinatieri would remain injured for the entire 2009 regular season as well as throughout the Colts' postseason run to Super Bowl XLIV. Vinatieri did not play in Super Bowl XLIV, which the Colts lost to the New Orleans Saints
.
With 53 seconds left in the Colts' Wild Card playoff game against the New York Jets, Vinatieri kicked a 50-yard field goal, his third field goal of the game, to put the Colts ahead 16-14. The Jets later won the game, though, on a 32-yard field goal by Nick Folk as time expired to win 17-16.
during the football season and Celebration, Florida
during the off-season. He is the second of four children. His great-great grandfather was Felix Vinatieri, an Italian immigrant who served as Lt Col George Armstrong Custer
's bandmaster. Adam Vinatieri has stated that Lt Col Custer told Felix Vinatieri to head back to camp instead of going ahead with the regiment to Little Big Horn, and that this decision saved his great-great grandfather's life. He is also a third cousin to the famous daredevil Evel Knievel
and second cousin to scientist and author Tim Foecke
. A collection of Felix Vinatieri manuscripts and instruments can be found at the National Music Museum located in Vermillion, South Dakota. Vinatieri's hobbies include hunting, riding motorcycles and golfing.
candy bar
with the tagline
, "Split the Uprights with Adam Nougatieri." He also apparead in a sketch comedy
Da Bears for Saturday Night Live
, and as a guest-star in programs and movies like NFL Monday Night Football, NBC Sunday Night Football
, ESPN Sunday Night Football
, The Greatest Game Ever Played
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
placekicker
Placekicker
Placekicker, or simply kicker , is the title of the player in American and Canadian football who is responsible for the kicking duties of field goals, extra points...
currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. He has played in six Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s, four with the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
and two with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2006 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2001, 2003, and 2004 with the Patriots. Vinatieri is the first kicker ever to win four Super Bowl rings.
Vinatieri is generally considered to be one of the best clutch
Clutch (sports)
In American sports terminology, "clutch" means performing well under extreme pressure. It often refers to high levels of production in a critical game, such as Game 7 of a best-of-seven series, the last hole of a Major Championship golf tournament, or the final minute in a close match...
kickers in the history of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. Nicknamed "Automatic Adam" for his accuracy, and "Iceman" for his incredible poise under pressure, Vinatieri has converted several of the most crucial field goals in NFL history, including the game-tying and -winning kicks in blizzard conditions in the infamous "Tuck Rule Game", and game-winning kicks in the final seconds of two Super Bowls (XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
, XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
). Adam often refers to his older brother Chad as his inspiration when he goes on to the field.
High School
Vinatieri was born the son of Paul and Judy Vinatieri, he is the second of four children. His younger brother Beau was a place kicker at Black Hills State UniversityBlack Hills State University
Black Hills State University, South Dakota's third largest comprehensive public university, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs. The campus is located in Spearfish, South Dakota. Close to 5,000 students attend classes at the Spearfish campus, at sites in Rapid City, Pierre, Yankton,...
before graduating in 2003. Vinatieri attended Central High School (Rapid City, South Dakota) and was a letterman in football, wrestling, basketball, soccer, and track. In football, he earned first team All-State honors as a senior. He graduated from Central High School in 1991.
College career
Vinatieri was originally recruited to kick for Army and attended West PointUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
for two weeks in 1991 before deciding to return home to South Dakota. He was a four-year letterman at South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University
South Dakota State University is the largest university in the U.S. state of South Dakota, located in Brookings. A public land-grant university and sun grant college, founded under the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act, SDSU offers programs of study required by, or harmonious to, this Act...
as a placekicker and punter. While there, he won two Division II titles and he finished up his college years as the school's all-time scoring leader with 185 career points.
Amsterdam Admirals
Vinatieri spent the fall of 1995 training to compete professionally. He received a tryout for the World League of American FootballWorld League of American Football
The World League of American Football was founded in 1990 with support from the National Football League to play professional American football in North America, Europe and later possibly Asia...
(later rebranded as NFL Europe
NFL Europe
NFL Europe was an American football league which operated in Europe from 1991 until 2007. Backed by the National Football League , the largest professional American football league in the United States, it was founded as the World League of American Football to serve as a type of spring league...
), now defunct, and earned a roster position with the Amsterdam Admirals
Amsterdam Admirals
The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe...
as a placekicker and punter. In that season the Admirals lost the World Bowl III
World Bowl III
World Bowl '95 was the World League's third World Bowl and the first World Bowl that was played since the league suspended operations in 1993. The game was played at Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 17, 1995. This match-up was between the 6-4 Frankfurt Galaxy and the 9-1...
against Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
.
New England Patriots
In 1996, Vinatieri was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent to be a place kicker. He played in New England for the first 10 years of his NFLNational Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
career, during which he played in four Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
s, winning three. His first Super Bowl appearance was in his rookie season of 1996, when he played with the Patriots in their 35-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
in Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI
Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American...
. One of his kickoffs in the Super Bowl was returned by Desmond Howard
Desmond Howard
Desmond Kevin Howard is a former NFL wide receiver, punt returner, and kickoff returner.He played football for the University of Michigan from 1989–1991 and won the Heisman Trophy in 1991...
a Super Bowl record 99 yards for a touchdown. In the 2001 playoffs, during a blizzard against the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the final game at Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium
Foxboro Stadium was an outdoor stadium, located in Foxborough, Massachusetts...
, Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal to tie the game 13-13 and send it into overtime. The Patriots won the game on another field goal of 23 yards by Vinatieri.
In Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI
Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super...
he kicked a 48-yard field goal on the final play to give the New England Patriots their first Super Bowl victory, a 20-17 win over the St. Louis Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
. Two years later, and in an almost identical situation, he kicked a 41-yard field goal with 4 seconds left in Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII
Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season....
to boost the Patriots to another championship (after missing one field goal and having another attempt blocked in the first half). This time, the Patriots defeated the Carolina Panthers
Carolina Panthers
The Carolina Panthers are a professional American football team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. They are currently members of the South Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Panthers, along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, joined the NFL as expansion...
32-29, making Vinatieri the first player ever to be the deciding factor in two Super Bowl
Super Bowl
The Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
games (Vinatieri kept the balls used on both of these kicks).
Vinatieri led the NFL in scoring in 2004 with 141 points (31-for-33 on field goals, and a perfect 48-for-48 on points after touchdown or PATs). His best game of the season came against the St. Louis Rams
2004 St. Louis Rams season
The 2004 St. Louis Rams season was the team's 67th year with the National Football League and the 10th season in St. Louis.-Schedule:-Playoffs:...
, against whom he scored 16 points (4 field goals, 4 PATs), and threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Troy Brown
Troy Brown
Troy Fitzgerald Brown is a former NFL wide receiver, cornerback and punt returner in the National Football League. He was drafted by the New England Patriots in the eighth round of the 1993 NFL Draft. He played college football at Marshall...
on a fake field goal attempt (that pass gives him a career passer rating
Passer rating
Passer rating is a measure of the performance of quarterbacks or any other passers in American football and Canadian football. There are at least two formulae currently in use: one officially used by the National Football League and the Canadian Football League, and one used in college football...
of 122.9). He went on to score a field goal and three extra points in the Patriots 24-21 win over the Philadelphia Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX
Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season...
.
By the time Vinatieri finished his final season with the Patriots in 2005, he had kicked 18 game-winning field goals with less than one minute remaining, including those mentioned in the postseason. At the conclusion of the 2005 season, he had a career field goal percentage of 81.9 percent (263/321), fifth highest in NFL history. His career long is 57 yards. In his time in New England, his community involvement included helping Christian athletes, D.A.R.E., and the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau. He was a spokesperson for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
's teen anti-smoking contest, and also appeared in commercials for Boston-based pizza Papa Gino's
Papa Gino's
Papa Gino's is a restaurant chain based in Dedham, Massachusetts specializing in American-style pizza along with pasta, subs, salads, and a variety of appetizers...
. Vinatieri finished his 10 seasons with the Patriots as the team's all time leading scorer with 1,156 points. The Patriots have not re-issued Vinatieri's #4 since he left the team.
2006 through 2009
2006 seasonAfter the 2005 season, the Patriots chose not to place the franchise tag
Franchise Tag
In the National Football League, the franchise tag is a designation a team may apply to a player scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent. The tag binds the player to the team for one year if certain conditions are met. Each team has access each year to only one franchise tag and one...
on Vinatieri as they had the year before, allowing him to become a free agent. He had visited with the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
, but left without a contract offer. On March 22, 2006, Vinatieri signed with the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
, replacing Mike Vanderjagt
Mike Vanderjagt
Michael John "Mike" Vanderjagt , is a professional American and Canadian football placekicker and punter who has played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and National Football League...
who was signed by the Dallas Cowboys
Dallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
. Vinatieri was signed to a five-year contract and received a $3.5 million signing bonus.
"When the Colts called, I told my agent, `Let's not screw around,' " said Vinatieri, in his first extensive comments regarding his departure from New England. "I told him, 'If Indy is interested, let's get this done.'" ... Vinatieri said he has no regrets about not giving the PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
a chance to counter the offer.
Vinatieri has had one kick blocked in the RCA Dome
RCA Dome
RCA Dome was a domed stadium, located in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the home of the Indianapolis Colts NFL franchise for 24 seasons ....
. With the New England Patriots
New England Patriots
The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National...
, Vinatieri was perfect against the Colts in Indianapolis. In the second round of the 2006 AFC playoffs, Vinatieri kicked a playoff record-tying five field goals in the Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
' 15-6 upset of the favored Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
. The record of five field goals in a playoff game is one Vinatieri originally set himself against the Colts in the 2003 AFC Championship game.
The Colts reached Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI
Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season...
after defeating the Patriots in the AFC Championship game. It was Vinatieri's fifth Super Bowl appearance, and his first with the Colts. The Colts defeated the Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
by a score of 29-17. Vinatieri was 3 for 4 on field goals, and 1 for 2 on points after touchdowns, the miss when punter/holder Hunter Smith
Hunter Smith
Hunter Dwight Smith is an American football punter, currently a free agent and most recently for the Washington Redskins. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 1998 NFL Draft...
fumbled the snap on the extra-point attempt. He missed a 36 yard kick wide left at the end of the first half—the third time he has missed a kick in the Super Bowl. Although the Colts scored three touchdowns, the snap for the first point after was bobbled by the place holder, resulting in no kick. Super Bowl XLI was his fourth Super Bowl victory, one behind the record held by Charles Haley
Charles Haley
Charles Lewis Haley is a former American football linebacker and defensive end in the National Football League who played for the San Francisco 49ers and the Dallas Cowboys . He was drafted in the fourth round of the 1986 NFL Draft out of James Madison University...
. Vinatieri finished the 2006-07 postseason with 49 total points and 14 field goals, both NFL records. He is the only player to have 3 or more field goals in 4 consecutive postseason games.
2007 season
During the 2007 season, Vinatieri appeared in all 16 games and was 23-29 field goals (FGs) and 49-51 PATs for 118 points (both missed PATs were blocked). This season marked the 12th consecutive 100+ point season. He kicked his 20th career game-winning FG in the final minute of a 4th quarter or overtime with 24-yarder with :03 remaining vs. Kansas City on November 18, 2007. In the postseason that year, Vinatieri extended his NFL career post-season records in field goals (41), attempts (50), points (172) and consecutive games scoring (22).
2008 season
During the 2008 season he appeared in 16 games and was 20-25 FGs and 43-43 PATs for 103 points, his 13th consecutive season with over (100+) points. He made a 47-yard game-winner with :03 remaining against Minnesota on September 14, the 21st of his career. He made a 52-yard FG vs. New England on November 2 with 8:05 remaining for deciding points in 18-15 victory and was named AFC Special Teams Player-of-the-Week. Later that month, on November 23, Vinatieri hit a game-winner with :00 remaining at San Diego. This 51 yarder was both his longest game-winning FG and the 22nd game-winning FG of career.
2009 season
Vinatieri appeared in only 6 games for the Colts in 2009. In July 2009, Vinatieri had surgery on his right hip to alleviate a nagging injury, but the Colts expected that he would be ready for the season. However, Vinatieri struggled early in the season and complained of soreness in his knee. Doctors found loose cartilage in an MRI, and Vinatieri underwent arthroscopic surgery during the Colts' bye week. He was expected to miss 4–8 weeks while recovering. The Colts signed former Baltimore Ravens
Baltimore Ravens
The Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
kicker Matt Stover
Matt Stover
John Matthew "Matt" Stover is a former American Football placekicker. As of the start of the 2009 NFL season, he was the third most accurate kicker in the history of the National Football League. He is of Greek origin. He has played for the New York Giants, the Cleveland Browns, and the Baltimore...
to replace him. There was speculation over whether the Colts could cut Vinatieri, but Colts president Bill Polian
Bill Polian
Bill Polian is the Vice Chairman of the Indianapolis Colts NFL team. He rose to league prominence as the General Manager of the Buffalo Bills, building a team that participated in four straight Super Bowls, losing each time...
stated that Vinatieri would return when he was 100% healthy. Vinatieri would remain injured for the entire 2009 regular season as well as throughout the Colts' postseason run to Super Bowl XLIV. Vinatieri did not play in Super Bowl XLIV, which the Colts lost to the New Orleans Saints
New Orleans Saints
The New Orleans Saints are a professional American football team based in New Orleans, Louisiana. They are members of the South Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League ....
.
2010 season
The 2010 season showed a return to form after his injury-plagued 2009 season. Vinatieri continued to solidify his reputation as a kicker in the NFL. He appeared in 15 games that season. In the final game of the Regular Season in which the Colts claimed the AFC South title, he recorded his 23rd career game-winning kick in the final minute of regulation or overtime. After this final regular season game, Vinatieri was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time in 2010 after receiving that honor after his performance against the Cincinnati Bengals on November 14. Some other noteworthy accomplishments for Vinatieri during 2010 include:- Became 12th kicker in NFL history to score 1,600 points in career.
- Became the seventh kicker in NFL history to score 500 plus points with two different teams (501 with Colts; 1,156 with Patriots)
- Connected on 26 of 28 field goals (92.9 percent) this season, the best percentage among NFL kickers that season with at least 20 attempts
- On November 14 vs. Cincinnati surpassed Eddie Murray (who had 352 career FGs) for 11th-most FGs made in NFL history
- His 129 points marked the second-most of his career. It marked the 14th time he surpassed 100 points in a season
- After being named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week two times during 2010, it marked twelve (12) times during his career (includes 8 times with the New England Patriots)
With 53 seconds left in the Colts' Wild Card playoff game against the New York Jets, Vinatieri kicked a 50-yard field goal, his third field goal of the game, to put the Colts ahead 16-14. The Jets later won the game, though, on a 32-yard field goal by Nick Folk as time expired to win 17-16.
Career stats
These statistics are accurate as of January 02, 2011.| Season | Team !! PAT !! PAT Pct. | 1-19 !! 20-29 !! 30-39 !! 40-49 !! 50+ !! FG-FGA !! FG Pct. !! Long !! Points | Results | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 1995 Amsterdam Admirals season The 1995 Amsterdam Admirals season was the inaugural season for the team in the World League of American Football.-Staff:-Roster:-References:... |
Amsterdam Admirals Amsterdam Admirals The Amsterdam Admirals were a professional American football team in NFL Europe based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.-History:The Admirals were formed in 1995 as part of the NFL's plan to restart the World League of American Football, to be based entirely in Europe... |
?/? | ?% | ?/? | ?/? | ?/? | ?/? | ?/? | ?/? | ?% | ? | ? | (9-1, 1st) Lost World Bowl III World Bowl III World Bowl '95 was the World League's third World Bowl and the first World Bowl that was played since the league suspended operations in 1993. The game was played at Olympisch Stadion in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on June 17, 1995. This match-up was between the 6-4 Frankfurt Galaxy and the 9-1... |
| 1996 1996 New England Patriots season The New England Patriots participated in the National Football League's 1996 season, the team's 37th in football. The Patriots finished with a record of eleven wins and five losses, and finished first in the AFC East division... |
New England Patriots New England Patriots The New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... |
39/42 | 92.9% | 1/1 | 9/10 | 8/8 | 8/14 | 1/2 | 27/35 | 77.1% | 50 | 120 | (11-5, 1st) Lost Super Bowl XXXI Super Bowl XXXI Super Bowl XXXI was an American football game played on January 26, 1997, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 1996 regular season. The National Football Conference champion Green Bay Packers defeated the American... |
| 1997 1997 New England Patriots season The 1997 New England Patriots season was the 28th season for the team in the National Football League and 38th season overall. They finished the season with a 10–6 record and a division title but lost in the playoffs to the Pittsburgh Steelers.... |
40/40 | 100.0% | 0/0 | 11/11 | 7/9 | 6/8 | 1/1 | 25/29 | 86.2% | 52 | 115 | (10-6, 1st) Lost Divisional Playoffs | |
| 1998 1998 New England Patriots season The 1998 New England Patriots season was the 29th season for the team in the National Football League and 39th season overall. They finished with a 9–7 record, good for fourth place in the division but also a playoff berth; they lost in the first round to the Jacksonville Jaguars.In the offseason,... |
32/32 | 100.0% | 3/3 | 8/8 | 9/14 | 9/12 | 2/2 | 31/39 | 79.5% | 55 | 125 | (9-7, 4th) Lost Wild Card Playoffs | |
| 1999 1999 New England Patriots season The 1999 New England Patriots season was the 30th season for the team in the National Football League and 40th season overall. They finished with a 8–8 record, tied for fourth place in the division, and out of the playoffs.... |
29/30 | 96.7% | 1/1 | 14/14 | 5/7 | 5/9 | 1/2 | 26/33 | 78.8% | 51 | 107 | (8-8, 4th) Did not reach the Playoffs | |
| 2000 2000 New England Patriots season The 2000 New England Patriots season was the 31st season for the team in the National Football League and 41st season overall. They finished with a 5–11 record and in last place in the division.... |
25/25 | 100.0% | 0/0 | 11/13 | 8/9 | 7/8 | 1/3 | 27/33 | 81.8% | 53 | 106 | (5-11, 5th) Did not reach the Playoffs | |
| 2001 2001 New England Patriots season The 2001 New England Patriots season was the 32nd season for the team in the National Football League and 42nd season overall. They finished with an 11–5 record and a division title before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXVI.... |
41/42 | 97.6% | 1/1 | 8/8 | 7/8 | 7/12 | 1/1 | 24/30 | 80.0% | 54 | 113 | (11-5, 1st) Won Super Bowl XXXVI Super Bowl XXXVI Super Bowl XXXVI was an American football game played on February 3, 2002 at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana to decide the National Football League champion following the 2001 regular season. The American Football Conference champion New England Patriots won their first Super... |
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| 2002 2002 New England Patriots season The 2002 New England Patriots season was the 33rd season for the team in the National Football League and 43rd season overall. They finished with a 9–7 record, good enough for second in the division but not a playoff berth.... |
36/36 | 100.0% | 0/0 | 6/6 | 12/12 | 8/10 | 1/2 | 27/30 | 90.0% | 57 | 117 | (9-7, 2nd) Did not reach the Playoffs | |
| 2003 2003 New England Patriots season The 2003 New England Patriots season was the 34th season for the team in the National Football League and 44th season overall. They finished with a league-best 14–2 record before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXVIII.... |
37/38 | 97.4% | 0/0 | 16/17 | 4/8 | 5/8 | 0/1 | 25/34 | 73.5% | 48 | 112 | (14-2, 1st) Won Super Bowl XXXVIII Super Bowl XXXVIII Super Bowl XXXVIII was an American football game played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas to decide the National Football League champion following the 2003 regular season.... |
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| 2004 2004 New England Patriots season The 2004 New England Patriots season was the 35th season for the team in the National Football League and 45th season overall. They finished with their second straight 14–2 record before advancing to and winning Super Bowl XXXIX, their third Super Bowl victory in four years.Following a Super Bowl... |
48/48 | 100.0% | 0/0 | 13/13 | 7/7 | 11/12 | 0/1 | 31/33 | 93.9% | 48 | 141 | (14-2, 1st) Won Super Bowl XXXIX Super Bowl XXXIX Super Bowl XXXIX was an American football game played on February 6, 2005, at Alltel Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida, to decide the National Football League champion following the 2004 regular season... |
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| 2005 2005 New England Patriots season The 2005 New England Patriots season was the 36th season for the team in the National Football League and 46th season overall. They finished with a 10–6 record and the division title before losing in the playoffs to the Denver Broncos.... |
40/41 | 97.6% | 0/0 | 7/7 | 9/10 | 4/6 | 0/2 | 20/25 | 80.0% | 49 | 100 | (10-6, 1st) Lost Divisional Playoffs | |
| 2006 2006 Indianapolis Colts season The 2006 Indianapolis Colts season was the 54th season for the team in the National Football League and 23rd in Indianapolis. The 2006 Colts season began with the team trying to maintain or improve on their regular season record of 14–2 from the 2005 season, and advance farther into the playoffs.... |
Indianapolis Colts Indianapolis Colts The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... |
38/38 | 100.0% | 1/1 | 3/3 | 12/13 | 9/10 | 0/1 | 25/28 | 89.3% | 48 | 113 | (12-4, 1st) Won Super Bowl XLI Super Bowl XLI Super Bowl XLI was an American football game that featured the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion Chicago Bears to decide the National Football League champion for the 2006 season... |
| 2007 2007 Indianapolis Colts season The 2007 Indianapolis Colts season was the 55th season for the team in the National Football League and 24th in Indianapolis. The 2007 Indianapolis Colts improved upon their 12–4 record from 2006 as well as winning their 5th straight AFC South Championship. They finished the season 13–3 and lost to... |
49/51 | 96.1% | 1/1 | 14/15 | 8/10 | 0/2 | 0/1 | 23/29 | 79.3% | 39 | 118 | (13-3, 1st) Lost Divisional Playoffs | |
| 2008 2008 Indianapolis Colts season The 2008 Indianapolis Colts season was the 56th season for the team in the National Football League and the 25th in Indianapolis. It was the first season since 2002 that the Colts did not win the AFC South title. However, after a 3–4 start on the season Peyton Manning led the Colts to a nine-game... |
43/43 | 100.0% | 0/0 | 3/3 | 11/13 | 4/7 | 2/2 | 20/25 | 80.0% | 52 | 103 | (12-4, 2nd) Lost Wild Card Playoffs | |
| 2009 2009 Indianapolis Colts season The 2009 Indianapolis Colts season was the 57th season for the team in the National Football League and the 26th in Indianapolis. It was the first season since 2002 that the Colts did not have Tony Dungy on their coaching staff, due to his retirement from coaching... |
17/18 | 94.4% | 0/0 | 3/3 | 1/2 | 2/2 | 0/1 | 7/9 | 77.8% | 48 | 38 | (14-2, 1st) Lost Super Bowl XLIV Super Bowl XLIV Super Bowl XLIV was an American football game between the American Football Conference champion Indianapolis Colts and the National Football Conference champion New Orleans Saints to decide the National Football League champion for the 2009 season. The Saints defeated the Colts by a score of... |
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| 2010 2010 Indianapolis Colts season The 2010 Indianapolis Colts season was the 58th season for the team in the National Football League, the 27th in Indianapolis, and the second under head coach Jim Caldwell... |
51/51 | 100.0% | 0/0 | 8/8 | 9/10 | 9/10 | 0/0 | 26/28 | 92.8% | 50 | 129 | (10-6, 1st) Lost Wild Card Playoffs | |
| TOTALS | 565/575 | 98.26% | 9/9 | 134/139 | 117/140 | 94/130 | 10/22 | 364/440 | 82.7% | 57 | 1657 | 4 Titles |
Honors and awards
- 4-time Super BowlSuper BowlThe Super Bowl is the championship game of the National Football League , the highest level of professional American football in the United States, culminating a season that begins in the late summer of the previous calendar year. The Super Bowl uses Roman numerals to identify each game, rather...
Champion (2001, 2003 & 2004 New England Patriots, 2006 Indianapolis Colts) - 2003 Pro Bowl2003 Pro BowlThe 2003 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played on February 2, 2003 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final Score was AFC 45, NFC 20. Ricky Williams of the Miami Dolphins was the game's MVP.-Offense:-Defense:-Special teams:-Offense:-Defense:...
starter - 2005 Pro Bowl2005 Pro BowlThe 2005 AFC-NFC Pro Bowl was played February 13, 2005 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. The final score was AFC 38 - NFC 27. The most valuable player was Peyton Manning of the Colts. The game holds the record as the latest Pro Bowl played during the calendar year.-Game summary:The game...
starter - 2002 All-Pro Team2002 All-Pro TeamThe 2002 All-Pro Team comprises the National Football League players that were named to the Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, and The Sporting News All-Pro Teams in 2002. Both first and second teams are listed for the AP team. These are the three teams that are included in Total...
selection - 2004 All-Pro Team2004 All-Pro TeamThe 2004 All-Pro Team is composed of the National Football League players that were named to the Associated Press, Pro Football Writers Association, and The Sporting News All-Pro Teams in 2004. Both first and second teams are listed for the AP team. These are the three teams that are included in...
selection - NFL 2000s All-Decade TeamNational Football League 2000s All-Decade TeamThe NFL 2000s All-Decade Team is composed of outstanding performers in the National Football League in the ten years spanning 2000–2009. Only a player or coach's performance in the 2000s is used as criteria for voting....
- 1992 All-Conference selection
- 1993 All-Conference selection
- 1994 All-Conference selection
- 1991 All-State selection
NFL records
- Most postseason field goals in a career: 42
- Most consecutive games in a single postseason with 3+ field goals: 4
- Most points in postseason, career: 187
- Most field goals in a single postseason: 14
- Most field goals in Super Bowls: 7
- Most extra points in Super Bowls: 13
- Total points in a single postseason: 49 in 2006 (surpassing Terrell DavisTerrell DavisTerrell Lamar Davis is a former American football running back who played for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League from 1995 to 2001. Davis was drafted by the Broncos in the sixth round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Davis is the Denver Broncos all-time leading rusher, with 7,607 rushing...
' previous record of 48) - Most field goals in a single NFL postseason game: 5 (tied with six others); achieved twice, with the Patriots vs. the Colts in the 2003-04 AFC Championship, and with the Colts vs. the Baltimore RavensBaltimore RavensThe Baltimore Ravens are a professional football franchise based in Baltimore, Maryland.The Baltimore Ravens are officially a quasi-expansion franchise, having originated in 1995 with the Cleveland Browns relocation controversy after Art Modell, then owner of the Cleveland Browns, announced his...
in 2006
Personal
Vinatieri, his wife Valeri, and their two children, AJ and Allison, reside in Carmel, IndianaCarmel, Indiana
Carmel is a city in Hamilton County, Indiana, United States located immediately north of Indianapolis, Indiana. The population was 79,191 at the 2010 census, and is one of the most affluent communities in the Midwest....
during the football season and Celebration, Florida
Celebration, Florida
Celebration is a census-designated place and a master-planned community in Osceola County, Florida, United States, located near Walt Disney World Resort and originally developed by The Walt Disney Company...
during the off-season. He is the second of four children. His great-great grandfather was Felix Vinatieri, an Italian immigrant who served as Lt Col George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer
George Armstrong Custer was a United States Army officer and cavalry commander in the American Civil War and the Indian Wars. Raised in Michigan and Ohio, Custer was admitted to West Point in 1858, where he graduated last in his class...
's bandmaster. Adam Vinatieri has stated that Lt Col Custer told Felix Vinatieri to head back to camp instead of going ahead with the regiment to Little Big Horn, and that this decision saved his great-great grandfather's life. He is also a third cousin to the famous daredevil Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel
Evel Knievel , born Robert Craig Knievel, was an American daredevil and entertainer. In his career he attempted over 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps between 1965 and 1980, and in 1974, a failed jump across Snake River Canyon in the Skycycle X-2, a steam-powered rocket...
and second cousin to scientist and author Tim Foecke
Tim Foecke
Timothy Foecke is an American metallurgist, Deputy Chief of the Metallurgy Division, Leader of the Materials Performance Group, and Director of the NIST Center for Automotive Lightweighting at the National Institute of Standards and Technology .- Biography :Foecke received a bachelor's degree...
. A collection of Felix Vinatieri manuscripts and instruments can be found at the National Music Museum located in Vermillion, South Dakota. Vinatieri's hobbies include hunting, riding motorcycles and golfing.
Endorsements
Vinatieri starred in a television commercial for the SnickersSnickers
Snickers is a brand name chocolate bar made by Mars, Incorporated. It consists of peanut nougat topped with roasted peanuts and caramel, enrobed in milk chocolate. Snickers has annual global sales of $2 billion....
candy bar
Candy bar
A chocolate bar is a confection in bar form comprising some or all of the following components: cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, milk. The relative presence or absence of these components form the subclasses of dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. In addition to these main...
with the tagline
Tagline
A tagline is a variant of a branding slogan typically used in marketing materials and advertising. The idea behind the concept is to create a memorable phrase that will sum up the tone and premise of a brand or product , or to reinforce the audience's memory of a product...
, "Split the Uprights with Adam Nougatieri." He also apparead in a sketch comedy
Sketch comedy
A sketch comedy consists of a series of short comedy scenes or vignettes, called "sketches," commonly between one and ten minutes long. Such sketches are performed by a group of comic actors or comedians, either on stage or through an audio and/or visual medium such as broadcasting...
Da Bears for Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
, and as a guest-star in programs and movies like NFL Monday Night Football, NBC Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football
NBC Sunday Night Football is a weekly television broadcast of Sunday evening National Football League games on NBC that began airing on Sunday, August 6, 2006 with the pre-season opening Hall of Fame Game. Al Michaels serves as the play-by-play announcer, with Cris Collinsworth as the color...
, ESPN Sunday Night Football
ESPN Sunday Night Football
ESPN Sunday Night Football is the ESPN cable network's weekly television broadcasts of Sunday evening National Football League games. The first ESPN Sunday night broadcast occurred on November 8, 1987, while the last one aired on January 1, 2006....
, The Greatest Game Ever Played
The Greatest Game Ever Played
The Greatest Game Ever Played is a 2005 biographical sports film based on the early life of golf champion Francis Ouimet. The film was directed by Bill Paxton; Shia LaBeouf plays the role of Ouimet. It is distributed by Walt Disney Pictures...
.