Professional career Adam Vinatieri

1 professional career

1.1 amsterdam admirals
1.2 new england patriots (1996–2005)

1.2.1 1996-2000: years
1.2.2 2001-2004: 3 super bowls
1.2.3 2005 season


1.3 indianapolis colts (2006–present)

1.3.1 2006 season: fourth super bowl
1.3.2 2007-2009: records , injury
1.3.3 2010-2015: more records

1.3.3.1 2016 season
1.3.3.2 2017 season

professional career
amsterdam admirals

vinatieri spent fall of 1995 training compete professionally. received tryout world league of american football (later rebranded nfl europe), defunct, , earned roster position amsterdam admirals placekicker , punter.

new england patriots (1996–2005)
1996-2000: years

in 1996, vinatieri signed patriots undrafted free agent placekicker. played in new england first 10 years of nfl career, during played in 4 super bowls, winning 3 titles. in rookie season, chased down , tackled dallas cowboys returner herschel walker on kickoff, leading then-patriots head coach bill parcells tell rookie kicker re not kicker—you re football player. first super bowl appearance in rookie season of 1996, when played patriots in 35–21 loss green bay packers in super bowl xxxi. 1 of kickoffs in super bowl returned desmond howard super bowl-record 99 yards , touchdown ended patriots bid comeback.

2001-2004: 3 super bowls

in 2001 playoffs, during blizzard against oakland raiders in final game @ foxboro stadium, vinatieri kicked 45-yard field goal swirling winter wind tie game 13–13 , send overtime. patriots won game on field goal of 23 yards vinatieri. in super bowl xxxvi season, vinatieri kicked 48-yard field goal on final play give new england patriots first super bowl victory, 20–17 upset win on st. louis rams, 14-point favorites coming game. 2 years later in 2003 season, in identical situation, kicked 41-yard field goal 4 seconds left in super bowl xxxviii boost patriots championship (after missing 1 field goal , having attempt blocked in first half). time, patriots defeated carolina panthers 32–29, making vinatieri first player ever deciding factor in 2 super bowl games (vinatieri kept balls used on both of these kicks).

vinatieri warming during pre-game of super bowl xxxix.

in 2004, vinatieri led nfl in scoring 141 points (31-for-33 on field goals, , perfect 48-for-48 on points after touchdown or pats). in game against st. louis rams, vinatieri scored 16 points (4 field goals, 4 pats), , threw 4-yard touchdown pass wide receiver troy brown on fake field goal attempt (that pass gives him career passer rating of 122.9). went on score field goal , 3 points in patriots 24–21 win on philadelphia eagles in super bowl xxxix.

2005 season

by time vinatieri finished final season patriots in 2005, had kicked 18 game-winning field goals less 1 minute remaining, including postseason. @ conclusion of 2005 season, had career field goal percentage of 81.9 percent (263/321), fifth highest in nfl history. in time in new england, community involvement included helping christian athletes, d.a.r.e., , governor s highway safety bureau. spokesperson blue cross , blue shield of rhode island s teen anti-smoking contest, , appeared in commercials boston-based pizza papa gino s. vinatieri finished 10 seasons patriots team s all-time leading scorer 1,156 points (that record surpassed vinatieri s replacement, stephen gostkowski, in 2014). patriots have not re-issued vinatieri s no. 4 since left team.

indianapolis colts (2006–present)
2006 season: fourth super bowl

after 2005 season, patriots chose not place franchise tag on vinatieri had year before, allowing him become free agent. had visited green bay packers, set on signing in either warm-weather climate or team plays home games in dome. on march 22, 2006, vinatieri signed indianapolis colts, replacing mike vanderjagt signed dallas cowboys. vinatieri signed five-year contract , received $3.5 million signing bonus.

when colts called, told agent, let s not screw around, said vinatieri, in first extensive comments regarding departure new england. told him, if indy interested, let s done. ... vinatieri said has no regrets not giving patriots chance counter offer.

with new england patriots, vinatieri perfect 10-10 in kicks in rca dome. in second round of 2006 afc playoffs, vinatieri kicked 5 field goals in colts 15–6 upset of favored baltimore ravens.

the colts reached super bowl xli after defeating new england patriots in afc championship game. vinatieri s fifth super bowl appearance, , first colts. colts defeated chicago bears score of 29–17. vinatieri 3 4 on field goals, , 1 2 on points after touchdowns, miss when punter/holder hunter smith fumbled snap on extra-point attempt after colts first offensive touchdown. missed 36-yard kick wide left @ end of first half—the third time had missed kick in super bowl. super bowl xli vinatieri s fourth super bowl victory, 1 behind record held charles haley , tom brady. vinatieri finished 2006–07 postseason 49 total points , 14 field goals, both nfl records. player have 3 or more field goals in 4 consecutive postseason games.

2007-2009: records , injury

during 2007 season, vinatieri appeared in 16 games , 23–of–29 on field goals (fgs) , 49–of–51 pats 118 points (both missed pats blocked). season marked 12th consecutive 100+ point season. kicked 20th career game-winning fg in final minute of 4th quarter of overtime 3 seconds remaining against kansas city chiefs on november 18, 2007. in postseason year, vinatieri extended nfl career postseason records in field goals (41), attempts (50), points (172) , consecutive games scoring (22).

during 2008 season, vinatieri appeared in 16 games , 20–of–25 fgs , 43–of–43 pats 103 points, 13th consecutive season on (100+) points. made 47-yard game-winner 3 seconds remaining against minnesota on september 14, 21st of career. made 52-yard fg vs. new england on november 2 8:05 remaining deciding points in 18–15 victory , named afc special teams player-of-the-week. later month, on november 23, vinatieri hit game-winner no time remaining @ san diego. 51-yard field goal both longest game-winning fg , 22nd game-winning fg of career.

vinatieri appeared in 6 games colts in 2009 due injury. in july 2009, vinatieri had surgery on right hip alleviate nagging injury, colts expected ready season. however, vinatieri struggled in season , complained of soreness in knee. doctors found loose cartilage in mri, , vinatieri underwent arthroscopic surgery during colts bye week. during season, punter pat mcafee assumed vinatieri s kickoff duties, has done ever since. expected miss 4–8 weeks while recovering. colts signed former baltimore ravens kicker matt stover replace him. there speculation on whether colts cut vinatieri, colts president bill polian stated vinatieri return when 100% healthy. vinatieri remain injured entire 2009 regular season throughout colts postseason run super bowl xliv. vinatieri did not play in super bowl xliv, colts lost new orleans saints.

2010-2015: more records

the 2010 season showed return form after injury-plagued 2009 season. vinatieri appeared in 15 games season. in final game of regular season in colts claimed afc south title, vinatieri recorded 23rd career game-winning kick in final minute of regulation or overtime. named afc special teams player of week second time after game. other noteworthy accomplishments vinatieri during 2010 include:

became 12th kicker in nfl history score 1,600 points in career.
became seventh kicker in nfl history score 500 plus points 2 different teams (850 colts; 1,156 patriots)
connected on 26 of 28 field goals (92.9 percent) season, best percentage among nfl kickers season @ least 20 attempts
on november 14 vs. cincinnati surpassed eddie murray (who had 352 career fgs) 11th-most fgs made in nfl history
his 129 points marked second-most of career. marked 14th time surpassed 100 points in season
after being named afc special teams player of week 2 times during 2010, marked twelve (12) times during career (including 8 times new england patriots)

with 53 seconds left in colts wild card playoff game against new york jets, vinatieri kicked 50-yard field goal, third field goal of game, put colts ahead 16–14. however, jets later won game on 32-yard field goal nick folk time expired.

on january 11, 2014, against patriots in divisional playoff round, vinatieri became first player in nfl history convert 50 field goals in postseason. on march 11, 2014, vinatieri signed two-year extension colts.

through week 16, vinatieri 28/28 in field goals, , selected third career pro bowl in december. in regular season finale against tennessee titans, vinatieri converted first field goal miss on second attempt, ending run @ perfect season. finish season 30/31 in field goals, , did not miss pat. on january 2, 2015, vinatieri selected associated press first team all-pro kicker, third such selection.

on may 6, vinatieri ranked 98th best player heading 2015 season, becoming first specialist (kicker or punter) ever ranked in top 100, oldest player ranked. in week 4, vinatieri became colts all-time leading scorer , first player in nfl history score 1,000 points 2 different teams. in week 8, set nfl s all-time record overtime field goals made in career 10. in week 11, vinatieri converted 3 points , game-winning field goal give colts come-from-behind win in vinatieri s 300th nfl game.

2016 season

on march 8, 2016, vinatieri signed two-year, $6 million extension colts. on october 12, vinatieri awarded afc special teams player of week award 16th time in career, establishing new nfl record. in game against tennessee titans on october 23, vinatieri kicked 43rd successful field goal in row break nfl record set mike vanderjagt. vinatieri named afc special teams player of month october. streak of consecutive successful field goals ended @ 44, when missed 42-yard kick in colts week 11 game against tennessee titans. on january 1, 2017, missed field goal in season s final game against jacksonville jaguars cost vinatieri $500,000 bonus. bonus depended on vinatieri finishing 2016 campaign 90% or higher field goal rate.

2017 season

on september 10, 2017, vinatieri started 22nd season in nfl in game against los angeles rams. in week 5, vinatieri went 4-for-4, hitting field goals of 23, 38, , 52 yards including 51-yard game winner in 26–23 overtime win on san francisco 49ers, earning him afc special teams player of week honors.