_(cropped).jpg) Vinatieri with theIndianapolis Colts in 2018 | |||||||||||
| No. 4 | |||||||||||
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| Position | Placekicker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | (1972-12-28)December 28, 1972 (age 52) 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) | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 1996: undrafted | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Adam Matthew Vinatieri (born December 28, 1972) is an American former professionalfootballplacekicker who played in theNational Football League (NFL) for 24 seasons with theNew England Patriots andIndianapolis Colts. Vinatieri attended South Dakota State University (SDSU) from 1991 to 1994. Vinatieri is the NFL'sall-time leading scorer at 2,673 points, in addition to holding the NFL records forfield 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 anundrafted free agent in 1996, where he played for 10 seasons, and was a member of the Colts for 14 seasons. A four-timeSuper Bowl winner – three with the Patriots and one with the Colts – Vinatieri 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 the2001–02 NFL playoffs, he converted the game-tying and winning kicks of New England'sAFC Divisional Playoff game in blizzard conditions and the game-winning kick in the final seconds ofSuper Bowl XXXVI, earning the Patriots their first championship. Vinatieri would again convert a final-second kick to winSuper Bowl XXXVIII, establishing himself as a key contributor of thePatriots' dynasty.[11][12] In 2019, Vinatieri was named to theNational Football League 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
Vinatieri was born inYankton, South Dakota, on December 28, 1972, the second child of four children to Paul Vinatieri and Judy M. (Goeken). His father is of Italian descent and his other ancestry includes German and English.[13][14] His younger brother Beau was a kicker atBlack Hills State University before graduating in 2003.[15]
When Vinatieri was five years old, his family moved toRapid City, South Dakota. As a child, he struggled to read and enrolled in classes for children with learning disabilities. Vinatieri attendedCentral High School in Rapid City and was a letterman infootball,wrestling,basketball,soccer, andtrack. In football, he earned first-team All-State honors as a senior. He graduated from Central High School in 1991. Before starting as a kicker, Vinatieri was aquarterback and middlelinebacker. When asked in 2005, several years into his NFL career, why he no longer played one of those positions once he reached college, he replied, "I'm 6 feet tall and 200 pounds, and unfortunately the linebackers aren't that small, and neither are the quarterbacks."[16]
Vinatieri received an appointment to theUnited States Military Academy at West Point, but was only there for two weeks before deciding to return home,[17] where he then enrolled atSouth Dakota State University. He was a four-year letterman there as a kicker and punter and he finished his collegiate career as the school's all-time leading scorer with 185 career points as well as being awarded first-team all-conference honors in each of his seasons.[18]
Vinatieri spent the summer of 1996 training to compete professionally. He received a tryout for theWorld League of American Football (later rebranded as NFL Europe), and earned a roster position with theAmsterdam Admirals as a kicker and punter.[19][20]
Vinatieri played in New England for the first 10 years of hisNFL career, during which he played in fourSuper Bowls, winning three titles.
In 1996, Vinatieri was signed by the Patriots as anundrafted free agent to be a kicker. In order to become their starter, he had to compete with 17-year veteranMatt Bahr. Bahr at first seemed to be the favorite. He had a long history with Patriots coachBill Parcells, including a Super Bowl win under Parcells in the 1990 season. However, Parcells ultimately made the decision to cut Bahr during the preseason and go with Vinatieri, mainly because Bahr was no longer capable of efficiently performing kickoffs.[21]
In his rookie season, he chased down and tackledDallas Cowboys returnerHerschel Walker on a kickoff, leading Parcells to tell his rookie kicker "You're not a kicker—you're a football player."[22] In Week 4, Vinatieri converted five of six field goal attempts against theJacksonville Jaguars, to earn AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[23] He converted the 40-yard game-winning field goal in overtime of the 28–25 victory.[24] He finished his rookie season converting 39 of 42 extra point tries and 27 of 35 field goal attempts.[25] His first Super Bowl appearance was in his rookie season of 1996 when he played with the Patriots in their 35–21 loss to theGreen Bay Packers inSuper Bowl XXXI.All-Pro and game MVPDesmond Howard's Super Bowl-record 99-yard touchdown return ended the Patriots' bid for a comeback.[26] The game would mark the only Super Bowl defeat of Vinatieri's career (he didn't play in the Colts' loss inSuper Bowl XLIV). Vinatieri was named to the NFL All-Rookie Team.[27]
In Week 7 of the 1997 season, Vinatieri won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after converting all three extra point tries and all four field goal attempts in the 33–6 victory over theBuffalo Bills.[28][29] In the 1997 season, Vinatieri converted all 40 extra point attempts and 25 of 29 field goal attempts as the Patriots went 10–6 and earned a playoff berth.[30][31] He was responsible for scoring all of the Patriots' points with two field goals in their game against thePittsburgh Steelers in theDivisional Round.[32]
In Week 5 of the 1998 season, Vinatieri converted three extra point and three field goals tries in the 30–27 victory over theNew Orleans Saints. His last field goal attempt was a 27-yarder with six seconds remaining to put the Patriots in position to win the game.[33] He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game against New Orleans.[34] The Saints game was the beginning of a month for Vinatieri where he won AFC Special Teams Player of the Month.[35] He finished the 1998 season converting all 32 extra point attempts and 31 of 39 field goal attempts.[36]
In the 1999 season, Vinatieri won AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for September.[35] He converted 29 of 30 extra point attempts and 26 of 33 field goal attempts as the Patriots went 8–8.[37][38]
In the 2000 season, Vinatieri converted all 25 extra point attempts and 27 of 33 field goal attempts in the Patriots' 5–11 season.[39][40]
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In Week 14, Vinatieri converted all four field goal attempts in a 12–9 victory over theBuffalo Bills. The last of the four was the game-winner in overtime.[41] He won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game against Buffalo.[42] In the 2001 regular season, Vinatieri converted 41 of 42 extra point attempts and 24 of 30 field goal attempts.[43] In the 2001 playoffs, during a blizzard against theOakland Raiders in the final game atFoxboro Stadium, Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal into a swirling winter wind to tiethe game 13–13 and send it to overtime. The Patriots won the game on another field goal of 23 yards by Vinatieri.[44] InSuper Bowl XXXVI that season, Vinatieri kicked a 48-yard field goal on the final play to give the New England Patriots their first Super Bowl victory, a 20–17 upset win over theSt. Louis Rams, who were 14-point favorites coming into the game.[45][46]
In Week 17, against theMiami Dolphins, Vinatieri converted all four field goal attempts in the 27–24 victory. The last of the four was the game-winner in overtime.[47] He won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game against Miami.[48] In the 2002 season, Vinatieri converted all 36 extra point tries and 27 of 30 field goal tries as the Patriots went 9–7 and missed the playoffs.[49][50] He earned Pro Bowl and First Team All-Pro honors.[51][52]
In the 2003 regular season, Vinatieri converted 37 of 38 extra point tries and 25 of 34 field goal attempts.[53] In an almost identical situation to the Super Bowl two seasons prior, he kicked a 41-yard field goal with four seconds left inSuper 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 theCarolina Panthers 32–29, making Vinatieri the first player ever to be the deciding factor in twoSuper Bowl games (Vinatieri kept the footballs used on both of these kicks).[54][55]
Vinatieri was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November.[35] In 2004, Vinatieri led the NFL in scoring with 141 points (31-for-33 on field goals, and a perfect 48-for-48 on extra point attempts).[56] In a Week 9 game against theSt. Louis Rams, Vinatieri scored 16 points (four field goals and four extra points), and threw a four-yard touchdown pass to wide receiverTroy Brown on a fake field goal attempt (that pass gives him a careerpasser rating of 122.9).[57][58] For his game against the Rams, he earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[59] In Week 10, against theBuffalo Bills, he scored a career-high 17 points on five field goals and two extra points.[60] He was named to the Pro Bowl and earned First Team All-Pro honors.[61][62]
Vinatieri scored a field goal and three extra points in the Patriots 24–21 win over thePhiladelphia Eagles inSuper Bowl XXXIX.[63][64]
In Week 3, Vinatieri earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in a game against thePittsburgh Steelers.[65] He hit the game-winning field goal with one second remaining.[66] In the 2005 season, Vinatieri converted 40 of 41 extra point attempts and 20 of 25 field goal attempts.[67]
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 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. 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 theBlue Cross and Blue Shield ofRhode Island's teen anti-smoking contest, and also appeared in commercials for Boston-based pizzaPapa Gino's. Vinatieri finished his 10 seasons with the Patriots as the team's all-time leading scorer with 1,156 points (that record was surpassed by Vinatieri's replacement,Stephen Gostkowski, in 2014).[68] His jersey number 4 was not reissued for the next 14 seasons until quarterbackJarrett Stidham wore it in 2019.[69]
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After the 2005 season, the Patriots chose not to place theirfranchise tag on Vinatieri as they had the year before, allowing him to become a free agent. He had met with theGreen Bay Packers, but was set on signing in either a warm-weather climate or a team that played home games in a dome.[70] On March 22, 2006, Vinatieri signed with theIndianapolis Colts, replacingMike Vanderjagt, who signed with theDallas Cowboys. Vinatieri was signed to a five-year contract and received a $3.5 million signing bonus.[71]
"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 thePatriots a chance to counter the offer.[72]
With the Colts, Vinatieri had been a perfect 10-of-10 in kicks in theRCA Dome. He finished the 2006 season converting all 38 extra point attempts and 25 of 28 field goal attempts.[73] He won AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performances in Week 1 against theNew York Giants and Week 8 against theDenver Broncos.[74][75] In theDivisional Round, Vinatieri kicked five field goals in theColts' 15–6 upset of the favoredBaltimore Ravens.[76]
The Colts reachedSuper Bowl XLI after defeating theNew England Patriots in theAFC Championship.[77] It was Vinatieri's fifth Super Bowl appearance, and his first with the Colts. The Colts defeated theChicago Bears 29–17.[78] Vinatieri converted three of four field goal attempts and one of two extra point attempts, the miss when punter/holderHunter Smith fumbled the snap on the extra-point attempt after the Colts' first offensive touchdown. He missed a 36-yard kick wide left at the end of the first half—the third time he had missed a kick in the Super Bowl.[79] Super Bowl XLI was Vinatieri's fourth Super Bowl victory. Vinatieri finished the 2006–07 postseason with 49 total points and 14 field goals, both NFL records. He is the only player to have three or more field goals in four consecutive postseason games.[citation needed]
During the2007 season, Vinatieri appeared in all 16 games and was 23 of 29 on field goal attempts and 49 of 51 on extra point attempts for 118 points (both missed PATs were blocked).[80] This season marked his 12th consecutive 100+ point season. He kicked his 20th career game-winning FG in the final minute of a fourth quarter or overtime, this time with three seconds remaining against theKansas City Chiefs on November 18, 2007.[81] In the postseason that year, Vinatieri extended his NFL career postseason records in field goals (41), attempts (50), points (172) and consecutive games scoring (22).[80][82]
Vinatieri made a 47-yard game-winner with three seconds remaining againstMinnesota in Week 2.[83] He made a 52-yard FG againstNew England in Week 9 with 8:05 remaining for the deciding points in 18–15 victory and was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[84][85] Later that month, in Week 12, Vinatieri hit a game-winner with no time remaining atSan Diego.[86] In the2008 season, Vinatieri appeared in 16 games and converted all 43 extra point attempts and 20 of 25 field goal attempts for 103 points.[87]
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. Vinatieri was placed on the injured reserve list for the rest of the season.[88] However, Vinatieri struggled early in the season and complained of soreness in his knee. Doctors found loose cartilage in an MRI, and Vinatieri underwentarthroscopic surgery during the Colts'bye week.[89] Vinatieri was expected to miss four to eight weeks while recovering. During the season,punterPat McAfee assumed Vinatieri's kickoff duties,[90] something he would continue to do until his retirement after the 2016 season. The Colts signed formerBaltimore Ravens kickerMatt Stover to replace him. There was speculation over whether the Colts could cut Vinatieri, but Colts presidentBill Polian stated that Vinatieri would return when he was 100% healthy.[91] Due to the injury, Vinatieri appeared in only six games for the Colts in2009.[92] He returned to the lineup and kicked a field goal but missed an extra point attempt in a Week 15 loss to theNew York Jets, but then was inactive for the final game of the regular season as well as throughout the Colts' postseason run.[93] Vinatieri did not play inSuper Bowl XLIV, which the Colts lost to theNew Orleans Saints.[94] He was named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame First Team All-2000s Team.[95]
The2010 season showed a return to form after Vinatieri's injury-plagued 2009 season. Vinatieri appeared in 15 games that season. He converted all 51 extra point attempts and 26 of 28 field goal attempts.[96] In the final game of the regular season, in which the Colts claimed theAFC South title, Vinatieri recorded his 23rd career game-winning kick in the final minute of regulation or in overtime.[97][98] He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for the second time after the game.[99] He led the league in extra points attempted and made. He finished third in total scoring.[100]
Some other noteworthy accomplishments for Vinatieri during 2010 include:
With 53 seconds left in the Colts'Wild Card playoff game against theNew York Jets, Vinatieri kicked a 50-yard field goal, his third field goal of the game, to put the Colts ahead 16–14. However, the Jets later won the game on a 32-yard field goal byNick Folk as time expired.[104]
With Colts' quarterbackPeyton Manning being out for the season due to injury, the Colts offense sputtered and had a noticeable effect on Vinatieri's production.[105] In the 2011 season, Vinatieri converted all 24 extra point attempts and 23 of 27 field goal attempts.[106]
In the 2012 season, Vinatieri converted all 37 extra point attempts and 26 of 33 field goal attempts.[107]
In Week 11, against theTennessee Titans, he converted all three extra point tries and all three field goal tries in the 30–27 victory to earn AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[108][109] In Week 13, against the Titans, he converted all five field goal attempts in the 22–14 victory.[110] In Week 17, Vinatieri converted all three extra point attempts and all three field goal attempts in the 30–10 victory over theJacksonville Jaguars to earn AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.[111][112] In the 2013 season, Vinatieri converted 34 extra point attempts and 35 of 40 field goal attempts.[113] In theWild Card Round of the playoffs, Vinatieri converted all six extra point attempts and two field goal attempts in the 45–44 comeback victory over theKansas City Chiefs.[114] Against the Patriots in theDivisional Round, Vinatieri became the first player in NFL history to convert 50 field goals in the postseason.[115] On March 11, 2014, Vinatieri signed a two-year extension with the Colts.[116]
In Week 13 of the2014 season, against theWashington Redskins, Vinatieri converted a career-high seven extra-point attempts in the 49–27 win.[117] Through Week 16, Vinatieri was 28-of-28 in field goals, and was selected to his third careerPro Bowl in December.[118] In the regular season finale against theTennessee Titans, Vinatieri converted his first field goal but missed on his second attempt, ending his run at a perfect season. He finished the season 30-of-31 in field goal attempts, and did not miss an extra point try in 50 attempts.[119][120] He was named to his third career Pro Bowl.[121] On January 2, 2015, Vinatieri was selected by theAssociated Press as the First-teamAll-Pro kicker, his third such selection.[122]
On May 6, Vinatieri was ranked on theNFL Network'sNFL Top 100 Players of 2015 list as the 98th best player heading into the 2015 season, becoming the first specialist (kicker or punter) ever to be ranked in the Top 100 Players List, as well as the oldest player to be ranked at the time.[123]
In Week 4 of the2015 season, Vinatieri became the Colts' all-time leading scorer and the first player in NFL history to score 1,000 points with two teams.[124] In Week 8, against theCarolina Panthers, he set the NFL's all-time record for overtime field goals made in a career with 10.[125] In Week 11, Vinatieri converted three extra points and a game-winning field goal to give the Colts a come-from-behind win in Vinatieri's 300th NFL game.[126] He was named AFC Special Teams player of the Month for November.[127] In the 2015 season, Vinatieri converted 32 of 35 extra point attempts and 25 of 27 field goal tries.[128]
On March 8, 2016, Vinatieri signed a two-year, $6 million extension with the Colts.[129] On October 12, Vinatieri was awarded the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week Award for the 16th time in his career, establishing a new NFL record.[130] In Week 5, against theChicago Bears, he tied his career-high with 17 points (five field goals and two extra points) scored in the 29–23 victory.[131] In a game against theTennessee Titans on October 23, Vinatieri kicked his 43rd successful field goal in a row to break the NFL record set byMike Vanderjagt.[132] Vinatieri was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for October.[133] His streak of consecutive successful field goals ended at 44, when he missed a 42-yard kick in the Colts' Week 11 game against the Tennessee Titans.[134] On January 1, 2017, a missed field goal in the season's final game against theJacksonville Jaguars cost Vinatieri a $500,000 bonus. The bonus depended on Vinatieri finishing the 2016 campaign with a 90% or higher field goal rate.[135] In the 2016 season, Vinatieri converted all 44 extra point attempts and 27 of 31 field goal attempts.[136]
On September 10, 2017, Vinatieri started his 22nd season in the NFL in a game against theLos Angeles Rams.[137] In Week 5, Vinatieri went 4-for-4, hitting field goals of 23, 38, and 52 yards, followed by a 51-yard game-winner, in a 26–23 overtime win over theSan Francisco 49ers, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.[138] He finished the 2017 season converting 22 of 24 extra point attempts and 29 of 34 field goal attempts as the Colts finished 4–12.[139][140]
The 2018 season was one that featured several major milestones and NFL records for Vinatieri. On February 22, Vinatieri signed a one-year contract extension with the Colts through the 2018 season.[141] In the Colts' 2018 regular season opener against theCincinnati Bengals, Vinatieri hit a 51-yard field goal and became the oldest player to hit a field goal of 50 yards or more.[142] In Week 2, againstWashington, Vinatieri hit three extra-point attempts to score 2,501 points in his career and became only the second player in NFL history to score over 2,500 points; he also moved into fourth place all-time in extra-point attempts with 828. In Week 3, against thePhiladelphia Eagles, Vinatieri connected on an extra point and 3-of-3 field goals, allowing him to tie the NFL record of 565 field goals made byMorten Andersen.[143][144] In Week 4, Vinatieri hit 4-of-4 extra points and 2-of-2 field goals in a losing effort to theHouston Texans to make him the all-time leader in field goals made.[145] He also surpassedGeorge Blanda, moving him into fourth place all-time in career games played with 341. On October 4, 2018, Vinatieri kicked a 54-yard field goal to break his own record of the oldest player to hit a 50+ yard field goal. He also surpassedGary Anderson, moving him into second place all-time in field goal attempts with 674. In Week 6, against theNew York Jets, Vinatieri scored 10 points, hitting 2-for-2 in field goals and 4-for-4 in extra points, surpassing Anderson and moving into third place all-time in extra-point attempts.[146] In Week 8, against theOakland Raiders, Vinatieri scored 10 points and became the all-time NFL leader in points scored with 2,550.[147] He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his game against the Raiders.[148] In Week 14, in a win over the Texans, Vinatieri made 3-for-3 extra points to move into second place all-time with 860 and he also connected on a 54-yard field goal to break his own record of oldest player to connect on a 50+ yard field goal. He also became the fourth player in NFL history to play in 350 games.[149] In a Week 17 game against theTennessee Titans, two days after his 46th birthday, Vinatieri broke his own record with a 53-yard field goal to become the oldest player to kick a 50+ yard field goal and moved into second place for most extra point attempts with 852. He also became the fourth oldest player to play in a game.[147][150] He finished the 2018 season converting 44 of 47 extra point attempts and 23 of 27 field goal attempts.[151]
On September 8, 2019, Vinatieri started his 24th season in the NFL in a game against theLos Angeles Chargers. He had one of the worst games of his career, as he went 1–3 on field-goal attempts and 1–2 on extra points.[152] In that game he became the third-oldest player in NFL history to play in a game and surpassedGary Anderson for the second-most games played in NFL history. In the following game against theTennessee Titans, he missed two more extra points.[153] In Week 3 against theAtlanta Falcons, Vinatieri rebounded and went a perfect 3 for 3 on extra points and a perfect 2 for 2 on field goals, including a 49 yarder which hit the lower crossbar and barely went over.[154] The 49-yarder also marked the longest field goal ever made by someone his age in an NFL game. In Week 5, Vinatieri made all four field-goal attempts and an extra point in a win over theKansas City Chiefs.[155] With his 701st field goal attempt, he became only the second player to attempt 700 or more field goals, joiningMorten Andersen. In Week 8 against theDenver Broncos, Vinatieri made three field goals, two of which were from 50+ yards away, one of which was 55 yards, thus making him the oldest player to make two or more from that distance in a single game, as well as making him the oldest player to kick a field goal of 55 yards or more, in the 15–13 win.[156] He was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance despite having missed a field goal and an extra point within the game.[157] In the following week's game against thePittsburgh Steelers, Vinatieri missed a potential game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter in the 26–24 loss; this unsuccessful field goal attempt tied him with Andersen for the most field goal attempts in a career.[158] In the next game, Vinatieri became the all-time leader in field goal attempts in a career.[159] On December 9, 2019, the Colts placed Vinatieri on injured reserve after he underwent season-ending knee surgery.[160] Vinatieri finished the year with career-lows in field goal and extra point completion percentage at 68% and 78.6%, respectively. He finished 17 of 25 on field goal attempts and 22 of 28 on extra point attempts.[161]
On May 26, 2021, Vinatieri announced his retirement from the NFL after 24 seasons on thedaily radio show of former Colts teammate and punterPat McAfee. He retired as theNFL's all-time leading scorer,[162] as well as the last active player to have played in the 1990s, and the last to play beforeTom Brady. His 365 games were the second most by an NFL player all-time, behindMorten Andersen's 382.[163]
| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Won theSuper Bowl | |
| NFL record | |
| Led the league | |
| Bold | Career high |
| Year | Team | GP | Overall FGs | PATs | Kickoffs | Points | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blk | Lng | FGA | FGM | Pct | XPA | XPM | Pct | Blk | 2PT | KO | Avg | TB | Ret | Avg | ||||
| 1996 | NE | 16 | 1 | 50 | 35 | 27 | 77.1 | 42 | 39 | 92.9 | 1 | — | 89 | 64.1 | 9 | 80 | 20.8 | 120 |
| 1997 | NE | 16 | 0 | 52 | 29 | 25 | 86.2 | 40 | 40 | 100.0 | 0 | — | 81 | 62.4 | 4 | 75 | 22.0 | 115 |
| 1998 | NE | 16 | 1 | 55 | 39 | 31 | 79.5 | 32 | 32 | 100.0 | 0 | 1 | 69 | 62.5 | 6 | 71 | 18.8 | 127 |
| 1999 | NE | 16 | 0 | 51 | 33 | 26 | 78.8 | 30 | 29 | 96.7 | 1 | — | 71 | 62.8 | 5 | 63 | 22.7 | 107 |
| 2000 | NE | 16 | 0 | 53 | 33 | 27 | 81.8 | 25 | 25 | 100.0 | 0 | — | 67 | 63.2 | 7 | 60 | 20.9 | 106 |
| 2001 | NE | 16 | 0 | 54 | 30 | 24 | 80.0 | 42 | 41 | 97.6 | 1 | — | 82 | 60.9 | 6 | 75 | 22.1 | 113 |
| 2002 | NE | 16 | 0 | 57 | 30 | 27 | 90.0 | 36 | 36 | 100.0 | 0 | — | 83 | 60.4 | 6 | 73 | 20.5 | 117 |
| 2003 | NE | 16 | 1 | 48 | 34 | 25 | 73.5 | 38 | 37 | 97.4 | 1 | — | 79 | 62.9 | 2 | 76 | 21.4 | 112 |
| 2004 | NE | 16 | 0 | 48 | 33 | 31 | 93.9 | 48 | 48 | 100.0 | 0 | — | 94 | 63.0 | 6 | 86 | 23.3 | 141 |
| 2005 | NE | 16 | 0 | 49 | 25 | 20 | 80.0 | 41 | 40 | 97.6 | 1 | — | 80 | 61.7 | 10 | 67 | 21.9 | 100 |
| 2006 | IND | 13 | 0 | 48 | 28 | 25 | 89.3 | 38 | 38 | 100.0 | 0 | — | 73 | 65.8 | 10 | 63 | 25.3 | 113 |
| 2007 | IND | 16 | 1 | 39 | 29 | 23 | 79.3 | 51 | 49 | 96.1 | 2 | — | 91 | 65.0 | 9 | 81 | 25.0 | 118 |
| 2008 | IND | 16 | 1 | 52 | 25 | 20 | 80.0 | 43 | 43 | 100.0 | 0 | — | 80 | 65.1 | 8 | 69 | 24.4 | 103 |
| 2009 | IND | 6 | 0 | 48 | 9 | 7 | 77.8 | 18 | 17 | 94.4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 38 |
| 2010 | IND | 16 | 1 | 48 | 28 | 26 | 92.9 | 51 | 51 | 100.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 129 |
| 2011 | IND | 16 | 1 | 53 | 27 | 23 | 85.2 | 24 | 24 | 100.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 93 |
| 2012 | IND | 16 | 2 | 53 | 33 | 26 | 78.8 | 37 | 37 | 100.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 115 |
| 2013 | IND | 15 | 1 | 52 | 40 | 35 | 87.5 | 34 | 34 | 100.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 139 |
| 2014 | IND | 16 | 0 | 53 | 31 | 30 | 96.8 | 50 | 50 | 100.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 140 |
| 2015 | IND | 16 | 0 | 55 | 27 | 25 | 92.6 | 35 | 32 | 91.4 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 107 |
| 2016 | IND | 16 | 0 | 54 | 31 | 27 | 87.1 | 44 | 44 | 100.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 125 |
| 2017 | IND | 15 | 1 | 54 | 34 | 29 | 85.3 | 24 | 22 | 91.6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 109 |
| 2018 | IND | 16 | 0 | 54 | 27 | 23 | 85.2 | 47 | 44 | 93.6 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 113 |
| 2019 | IND | 12 | 2 | 55 | 25 | 17 | 68.0 | 28 | 22 | 78.6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 73 |
| Career | 365 | 13 | 57 | 715 | 599 | 83.8 | 898 | 874 | 97.3 | 10 | 1 | 1,049 | 63.0 | 88 | 939 | 22.2 | 2,673 | |
| Year | Team | GP | Overall FGs | PATs | Kickoffs | Points | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blk | Lng | FGA | FGM | Pct | XPA | XPM | Pct | Blk | KO | Avg | TB | Ret | Avg | ||||
| 1996 | NE | 3 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 2 | 66.7 | 9 | 9 | 100.0 | 0 | 13 | 63.7 | 0 | 13 | 24.8 | 15 |
| 1997 | NE | 2 | 0 | 46 | 5 | 3 | 60.0 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 0 | 7 | 61.4 | 1 | 6 | 20.2 | 11 |
| 1998 | NE | 1 | 0 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 0 | 3 | 64.0 | 0 | 3 | 22.0 | 4 |
| 2001 | NE | 3 | 0 | 48 | 7 | 6 | 85.7 | 6 | 6 | 100.0 | 0 | 13 | 62.2 | 0 | 13 | 19.9 | 24 |
| 2003 | NE | 3 | 1 | 46 | 10 | 7 | 70.0 | 6 | 6 | 100.0 | 0 | 17 | 59.6 | 0 | 17 | 20.8 | 27 |
| 2004 | NE | 3 | 0 | 48 | 5 | 5 | 100.0 | 10 | 10 | 100.0 | 0 | 18 | 58.1 | 1 | 17 | 16.9 | 25 |
| 2005 | NE | 2 | 0 | 40 | 3 | 2 | 66.7 | 5 | 5 | 100.0 | 0 | 9 | 62.8 | 0 | 9 | 20.1 | 11 |
| 2006 | IND | 4 | 0 | 51 | 15 | 14 | 93.3 | 7 | 7 | 100.0 | 0 | 26 | 61.0 | 2 | 23 | 24.0 | 49 |
| 2007 | IND | 1 | 0 | 46 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 3 | 3 | 100.0 | 0 | 5 | 73.2 | 1 | 4 | 25.8 | 6 |
| 2008 | IND | 1 | 0 | 43 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 2 | 2 | 100.0 | 0 | 5 | 71.8 | 1 | 4 | 26.5 | 5 |
| 2009 | IND | 0 | Did not play due to injury | ||||||||||||||
| 2010 | IND | 1 | 0 | 50 | 3 | 3 | 100.0 | 1 | 1 | 100.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 10 |
| 2012 | IND | 1 | 0 | 52 | 4 | 3 | 75.0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 9 |
| 2013 | IND | 2 | 0 | 37 | 3 | 3 | 100.0 | 8 | 8 | 100.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 17 |
| 2014 | IND | 3 | 0 | 53 | 7 | 5 | 71.4 | 6 | 6 | 100.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 21 |
| 2018 | IND | 2 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 5 | 4 | 80.0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | 4 |
| Total | 32 | 1 | 53 | 69 | 56 | 81.2 | 71 | 70 | 98.6 | 0 | 116 | 62.3 | 6 | 109 | 21.6 | 238 | |
Vinatieri grew up in theBlack Hills of western South Dakota.[176] His great-great-grandfather was Felix Vinatieri, an Italian immigrant who served as Lieutenant ColonelGeorge Armstrong Custer's bandmaster.[177][178] Vinatieri stated that Custer told Felix Vinatieri to head back to camp instead of going ahead with the regiment to theBattle of the Little Bighorn, a direction that saved his life. Vinatieri is also a third cousin to daredevilEvel Knievel[178] and second cousin to scientist and authorTim Foecke (their mothers are first cousins).[179]
Vinatieri's sister is South Dakota politicianChristine Erickson. Vinatieri's nephew, Chase, followed in his footsteps as a kicker atSouth Dakota State.[180]
Vinatieri has an interest in motor racing and co-owns Miller Vinatieri Motorsports with former racing driverJack Miller, which competes in multiple series in theRoad to Indy.[181]
Vinatieri has three kids with his wife, Valarie. One of his son's, A. J., was a kicker and punter atUniversity of Louisville[182] before entering thetransfer portal. He will be playing forLindenwood University during the 2025–26 season.[183]
Vinatieri once starred in a television commercial for theSnickers candy bar with thetagline, "Split the Uprights with Adam Nougatieri."[184]
Vinatieri starred in aFanDuel commercial alongside tight endRob Gronkowski, in which he coached Gronkowski on how to effectively kick a field goal.[185]
