 Kaeding with theSan Diego Chargers in 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||
| No. 10, 9 | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Position | Placekicker | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1982-03-26)March 26, 1982 (age 43) Iowa City, Iowa, U.S. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Listed weight | 187 lb (85 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||||||||||
| High school | Iowa City West | ||||||||||||||||||
| College | Iowa (2000–2003) | ||||||||||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2004: 3rd round, 65th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||||||||||
Playing | |||||||||||||||||||
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||||||||||||
Coaching | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||||
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Nathaniel James Kaeding (born March 26, 1982) is an American former professionalfootball player who was aplacekicker in theNational Football League (NFL). He playedcollege football for theIowa Hawkeyes, earning consensusAll-American honors and winning theLou Groza Award. He was selected in the third round of the2004 NFL draft by theSan Diego Chargers,[1] where he played for nine seasons.
During his career, he was twice named both to thePro Bowl and theAll-Pro team. However, he struggled in the playoffs, making just 8 of 15 (53.3%) field goals. He was released by San Diego midway through the 2012 season after a groin injury. He finished the season with theMiami Dolphins before retiring.
Kaeding was born inIowa City, Iowa. He attendedIowa City West High School, and playedhigh school football for their Trojans team. He won two state championships as the team'skicker, andThe Des Moines Register named him Iowa High School Athlete of the Year in 2000.[2] In high school, he played in state championship games in three different sports: (basketball, football andsoccer) atIowa City West High School.[3]
Kaeding attended theUniversity of Iowa, where he played for theHawkeyes from 2000 to 2003. He earned a teaching certificate in secondary education while at Iowa.[4] He won theLou Groza Award in2002 and isthe school's all-time leading scorer.
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 ft0+1⁄4 in (1.84 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | 30+3⁄8 in (0.77 m) | 8+7⁄8 in (0.23 m) | |||||||||
| All values fromNFL Combine[5] | ||||||||||||
During the2004 season, Kaeding attempted to become the first rookie since the 1970 season to attempt a game-winningfield goal in theplayoffs in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime.[a] His 40-yard field goal attempt on a wet field missed, and the Chargers lost in thewild card round to theNew York Jets, who won the game on aDoug Brien field goal.[7]
Kaeding's postseason struggles continued in the2006 NFL Playoffs, when he missed a potential game tying 54-yard field goal attempt against theNew England Patriots. He had not missed a field goal at home in the previous two years prior to that 54-yard attempt. He was selected to his firstPro Bowl that season, where he kicked the game-winning 21-yard field goal with four seconds left inthe game.
Kaeding suffered a fracturedfibula when he made a tackle on the opening kickoff against the Denver Broncos on December 24, 2007, and played the final 5 games of the season with the fractured fibula.[8]
In the 2007 playoffs, Kaeding missed a field goal each in the Wild Card weekend game against Tennessee (which San Diego won) and against the Indianapolis Colts (which San Diego also won). His streak of consecutive playoff games with a missed field goal stood at 4 but was ended with a made field goal from 40 yards against New England.
In2009, Kaeding was tied for the NFL lead for most field goals made (32) and was one of only four to convert on over 90% of his attempts (91.4%).[2] His season long of 54 yards came in a Week 15 victory overCincinnati Bengals. However, in theAFC Divisional Round against theNew York Jets, Kaeding's postseason struggles continued as he missed all three of his attempted field goals, from 36, 57, and 40 yards; the Chargers lost the game 17–14.[7][9] His three misses in the game were a career-high and matched his entire total from the regular season.[2] In his postseason career, Kaeding was 3-for-9 on field goal attempts at home and 8-for-15 (53.3%) overall in eight playoff games.[7][10]
In2011, Kaeding was injured on the first play of the season when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, causing him to miss the duration of the season and necessitated the signing ofNick Novak.[11] Kaeding ended the 2011 season as the NFL's most accurate kicker of all time, converting 86.5% of his field goals attempts.[12][13] He competed for his job in2012 and beat out Novak, who also had a strong showing.[14] However, Kaeding suffered a right groin injury and was replaced by Novak in the week 4 game againstKansas City.[15] After missing three games, Kaeding was placed oninjured reserve with a minor injury designation that required the Chargers to release him after he recovered.[16][17][18] On October 30, Kaeding became anunrestricted free agent after he was released by the Chargers upon a physical; he collected over $1 million in termination pay. Kaeding made all seven of his field goal attempts with the Chargers in 2012, and left the team as the most accurate kicker in NFL history at 87% (180-of-207).[7][16]
On December 21, 2012, Kaeding signed with theMiami Dolphins, replacing incumbentDan Carpenter, who was out with a groin injury.[19] He missed two of three field goals as a Dolphin, making a 45-yard attempt while missing from 41 and having a 46-yard attempt blocked.[20][21] His career percentage dropped to 86.2, falling to second behindMike Vanderjagt (86.5).[20]
On April 2, 2013, Kaeding signed with theTampa Bay Buccaneers.[22] However, he suffered another groin injury during the offseason. On May 2, he retired from the NFL, citing "chronic issues" with his groin muscle.[23]
In 2019, he worked with theMinnesota Vikings as a part-time kicking consultant.[24]
In January 2008, Kaeding began writing weekly movie reviews for CorridorBUZZ, a daily arts & entertainment web site serving the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, Iowa corridor. He co-owns a restaurant in Iowa City called Short's Burgers as well,[25] as another named Pullman Bar and Diner.
Nate and his wife, Samantha (née Gervich), have two sons, Jack and Wyatt, and a daughter, Tess.[26]
The Chargers placed kicker Nate Kaeding on injured reserve and plan to release him after he recovers from a groin injury . . .
Media related toNate Kaeding at Wikimedia Commons