Adam Vinatieri

Adam Vinatieri is a retired professional football player universally regarded as one of the greatest placekickers in the National Football League’s history. He won four Super Bowls and set the league's all-time records for points scored and field goals made.

Player Profile, High School, and College Career

Adam Matthew Vinatieri was born on December 28, 1972, in Yankton, South Dakota, USA, and grew up in the Black Hills region. The Placekicker stands 183 cm tall, and his weight was last listed at 96 kg.

He attended Central High School in Rapid City, South Dakota. Following graduation, Vinatieri committed to play for South Dakota State University from 1991 to 1994, earning All-Conference honors during his final three seasons with the Jackrabbits.

Personal Life

Vinatieri comes from a unique lineage. His great-great-grandfather, Felix Vinatieri, was an Italian immigrant who served as Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer's bandmaster—and survived the Battle of the Little Bighorn because Custer told him to stay behind at camp.

Vinatieri is also a third cousin to legendary daredevil Evel Knievel.

His nephew Chase Vinatieri played for South Dakota State, and his son A.J. Vinatieri signed for the University of Louisville before transferring to Lindenwood University. Outside of football, Vinatieri co-owns Miller Vinatieri Motorsports, a racing team that competes in the Road to Indy series.

Professional Career

Every NFL franchise bypassed him throughout the 1996 draft. After spending the spring of 1996 playing for the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League of American Football, he was signed as an undrafted free agent by the New England Patriots.

During his first decade in the NFL, Vinatieri transformed into a vital piece of the Patriots' early-2000s dynasty, cementing his legacy with some of the most famous kicks in football history.

In the 2001 playoffs, he famously drilled the game-tying and game-winning field goals in a heavy blizzard against the Raiders, followed by a final-second game-winner in Super Bowl XXXVI to secure the franchise's first championship. He won two more rings with New England (Super Bowl XXXVIII and XXXIX) , hitting another game-winner in Super Bowl XXXVIII. During this era, he also earned First-team All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2002 and 2004, and led the NFL in scoring in 2004.

In 2006, Vinatieri signed with the Indianapolis Colts, where he would spend the next 14 seasons. He immediately helped the franchise capture a victory in Super Bowl XLI during his first year in Indianapolis.

Defying his age, he continued to play at an elite level well into his 40s, earning another First-team All-Pro selection in 2014 and setting the NFL record for consecutive field goals made (44).

When he officially retired in 2021 after a year in free agency, he walked away as the NFL's all-time leading scorer (2,673 points), the record holder for most career field goals (599), and the last active player in North American professional sports whose career began in the 1990s.

In recognition of his legendary career, he was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.

Career Highlights:

• 2026 – Pro Football Hall of Fame Inductee
• 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007 – 4× Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLI)
• 2002, 2004, 2014 – 3× First-team All-Pro
• 2002, 2004, 2014 – 3× Pro Bowl
• 2004 – NFL scoring leader
• 2000s – NFL All-Decade Team
• 2019 – NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team
• NFL Record: Most career points scored (2,673)
• NFL Record: Most career field goals made (599)
• NFL Record: Most consecutive field goals made (44)
• NFL Record: Most career overtime field goals (12)
• NFL Record: Most postseason points (238)