Adam Vinatieri

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Vinatieri joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent in 1996, where he played for 10 seasons, and was a member of the Colts for 14 seasons. A four-time Super 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 in the NFL whose career began in the 1990s. Celebrated for his kicking accuracy and success under pressure, Vinatieri completed several of the most crucial field goals in NFL history. During the 2001–02 NFL playoffs, he converted the game-tying and winning kicks of New England's AFC Divisional Playoff game in blizzard conditions and the game-winning kick in the final seconds of Super Bowl XXXVI, earning the Patriots their first championship. Vinatieri would again convert a final-second kick to win Super Bowl XXXVIII, establishing himself as a key contributor of the Patriots' dynasty. In 2019, Vinatieri was named to the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team. He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.

In Their Own Story

The wind howled through Foxboro Stadium during the 2001 AFC Divisional Playoff game against the Oakland Raiders. Conditions were brutal: blizzard-level snow and swirling winds that made kicking nearly impossible. With the clock winding down, Vinatieri stepped up for a 45-yard attempt. The ball spiraled into the whiteout, fighting the elements as he aimed for the uprights. It cleared the crossbar, tying the game 13–13 and sending it to overtime. In OT, he calmly converted a 23-yard field goal to secure the victory. This performance set the stage for his legendary Super Bowl XXXVI kick. With seconds remaining against the St. Louis Rams, Vinatieri lined up for a 48-yarder. The crowd held its breath as he struck the ball; it sailed through the uprights just as time expired, clinching a 20–17 upset win and launching the Patriots' dynasty.

Reader's Guide

Vinatieri was born in Yankton, 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. His younger brother Beau was a kicker at Black Hills State University before graduating in 2003. When Vinatieri was five years old, his family moved to Rapid City, South Dakota. As a child, he struggled to read and enrolled in classes for children with learning disabilities. Vinatieri attended Central High School in Rapid City 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. Before starting as a kicker, Vinatieri was a quarterback and middle linebacker. Vinatieri received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point, but was only there for two weeks before deciding to return home, where he then enrolled at South 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. After going undrafted in the 1995 NFL draft, Vinatieri received some interest from Canadian Football League teams but decided to keep training for an NFL career. In February 1996, he was selected by the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League of American Football (WLAF) in the 14th round of the 1996 WLAF draft. Vinatieri played in all ten games for the Admirals during the 1996 WLAF season, punting 41 times for 1,612 yards (39.3 average) while also converting nine of 10 field goals and four of four extra points. After the WLAF season ended, Vinatieri signed with the New England Patriots on June 28, 1996. In order to become their starting kicker, he had to compete with 17-year veteran Matt Bahr. Bahr at first seemed to be the favorite. He had a long history with Patriots coach Bill 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. In his rookie season, Vinatieri chased down and tackled Dallas Cowboys returner Hersch

Did You Know?

• Vinatieri is the NFL's all-time leading scorer with 2,673 points.
• He holds the NFL record for most postseason points (238).
• Vinatieri is the only player to score 1,000 points for two different franchises.
• He was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2026.