Adam Vinateri

Adam Vinatieri

Vinatieri in 2007
No. 4 Indianapolis Colts
Position:	Placekicker
Personal information
Date of birth:	(1972-12-28) December 28, 1972 (age 44)
Place of birth:	Yankton, South Dakota
Height:	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:	209 lb (95 kg)
Career information
High school:	Rapid City (SD) Central
College:	South Dakota State
Undrafted:	1996
Career history
Amsterdam Admirals (1996) New England Patriots (1996–2005) Indianapolis Colts (2006–present)
Roster status:	Active
Career highlights and awards
4× Super Bowl champion (XXXVI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XLI) 3× Pro Bowl (2002, 2004, 2014) 3× First-team All-Pro (2002, 2004, 2014) New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team NFL 2000s All-Decade Team NFL record 44 straight field goals made
Career NFL statistics as of 2016
Field goals: 530 Field goal attempts: 629 Field goal %: 84.3 Long field goal: 57 Points scored: 2,378 Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Adam Matthew Vinatieri (born December 28, 1972) is an American football placekicker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He has played in five Super Bowls: four with the New England Patriots and one with the Colts. Vinatieri won Super Bowls in 2001, 2003, and 2004 with the Patriots, as well as in 2006 with the Colts. Among placekickers, he holds NFL records for most Super Bowl appearances (5) and most Super Bowl wins (4). He also holds NFL records, among all players, for most postseason points scored (234), and most overtime field goals made (10). He is the only player ever to score 1,000 points with two different teams. As of the 2016 season, Vinatieri, 44, is the oldest active player in the NFL. Vinatieri has converted the 3rd most field-goals in NFL history (529) as well as attempted the 4th most field-goals in NFL history (627), 12 behind George Blanda.

Vinatieri has been called "Mr. Clutch" by the media due to his reputation for success when kicking under pressure during his tenure in the NFL. Nicknamed "Automatic Adam" for his accuracy, and "Iceman" for his poise under pressure, Vinatieri has converted several of the most crucial field goals in NFL history, including the game-tying and winning kicks in blizzard conditions in the infamous "Tuck Rule Game", and game-winning kicks in the final seconds of two Super Bowls (XXXVI and XXXVIII).

Vinatieri was born in Yankton, South Dakota, the son of Judy M. (Goeken) and Paul Vinatieri. His great-great-grandfather was Italian, and his other ancestry includes German and English. He is the second of four children. His younger brother Beau was a place kicker at Black Hills State University before graduating in 2003.

Vinatieri attended Central High School (Rapid City, South Dakota) 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 at kicker, Vinatieri was quarterback and middle linebacker. When asked why he no longer played one of those positions, he replied, "I quit growing."