One of the longest-tenured athletes in any sport, Indianapolis Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri continues to play the position he has played for the last 23 years. He geared up for the New England Patriots from 1996-2005 and the Colts since 2006, winning four Super Bowls combined with these two teams.
The 45-year-old is still as productive as when he first entered the league in 1996. Above all, he set two NFL records this season. Vinatieri also undoubtedly has a long list of memorable moments throughout his career.
When asked about his favorite field goal ever, Vinatieri responded that it is the one he made against the Oakland Raiders in the 2001 playoffs during the “Snow Bowl” that sent the game into overtime, according to TMZ.
The matchup was a controversial one because of a game-changing play involving Tom Brady and the “Tuck Rule.” Snow was coming down heavily throughout the game, which made kicking difficult. The Patriots won the game 16-13 in OT and went on to win their first of five Super Bowl wins by beating the heavily favored St. Louis Rams … also on a Vinatieri field goal.
Vinatieri broke the career field goals record two months ago versus the Houston Texans. His 42-yard kick in the second quarter of that game was his 566th, breaking Morten Andersen's all-time record of 565 field goals.
Last month, Vinatieri added another record. This time he broke the NFL's all-time scoring record, which was also held by Andersen. His 25-yard kick in the second quarter of their game against the Oakland Raiders gave him 2,547 points to break the old record of 2,544.
Currently, Adam Vinatieri has 2,570 points scored. His achievements can be attributed to his longevity and his consistency on the field.