Adam Vinatieri
Adam Vinatieri grew up playing football in Rapid City, and hasn’t stopped since. He is currently the NFL’s oldest player and leads active players in points.
Four-time Super Bowl Champion Adam Vinatieri grew up playing football at Central High School in Rapid City, South Dakota. Originally a quarterback, he went to South Dakota State University as a kicker, and then eventually he was signed by the New England Patriots in the NFL. In 2001, he won his first Super Bowl with a game winning field goal. He won two more with the Patriots in 2003 and 2004. After signing with the Colts, he won a fourth Super Bowl in 2006. Currently, the forty-four-year-old leads the league in points scored and is just 168 points short of the all-time record.
Growing Up
Vinatieri was born in 1972, in Yankton, South Dakota. His family eventually came to Rapid City, where he attended Wilson Elementary. He struggled with a learning disability until one of his teachers told him that for him to be successful, he had to work twice as hard as everyone else. This eventually paid off, and in his high school football career at Central High School where Vinatieri played option-quarterback and kicker.
College Years
Vinatieri was too small and not strong enough to play quarterback in college, so with high grades, he attended the United States Military Academy in 1991. However, due to his learning disability, it took him twice as long to study and he couldn’t keep up. After three weeks, he headed home. When he got back, he called South Dakota State University, then a division two school, who offered a him a scholarship. He quickly became the best punter and kicker in the conference.
Trying Out
After college, Vinatieri wanted to play in the NFL, so he hired kicking coach Doug Blevins, who had cerebral palsy and lived in a wheelchair. With the help of Blevins, Vinatieri was able to play for the Amsterdam Admirals in Europe in 1996. Eventually, Vinatieri earned a tryout with the New England Patriots, which lead to a starting role as the team’s field goal kicker.
NFL Career
Vinatieri’s persistence soon led to success in 2001, where he kicked the game winning field goal in the Super Bowl, ultimately starting the dynasty of the New England Patriots. Two years later, he kicked another game winner to win his second Super Bowl. A year later, he won a third Super Bowl. In 2005 he signed with the Indianapolis Colts, hoping to help Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy win a Super Bowl. His decision worked, that year the Colts won the Super Bowl, getting Vinatieri his fourth Super Bowl win.
Retirement?
Vinatieri still plays football for the Indianapolis Colts as the oldest active player in the NFL, at forty-four. He still has one more year on his current contract, but he hopes he can play two more seasons, as he currently sits in third for all-time points with 2376. He needs only 168 points for the record.
Page Break
Works Cited
“Adam Vinatieri Stats - Season & Career Statistics.” FOX Sports, FOX, www.foxsports.com/nfl/adam-vinatieri-player-stats. Accessed 13 Mar. 2017.
O'Connor, Ian. “Adam Vinatieri's Journey to Becoming the NFL's Old GOAT.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 16 Dec. 2016, www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18260104/indianapolis-colts-kicker-adam-vinatieri-journey-becoming-nfl-old-goat-2016. Accessed 13 Mar. 2017.
Young, Shalise Manza. “Eyes on the Record? Adam Vinatieri Says He's Going to Retire in Three Years or Less.” Yahoo! News, Yahoo!, 30 Aug. 2016, sports.yahoo.com/news/eyes-on-the-record-adam-vinatieri-says-hes-going-to-retire-in-three-years-or-less-014006217.html. Accessed 13 Mar. 2017.
Adam Vinatieri grew up playing football in Rapid City, and hasn’t stopped since. He is currently the NFL’s oldest player and leads active players in points.
Four-time Super Bowl Champion Adam Vinatieri grew up playing football at Central High School in Rapid City, South Dakota. Originally a quarterback, he went to South Dakota State University as a kicker, and then eventually he was signed by the New England Patriots in the NFL. In 2001, he won his first Super Bowl with a game winning field goal. He won two more with the Patriots in 2003 and 2004. After signing with the Colts, he won a fourth Super Bowl in 2006. Currently, the forty-four-year-old leads the league in points scored and is just 168 points short of the all-time record.
Growing Up
Vinatieri was born in 1972, in Yankton, South Dakota. His family eventually came to Rapid City, where he attended Wilson Elementary. He struggled with a learning disability until one of his teachers told him that for him to be successful, he had to work twice as hard as everyone else. This eventually paid off, and in his high school football career at Central High School where Vinatieri played option-quarterback and kicker.
College Years
Vinatieri was too small and not strong enough to play quarterback in college, so with high grades, he attended the United States Military Academy in 1991. However, due to his learning disability, it took him twice as long to study and he couldn’t keep up. After three weeks, he headed home. When he got back, he called South Dakota State University, then a division two school, who offered a him a scholarship. He quickly became the best punter and kicker in the conference.
Trying Out
After college, Vinatieri wanted to play in the NFL, so he hired kicking coach Doug Blevins, who had cerebral palsy and lived in a wheelchair. With the help of Blevins, Vinatieri was able to play for the Amsterdam Admirals in Europe in 1996. Eventually, Vinatieri earned a tryout with the New England Patriots, which lead to a starting role as the team’s field goal kicker.
NFL Career
Vinatieri’s persistence soon led to success in 2001, where he kicked the game winning field goal in the Super Bowl, ultimately starting the dynasty of the New England Patriots. Two years later, he kicked another game winner to win his second Super Bowl. A year later, he won a third Super Bowl. In 2005 he signed with the Indianapolis Colts, hoping to help Peyton Manning and Tony Dungy win a Super Bowl. His decision worked, that year the Colts won the Super Bowl, getting Vinatieri his fourth Super Bowl win.
Retirement?
Vinatieri still plays football for the Indianapolis Colts as the oldest active player in the NFL, at forty-four. He still has one more year on his current contract, but he hopes he can play two more seasons, as he currently sits in third for all-time points with 2376. He needs only 168 points for the record.
Page Break
Works Cited
“Adam Vinatieri Stats - Season & Career Statistics.” FOX Sports, FOX, www.foxsports.com/nfl/adam-vinatieri-player-stats. Accessed 13 Mar. 2017.
O'Connor, Ian. “Adam Vinatieri's Journey to Becoming the NFL's Old GOAT.” ESPN, ESPN Internet Ventures, 16 Dec. 2016, www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/18260104/indianapolis-colts-kicker-adam-vinatieri-journey-becoming-nfl-old-goat-2016. Accessed 13 Mar. 2017.
Young, Shalise Manza. “Eyes on the Record? Adam Vinatieri Says He's Going to Retire in Three Years or Less.” Yahoo! News, Yahoo!, 30 Aug. 2016, sports.yahoo.com/news/eyes-on-the-record-adam-vinatieri-says-hes-going-to-retire-in-three-years-or-less-014006217.html. Accessed 13 Mar. 2017.