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Adam Vinatieri, the NFL’s all-time leading scorer and legendary Colts kicker, announced his retirement from the league Wednesday afternoon. The announcement came during (fittingly enough) the Pat McAfee Show.
BREAKING: An announcement from THE NFL'S ALL-TIME LEADING SCORER, 4X SUPER BOWL CHAMPION, FUTURE HALL OF FAMER, & THE LIVING LEGEND..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) May 26, 2021
THE @adamvinatieri #PatMcAfeeShowLIVE pic.twitter.com/iYWPFChZ0A
The future Hall of Famer had quite the career. Vinatieri played in 365 career games, made 599 field goals, is the all-time leading scorer, and made 29 game-winning kicks, too. To many, he is, without question, the G.O.A.T. at his respective position.
Several teammates of Vinatieri’s, including Reggie Wayne, who’s likely to make the Hall of Fame himself, shared his thoughts on what it was like to play alongside the greatest kicker in league history.
People use the term G.O.A.T. loosely these days. But @adamvinatieri is truly a . Congrats on your retirement bro. It was a pleasure to sit back and watch #greatness for many years. #Automatic #colts @Colts pic.twitter.com/5Ql8K0pG0s
— Reggie Wayne (@ReggieWayne_17) May 26, 2021
One of Vinatieri’s greatest seasons in his career came in 2006 — the same year the Colts beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl 41. He converted 25-of-28 field goal attempts, or 89.29%, during the regular season. Vinatieri also converted 14 of 15 field goal attempts during the team’s postseason run, which helped Indianapolis secure its first Super Bowl win since 1971.
According to Elias Sports Bureau and a tweet from ESPNs Adam Schefter, “Vinatieri has made more game-tying or go-ahead FGs in the last two minutes or OT than any other kicker in NFL history in both the regular season and the postseason.”
Adam Vinatieri is most famous for what he’s accomplished in the most pressurized of moments. He has made more game-tying or go-ahead FGs in the last two minutes or OT than any other kicker in NFL history in both the regular season and the postseason, per @EliasSports. https://t.co/hlFsq5mslV
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 26, 2021
I’d say it’s only a matter of time before he’s inducted into the Colts’ Ring of Honor, too.
Vinatieri will be eligible for the Hall of Fame in 2025, and it’s likely that he’ll make it in on first ballot.
Adam Vinatieri’s legacy will forever live on in Indianapolis. “Mr. Clutch” was his nickname for a reason, and the greatest kicker of all time has memories that won’t just be remembered by players and fans, but will last a lifetime.