Missed Kicks and Shattered Dreams: What Really Happened to Adam Vinatieri in 2019?

Adam Vinatieri, the NFL’s all-time leading scorer and a four-time Super Bowl champion, is widely regarded as one of the greatest kickers in football history. Known for his clutch performances, including game-winning field goals in Super Bowls XXXVI and XXXVIII, Vinatieri had built a legacy of reliability and mental toughness over his 24-year career. However, the 2019 season with the Indianapolis Colts marked a stark departure from his storied success. Plagued by uncharacteristic misses, a nagging knee injury, and the weight of expectations, Vinatieri’s final season became a tale of struggle and heartbreak. What happened to the legendary kicker in 2019, and how did it redefine his remarkable career?

The 2019 season began with high hopes for Vinatieri, who had signed a one-year contract to return for his 24th NFL season at age 46. Despite his age, the Colts and their fans had confidence in “Automatic Adam,” whose 2018 season included a record-breaking 53-yard field goal, making him the oldest player to connect on a 50+ yard kick. However, warning signs emerged early. Vinatieri had been dealing with a knee issue since training camp, which he later admitted should have prompted earlier surgery. This injury, though not fully disclosed at the time, would cast a shadow over his performance.

The season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers set the tone for Vinatieri’s struggles. He missed two field goals and an extra point, contributing to a 30–24 overtime loss. The misses were uncharacteristic for a kicker who had maintained an 85% field goal success rate over the previous six seasons. The following week against the Tennessee Titans, another missed extra point raised eyebrows, though Vinatieri rebounded with a 51-yard field goal in a Week 5 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite these flashes of brilliance, inconsistency became a recurring theme.

Vinatieri’s struggles peaked in critical moments. In Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, he missed a potential game-winning field goal late in the fourth quarter, resulting in a 26–24 defeat. This miss tied him with Morten Andersen for the most field goal attempts in NFL history, a bittersweet milestone. The following week, he became the all-time leader in field goal attempts, but the achievement was overshadowed by another missed kick. By Week 13, Vinatieri had missed eight field goals and six extra points, with three kicks blocked, including a costly one returned for a touchdown against the Titans. His field goal percentage plummeted to a career-low 68%, and his extra point success rate was a dismal 78.6%.

Despite the mounting misses, the Colts and head coach Frank Reich stood by Vinatieri. Reich, who had witnessed Vinatieri’s mental toughness and leadership firsthand, expressed unwavering trust in the veteran kicker. The team brought in free-agent kickers for workouts, but Vinatieri retained his role, a testament to his reputation and the organization’s loyalty. Colts owner Jim Irsay also voiced support, emphasizing Vinatieri’s invaluable presence in the locker room. However, the missed kicks were taking a toll, not only on Vinatieri but also on the Colts’ playoff aspirations. Losses to the Chargers and Steelers, where Vinatieri’s misses proved decisive, left the team with a 7–9 record, missing the postseason.

Amid the struggles, Vinatieri still delivered moments of brilliance. In Week 8 against the Denver Broncos, he made three field goals, including a 55-yard kick and another from 50+ yards, becoming the oldest player to achieve multiple 50+ yard field goals in a single game. This performance earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors, a reminder of his enduring talent. In Week 14 against the Houston Texans, he connected on a 54-yard field goal, breaking his own record as the oldest player to make a 50+ yard kick, and moved into second place all-time with 860 extra points. These highlights, however, were overshadowed by the season’s broader narrative of inconsistency.

By early December, Vinatieri’s knee injury could no longer be ignored. On December 9, 2019, the Colts placed him on injured reserve, and he underwent season-ending surgery on his meniscus and patellar tendons. The announcement, reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, marked the end of Vinatieri’s season and, as some speculated, his illustrious career. Vinatieri later reflected that he regretted delaying the surgery, believing it might have salvaged his performance. The injury, combined with the physical demands of kicking at 47, had eroded his precision, turning routine kicks into challenges.

The 2019 season was a humbling chapter for Vinatieri, whose career had been defined by defying age and pressure. His struggles sparked debates about whether the Colts should have moved on sooner, especially as younger kickers like Chase McLaughlin and Rodrigo Blankenship emerged. Yet, Vinatieri’s legacy remained untarnished. With 2,673 career points, 599 field goals, and 29 game-winning kicks, his place in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, where he became eligible in 2025, is all but assured. Teammates and coaches, including Bill Belichick and Tom Brady, lauded his clutch performances and work ethic, cementing his status as the “GOAT” of kickers.

For Vinatieri, 2019 was a dream deferred—a season where physical limitations and missed opportunities overshadowed his brilliance. Yet, it also underscored his resilience. Even in his darkest moments, he fought to reclaim his form, driven by a passion for the game that had defined him since his rookie year in 1996. As he announced his retirement in 2021 on “The Pat McAfee Show,” Vinatieri left behind a legacy not of perfection, but of perseverance—a fitting epitaph for a kicker who had always thrived under pressure.