In the playoffs, we usually only notice kickers when they line up for a game-winning field goal. If he makes it, he’s a hero. If he misses it, he’s a choker. The rest of the time, we focus on the real football players.
So when Colts kicker Adam Vinatieri on Saturday became the first player in NFL history to reach 50 postseason field goals, it barely merited a mention: Vinatieri’s 50th career postseason field goal came in the second quarter with his team trailing by two touchdowns, and his 51st career postseason field goal came in the third quarter with his team trailing by one touchdown.
But Vinatieri deserves to be mentioned for the way he’s still kicking as well as ever, as the oldest player in the NFL at age 41. Vinatieri is the NFL’s postseason record holder for field goals (51), extra points (60) and total points (213).
Vinatieri has now played in 27 career playoff games, and he has made at least one kick in all of them. Only Jerry Rice has made more playoff appearances than Vinatieri.
