Adam Vinatieri - Inducted 2025

1991 Rapid City Central/1995 SDSU graduate.

Most agree, Vinatieri is the greatest kicker in NFL history. Played for New England Patriots (1996-2005) and Indianapolis Colts (2006-19). Became the all-time leading scorer in NFL history in his 24 seasons. Was a four-time Super Bowl champion and three-time pro bowler. Named to the NFL 2000s All-Decade Team, NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team and the New England Patriots 50th Anniversary Team. Counting regular-season and playoff games, Vinatieri played in 397 NFL games (263 wins), made 655 of 784 FGs (84 percent) and 943 of 968 PATs (97 percent) for 2,908 career points. He made 29 game-winning kicks, including two that won Super Bowls. Some feel his best game came in the 2001 playoffs when he made a 45-yard field goal in a swirling windy snowstorm to tie the game at 13 and send it into overtime. Vinatieri then got the 16-13 OT win for his Patriots over the Oakland Raiders by kicking the game-winning 23-yard FG. Of his 38 career tackles, Vinatieri’s most famous one came when he ran down Herschel Walker to make a textbook, touchdown-saving tackle in 1996. Walker was visibly upset he was caught after his 73-yard return. In 2004, Vinatieri had a hand in 22 points in a 40-22 Patriots win over St. Louis when he kicked four FGs, four PATs and threw a TD pass. Born in Yankton, moved to Rapid City when he was 5 where he was a standout in several sports including football, wrestling, soccer and track. All-state football player who rarely came off the field for the Cobblers as a running quarterback, part-time linebacker and kicker/punter. Vinatieri left SDSU as an all-conference kicker and punter and the school’s all-time leading scorer (185 career points). Overcame being undrafted and a shaky NFL start to become known as Automatic Adam, Mr. Clutch and Iceman later to his pro teammates. In 1995, first played with the Amsterdam Admirals of the World League of American Football before winning the New England job in the 1996 NFL pre-season.