| • Science | • People | • Locations | • Timeline |
He is the second of four children. Adam attended Rapid City, South Dakota's Central High School, where he was a letterman in football, track, wrestling, and soccer.
He was a four-year letterman at South Dakota State University as a placekicker and punter. He finished up his college years of football as the school's all-time scoring leader with 185 career points scored. (His younger brother Beau was a place kicker at Black Hills State University before graduating in 2003.)
He spent the fall of 1995 training to compete professionally. He received a tryout for the World League of American Football, now known as NFL Europe, and earned a roster position with the Amsterdam Admirals as a placekicker and punter.
In 1996 he was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent to be a place kicker. He sports the number 4 and has been with the Patriots for his entire career, during that time he has played in three Super Bowls, out of which they lost one and won two.
In the 2001 playoffs, during a blizzard against the Oakland Raiders at Foxboro, Vinatieri kicked a 45-yard field goal to tie the game 13-13 and send it into overtime. The Patriots then won the game on another field goal of 23 yards by Vinatieri. That 45-yard kick in driving snow is regarded as one of the greatest clutch plays in NFL history. In Super Bowl XXXVI he kicked a field goal on the final play to give the New England Patriots a 20-17 win over the St. Louis Rams. Two years later, and in an almost identical situation, he kicked a field goal with 4 seconds left in Super Bowl XXXVIIISuper Bowl XXXVIII is the 38th Super Bowl, the championship of American football. The game was played on February 1, 2004 at Reliant Stadium in Houston, Texas (the Houston Texans were the host team, but they did not even make the playoffs). The score was to boost the Patriots to another championship. This time, the Patriots defeated the Carolina PanthersThe Carolina Panthers are a National Football League team based in Charlotte, North Carolina. Founded 1995 Home stadium Bank of America Stadium ( 2003 , was Ericsson Stadium 1996 2003) Previous stadium Memorial Stadium, Clemson, South Carolina (1995) Unif, 32-29, making Vinatieri the first player ever to be the deciding factor in two Super BowlAmerican football competitions The Super Bowl is the championship game of professional American football. It is the championship game of the National Football League, and is the most important American football competition. An AFL-NFL Championship Game wa games, and arguably the greatest clutch kicker of all time.
Since he has been with the Patriots he has been very active in his home town and state which includes helping Christian athletes, D.A.R.E., and the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau. He also is a spokesperson for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode IslandAlternate uses: see RI (disambiguation The State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (commonly known as Rhode Island is geographically the smallest state in the United States. Rhode Island (pronounced "Road Island") is part of the New England regio's teen anti-smoking contest. His hobbies include huntingThis article is about the hunting of prey by human society. For other uses of the word "hunting" see Hunting (disambiguation). For other meanings of the word "hunter" (which redirects here), see Hunter (disambiguation). Hunting is, in its most general sen, riding motorcycleA motorcycle (or motorbike is a two-wheeled vehicle powered by an engine. The wheels are in-line, and at higher speed the motorcycle remains upright and stable by virtue of gyroscopic forces; at lower speeds continual readjustment of the steering by the rs and golfing . He is marriedMarriage is a relationship that plays a key role in the definition of many families. Precise definitions vary historically and between and within cultures, but it has been an important concept as a socially sanctioned bond between people who (usually) are, and has several children.
Vinatieri, Adam