Adam Vinatieri Signs One-Year Contract Extention With Indianapolis Colts, Returns for 24th Season
Adam Vinatieri has officially signed a one-year contract extention with the Indianapolis Colts to return for the 2019 season, the team announced Monday.
This upcoming season will be Vinatieri's 24th in the NFL and 11th with the Colts. The 46-year-old made 23 of 27 field goals—including four field goals of 50 yards or longer—during a record-breaking 2018 campaign. The future Hall-of-Famer became the league's all-time leading scorer with 2,600 career points and surpassed Morten Andersen's previous record of 2,544.
Vinatieri also set the all-time mark for field goals made (582) and holds the record for most consecutive field goals made (44), postseason field goals (56) and postseason points scored (234). He is also the only player in NFL history to score 1,000 points with two different teams.
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“Adam is not only one of the greatest Colts in team history, but one of the greatest players in NFL history,” Colts General Manager Chris Ballard said. “He is an ideal representative for our organization, the Indianapolis community and Colts fans everywhere. We value Adam’s reliability and feel he will continue to kick at a high level. In addition to his performance on the field, he brings a tremendous amount of leadership to our locker room. He sets the standard for what it means to be a professional and how to properly prepare, especially for our younger players. We’re privileged to watch him continue his iconic career for another season.”
The three-time Pro Bowler's 2018 season ended on a low note after he missed a 23-yard field goal and an extra point during Indianapolis's 31–13 playoff loss to the Chiefs in the divisional round.
Despite that, Vinatieri told the Indianapolis Star two days after the game that he was leaning toward returning for another season.
"If they're wanting, I can't imagine (I'd) not keep playing, you know?" Vinatieri said. "I haven't made the decision yet. I'll spend a week or two and just kind of see where we're at."
He played the 2018 season on a one-year deal with the Colts and was set to become a free agent this offseason.
