Folk Hero: Legacy of Patriots' Reliable Kicker?
FOXBORO — There is an old adage which reads: “There is honor in reliability.” It is a trait long admired by the New England Patriots.
As such, it is somewhat ironic that one of the Pats’ most-reliable point-scorers will no longer be calling Foxboro his home.
The Patriots, on Tuesday, reportedly traded 15-year veteran kicker Nick Folk to the Tennesse Titans in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick. The 38-year-old spent four of his seasons with the Pats, appearing in 57 games and connecting on 89.3 percent of his field-goal attempts. For his efforts, he was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week by the NFL four times as a Patriot.
While the Chad Ryland-era is about to begin for the Pats kicking game, Folk's legacy in New England will undoubtedly, and rightfully be written with accomplishment, accuracy and above all ... appreciation.
Having been given the dubious task of succeeding team legends such as Adam Vinatieri and Stephen Gostkowski, Folk performed admirably as a member of the Patriots -- exuding a quiet trustworthiness in the clutch which earned him the nickname "Big Kick Nick." He signed with the club during the 2019 season, appearing in seven games. Despite connecting on over 90 percent of both his field goals (92.9) and point-after attempts (90.9) in 2020, Folk had arguably his best overall season with the Pats in 2021. He finished the campaign tied for first in the NFL in points scored (150), second in field goals made and sixth in field-goal percentage (92.3%). He made 36 of 39 field goals, with his longest coming from 53 yards.
Folk carried his dependability into 2022, making 32 of 37 field goals. He also set the record for the most consecutive field goals made from inside the 50-yard line with 64. However, a handful of uncharacteristic sputters down the stretch had some fans wondering whether the Pats might be in search of a new kicker via the Draft. Ryland’s selection in the fourth round (No. 112 overall) apparently answered that question.
While Folk showed that he is still more than capable of being the team's primary kicker, as well as a top-level talent within the NFL, New England opted for the younger stronger leg over Folk's experience and consistency. Despite some questions surrounding his ability to kick accurately through the New England winds, his distance and ability to handle kickoffs made him the Pats expected choice throughout the preseason.
Though time will tell if the Patriots investment was worth the risk, Folk's impact on the organization, though brief, will forever be one of class, honor and dependability.
