Adam Vinatieri |
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Adam Matthew Vinatieri (born December 28, 1972 in Yankton, South Dakota) is an American football placekicker currently playing for the Indianapolis Colts. He has played in five Super Bowls, four with the Patriots and one with the Colts, winning four. Vinatieri won a Super Bowl in 2007 with Indianapolis and won Super Bowls in 2002, 2004, & 2005 with the Patriots. Vinatieri is the first kicker ever to play in five Super Bowls and win four Super Bowl rings. His only Super Bowl loss came in Super Bowl XXXI in 1996, against the Green Bay Packers, 35-21.
Vinatieri is generally considered to be the best clutch kicker in the history of the National Football League. Nicknamed "Automatic Adam" for his accuracy, and "Iceman" for his incredible poise under pressure, Vinatieri has converted several of the most crucial field goals in NFL history, including game-winning kicks in the final seconds of two Super Bowls.
Adam and his wife Valeri and their two children reside in Carmel, Indiana during the football season and Celebration, Florida during the off-season. He is the second of four children. His great-great grandfather is Felix Vinatieri, an Italian immigrant who served as Lt Col George Armstrong Custer's bandmaster . Adam said in an interview that Lt Col Custer told Felix Vinatieri to head back to camp instead of going ahead with the regiment to Little Big Horn, and that this decision saved his great-great grandfather's life. He is also a third cousin to the famous daredevil, Evel Knievel.