Paul Edinger

Paul Edinger
No. 2, 1
Position:Placekicker
Personal information
Born: (1978-01-17) January 17, 1978 (age 46)
Frankfort, Michigan, U.S.
Height:5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Weight:175 lb (79 kg)
Career information
High school:Kathleen
College:Michigan State
NFL draft:2000 / round: 6 / pick: 174
Career history
Career highlights and awards

NFL records

  • Highest extra point % in NFL history, minimum 150 extra point attempts: 100% (164/164)[1]
Career NFL statistics
Field goals made:135
Field goal attempts:180
Field goal %:75.0
Extra points made:164
Extra point attempts:164
Extra point %:100
Longest field goal:56
Points scored:569
Stats at Pro Football Reference
Stats at ArenaFan.com

Paul Edinger (born January 17, 1978) is an American former professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft. He played college football for the Michigan State Spartans.

Edinger has also played for the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Rush, and Jacksonville Sharks.

Professional career

Chicago Bears

Edinger was drafted by the Chicago Bears in the sixth round (174th overall) in the 2000 NFL draft.[2] He played five seasons with the team and set a personal best with an 83.9 field goal percentage in 2001. He kicked 62.5% in his last year with Chicago and was released. In five seasons with the Bears, Paul Edinger made 110 out of 146 (76.9%) field goals and made all of his 133 extra point attempts.

Minnesota Vikings

Edinger signed with the Minnesota Vikings as a free agent in 2005. His 56-yard game-winning field goal against the Green Bay Packers on October 23, 2005, was the longest ever in Vikings history, tied with Blair Walsh's 56-yard attempt against the Houston Texans in Week 16 of the 2012 season.[3] The kick was also his personal long. This record was broken when Greg Joseph kicked a game-winning 61-yard field goal against the New York Giants in week 16 of the 2022 season. He was not re-signed following the season. In his only season as a Minnesota Viking, Edinger made 25 of 34 (73.5%) field goals and all of his 31 extra point attempts.

Edinger is in a two-way tie for most accurate extra point kicker in NFL history, a perfect 100%.[4]

Chicago Rush

After being out of football since 2005, Edinger signed a three-year contract with the Chicago Rush of the Arena Football League. However, he was released a week later. He was re-signed on June 3, 2008, after the release of Rush kicker Dan Frantz. His next game, he pulled his groin before the game and spent the rest of the season on IR. He played one game for the Rush

Jacksonville Sharks

Edinger signed with the Jacksonville Sharks on January 2, 2010.[5]

Pittsburgh Power

Edinger signed with the Pittsburgh Power on November 1, 2010.

NFL career statistics

Legend
Bold Career high

Regular season

Year Team GP Overall FGs PATs Kickoffs Total points
FGA FGM Pct XPA XPM Pct KO KOYds Avg TB
2000 CHI 16 27 21 77.8 21 21 100 58 3,472 59.9 4 84
2001 CHI 16 31 26 83.9 34 34 100 73 4,404 60.3 4 112
2002 CHI 16 28 22 78.6 29 29 100 67 4,002 59.7 2 95
2003 CHI 16 36 26 72.2 27 27 100 69 3,956 57.3 1 105
2004 CHI 16 24 15 62.5 22 22 100 56 3,285 58.7 0 67
2005 MIN 16 34 25 73.5 31 31 100 72 4,246 59.0 0 106
96 180 135 75.0 164 164 100 395 23,365 59.2 11 569

Playoffs

Year Team GP Overall FGs PATs Kickoffs Total points
FGA FGM Pct XPA XPM Pct KO KOYds Avg TB
2001 CHI 1 1 1 100 2 2 100 4 227 56.8 0 5
1 1 1 100 2 2 100 4 227 56.8 0 5

Kicking style

Edinger is known for his unusual "corkscrew" kicking motion: before the snap he faces backwards in the direction of the opposite side of the field. As the ball is snapped he turns as he steps in a circular pattern toward the ball.

References

  1. ^ "Best Extra Point % In NFL History, Minimum 150 Extra Point Attempts". StatMuse. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
  2. ^ "2000 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
  3. ^ "Blair Walsh sets NFL record for 50-yard-plus field goals". National Football League. December 23, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
  4. ^ "NFL Extra Point % Career Leaders (since 1938)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
  5. ^ "Jacksonville Sharks: Team History". Jaxsharks.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2019.