One former Colts all-time great is projected to join the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s illustrious Class of 2025.
According to NFL.com’s Adam Rank, one former Indianapolis Colts all-time great player, retired placekicker Adam Vinatieri, will be among the members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s illustrious Class of 2025:
Adam Vinatieri, K
New England Patriots, 1996-2005; Indianapolis Colts, 2006-2019
I don’t think special-teamers have received a fair shake over the years. Kicker Jan Stenerud was a member of the Hall of Fame Class of 1991 and we didn’t see another pure specialist inducted until punter Ray Guy in 2014. Since then, kicker Morten Andersen (2017) and return specialist Devin Hester (2024) have been enshrined. So, we’re cool with special-teamers now? OK, good. So, I believe Vinatieri will get in on the first ballot, no question. He made the game-tying and game-winning kicks in the famed “Tuck Rule” game. He hit the walk-off against the Rams in Super Bowl XXXIV, and kicked the game-winner against the Panthers in Super Bowl XXXVIII. He provided plenty of other memorable moments. I mean, he’s the all-time leader in career points (2,673). This one is pretty easy.
The longtime cold-blooded clutch kicker is currently one of 15 modern-era finalists for this year’s class—which also includes beloved former Colts wideout Reggie Wayne.
Vinatieri just became eligible for Canton, Ohio, this year, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him make it on his first-ballot—as arguably the greatest player at his position ever. In my opinion, it’s not very close right now, as he was head-and-shoulders the best to do it.
For both the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts, Vinatieri was a 4x Super Bowl Champion, 3x First-Team All-Pro, 3x Pro Bowler, and a member of the 2000s All-Decade Team, as well as the NFL 100th Anniversary All-Time Team.
During his lengthy 24-year NFL career, he converted 599 of 715 field goal attempts (83.8%), as well as 874 of 898 extra point attempts (97.3%) in 365 games. As Rank mentioned, he’s the NFL’s all-time leading scorer with 2,673 total career points.
He’s also only 2nd in NFL history behind former Patriots quarterback great Tom Brady (48) regarding most playoff games appeared in with 32 career playoff games to his name.
He projects to be an upcoming top candidate for the Colts ‘Ring of Honor,’ in addition to reaching football immortality shortly with his own bronze bust—if not as soon as this year.
Per NFL.com, the members of this year’s class “will be revealed as Hall of Famers on Thursday night at NFL Honors, which will air live at 9 p.m. ET on FOX and NFL Network and stream on NFL+ from the Saenger Theater in New Orleans.”