Nate Kaeding

Nate Kaeding
No. 10, 9
Position: Placekicker
Personal information
Date of birth: (1982-03-26) March 26, 1982
Place of birth: Iowa City, Iowa
Height: 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight: 187 lb (85 kg)
Career information
High school: Iowa City (IA) West
College: Iowa
NFL Draft: 2004 / Round: 3 / Pick: 65
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics
Field goal attempts: 210
Field goals: 181
Field goal %: 86.2
Longest field goal: 57
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Nathaniel James Kaeding (born March 26, 1982) is an American former college and professional football player who was a placekicker in the National Football League (NFL) for nine seasons. He played the majority of his career with the NFL's San Diego Chargers. Kaeding retired after the 2012 season as the second most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history, having made 86.2 percent of his career attempts.

Kaeding played college football for the University of Iowa, where he earned All-American honors and was recognized as the top college placekicker with the Lou Groza Award. The San Diego Chargers drafted Kaeding in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft. He was twice named to the Pro Bowl, and he was a two-time All-Pro selection. However, he struggled in the playoffs, making just 8-for-15 (53.3%) field goals. He was released by San Diego midway through the 2012 season after a groin injury. He finished the season with the Miami Dolphins before retiring.

Early years

Kaeding was born in Iowa City, Iowa. He attended Iowa City West High School, and played high school football for the Iowa City West High Trojans.

College career

Kaeding attended the University of Iowa, where he played for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team from 2000 to 2003. Kaeding earned a teaching certificate in secondary education while at Iowa.[1] He won the Lou Groza Award in 2002 and is the all-time leading scorer. In high school, he played in state championship games in three different sports: (basketball, football and soccer) at Iowa City West High School.[2]

Professional career

San Diego Chargers

During the 2004 season, Kaeding attempted to become the first rookie since the 1970 season to make a game-winning field goal in the playoffs in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime.[lower-alpha 1] His 40-yard field goal attempt on a wet field missed, and the Chargers lost in the wild card round to the New York Jets, who won the game on a Doug Brien field goal.[4]

Kaeding's postseason struggles continued in the 2006 NFL Playoffs, when he missed a potential game tying 54-yard field goal attempt against the New England Patriots. He had not missed a field goal at home in the previous two years prior to that 54-yard attempt. He was selected to his first Pro Bowl that season, where he kicked the game-winning 21-yard field goal with four seconds left in the game.

Kaeding suffered a fractured fibula when he made a tackle on the opening kickoff against the Denver Broncos on December 24, 2007 and played the final 5 games of the season with the fractured fibula.[5]

Kaeding with the San Diego Chargers in 2011.

In the 2007 playoffs, Kaeding missed a field goal each in the Wild Card weekend game against Tennessee (which San Diego won) and against the Indianapolis Colts (which San Diego also won). His streak of consecutive playoff games with a missed field goal stood at 4 but was ended with a made field goal from 40 yards against New England.

In the 2009 NFL season, Kaeding connected on 91.4% (32/35) of his field goals, a percentage that led the NFL. His season long of 54 yards came in a Week 15 victory over Cincinnati Bengals. However, in the AFC Divisional Round against the New York Jets, Kaeding's postseason struggles continued as he missed all three of his attempted field goals, from 36, 57, and 40 yards; the Jets won the game 17-14.[4][6] In his postseason career, Kaeding was 3-for-9 on field goal attempts at home and 8-for-15 (53.3%) overall in eight playoff games.[4][7]

In the 2011 NFL season, Kaeding was injured on the first play of the season when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, causing him to miss the duration of the season and necessitated the signing of Nick Novak.[8] Kaeding ended the 2011 season as the NFL’s most accurate kicker of all-time, converting 86.5% of his field goals attempts.[9][10] He competed for his job in 2012 and beat out Novak, who also had a strong showing.[11] However, Kaeding suffered a right groin injury and was replaced by Novak in the week 4 game against Kansas City.[12] After missing three games, Kaeding was placed on injured reserve with a minor injury designation that required the Chargers to release him after he recovered.[13][14][15] On October 30, Kaeding became an unrestricted free agent after he was released by the Chargers upon a physical; he collected over $1 million in termination pay. Kaeding made all seven of his field goal attempts with the Chargers in 2012, and left the team as the most accurate kicker in NFL history at 87% (180-of-207).[4][13]

Miami Dolphins

On December 21, 2012, Kaeding signed with the Miami Dolphins, replacing incumbent Dan Carpenter, who was out with a groin injury.[16] He missed two of three field goals as a Dolphin, making a 45-yarder while missing from 41 and having a 46-yard attempt blocked.[17][18] His career percentage dropped to 86.2, falling to second behind Mike Vanderjagt (86.5).[17]

Retirement

On April 2, 2013 Kaeding signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[19] However, he suffered another groin injury during the offseason. Days later on May 2, Kaeding retired from the NFL, citing "chronic issues" with his groin muscle.[20]

Personal

In January 2008, Kaeding began writing weekly movie reviews for CorridorBUZZ, a daily arts & entertainment web site serving the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids, Iowa corridor. He co-owns a restaurant in Iowa City called Short's Burgers.[21]

Nate and his wife, Samantha (née Gervich), have two sons, Jack and Wyatt, and a daughter, Tess.[22]

Notes

  1. ↑ Jim O'Brien won Super Bowl V for the Baltimore Colts on a 32-yard field goal with five seconds left in the fourth quarter.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "San Diego Chargers". Nate Kaeding. Retrieved 2012-12-22.
  2. ↑ "National Football League". Nate Kaeding. Retrieved 2010-12-13.
  3. ↑ "N.Y. Jets 20, San Diego 17". USA today. January 8, 2005. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Nate Kaeding waived by San Diego Chargers after injury". NFL.com. Associated Press. October 30, 2012. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012.
  5. ↑ Acee, Kevin (2008-01-26). "San Diego Chargers - Kaeding played on fractured left leg". SignOnSanDiego.com. Retrieved 2012-10-23.
  6. ↑ "New York Jets at San Diego Chargers - January 17, 2010". pro-football-reference.com. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012.
  7. ↑ "Kaeding struggles in playoff loss". kffl.com. January 18, 2012. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012.
  8. ↑ ref
  9. ↑ "Chargers K Kaeding out for season after hurting left knee on opening kickoff". The Washington Post. Associated Press. September 12, 2011. Archived from the original on September 15, 2011.
  10. ↑ Acee, Kevin (January 17, 2012). "Kaeding ahead of schedule, looks forward to resuming role". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Archived from the original on January 20, 2012.
  11. ↑ Gehlken, Michael (September 1, 2012). "VETERANS CESAIRE, HESTER AMONG CHARGERS' 22 CUTS". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
  12. ↑ Gehlken, Michael (September 29, 2012). "Chargers going with 3 corners against Chiefs". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on October 3, 2012.
  13. 1 2 Gehlken, Michael (October 30, 2012). "Nate Kaeding passes physical, no longer a Charger". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on October 31, 2012.
  14. ↑ "Bears defeat Lions to maintain NFC North lead". Newsday. Retrieved 2012-10-23. The Chargers placed kicker Nate Kaeding on injured reserve and plan to release him after he recovers from a groin injury . . .
  15. ↑ Gehlken, Michael; Acee, Kevin (October 23, 2012). "KAEDING'S DAYS AS CHARGERS KICKER ARE OVER". U-T San Diego. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012.
  16. ↑ Walker, James (December 21, 2012). "Dolphins sign kicker Nate Kaeding". ESPN.com. Retrieved December 21, 2012.
  17. 1 2 Beasley, Adam H. (December 30, 2012). "Davone Bess, Nolan Carroll end year on shelf for Miami Dolphins". Miami Herald. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013.
  18. ↑ David, Craig (December 23, 2012). "Report Card: Bush, bunch of turnovers too much for Bills". Sun-Sentinel. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013.
  19. ↑ Rosenthal, Gregg (April 2, 2013). "Steve Smith, Nate Kaeding join Tampa Bay Buccaneers". National Football League. Retrieved April 2, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Nate Kaeding to retire from NFL". Press-Citizen. May 2, 2013. Archived from the original on May 2, 2013.
  21. ↑ http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/tech/2014/05/17/nate-kaeding-lessons-pay/9207963/
  22. ↑ http://hawkcentral.com/2012/11/08/bryce-millers-3-for-3-breaking-hawkeye-baby-news-and-iowa-football-stat-stunner/
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