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.
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| Position: | Placekicker | ||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Born: | January 17, 1978 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
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Stats at ArenaFan.com | |||||||||||||||||||
Edinger has also played for the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Rush, and Jacksonville Sharks.
Professional career
editChicago Bears
editEdinger 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
editEdinger 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
editAfter 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
editEdinger signed with the Jacksonville Sharks on January 2, 2010.[5]
Pittsburgh Power
editEdinger signed with the Pittsburgh Power on November 1, 2010.
NFL career statistics
edit| Legend | |
|---|---|
| Bold | Career high |
Regular season
edit| 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
edit| 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
editEdinger 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
edit- ^ "Best Extra Point % In NFL History, Minimum 150 Extra Point Attempts". StatMuse. Retrieved October 10, 2024.
- ^ "2000 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 19, 2023.
- ^ "Blair Walsh sets NFL record for 50-yard-plus field goals". National Football League. December 23, 2012. Retrieved December 23, 2012.
- ^ "NFL Extra Point % Career Leaders (since 1938)". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved November 25, 2021.
- ^ "Jacksonville Sharks: Team History". Jaxsharks.com. Archived from the original on December 19, 2018. Retrieved December 24, 2019.