It was reported over the past several days that 45-year-old kicker Adam Vinatieri would return for a 23rd season in the NFL. An undrafted free agent out of South Dakota State back in 1996, Vinatieri is the longest tenured player in the NFL.
That will continue for at least one more season. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Indianapolis Colts have re-signed Vinatieri to a one-year contract.
Colts and kicker Adam Vinatieri officially have reached agreement on a one-year deal, per source. Back to break the all-time NFL scoring record.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 22, 2018
This shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. If Vinatieri was going to return for a 23rd season, it was always going to be with the Colts. After spending his first decade in the NFL with the New England Patriots, the four-time Super Bowl champ has played in Indianapolis for the past dozen seasons.
Last season saw Vinatieri convert on 29-of-34 field goal attempts while hitting on all but two of his extra-point attempts. Father Time will soon catch up to the kicker, but it’s apparent that’s not the case right now.