Paul Edinger

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.

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
Chicago Bears (2000–2004) Minnesota Vikings (2005) Chicago Rush (2008) Jacksonville Sharks (2010) Pittsburgh Power (2011)
Career highlights and awards
2× Second-team All-Big Ten (1998, 1999) 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

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.

External links

• Jacksonville Sharks bio