Adam Vinatieri

He made the announcement on former teammate Pat McAfee's show. The decision was sadly made for Vinatieri, who did not want to hang up his cleats following a rough 2019. No one came calling in 2020, however, so the greatest kicker in league history is calling it a day. The kicker of Super Bowl winners and a franchise icon for two different organizations, Vinatieri is a lock to become the fifth kicker enshrined in Canton, joining Morten Andersen, George Blanda, Lou Groza and Jan Stenerud. Only Andersen and Stenerud were pure kickers. 

The problem right now, however, is that the quarantine has slowed down his rehab from knee surgery, putting him in question for Week 1. The 47-year-old had a horrendous 2019 with the Colts before getting shut down. But if healthy, it wouldn't be a surprise at all to see Vinatieri bounce back. He likely wants a chance with the Colts, but the two sides have yet to hash anything out in terms of a contract.

Colts coach Frank Reich made the disclosure in a Tuesday "digital press conference." "(We plan) to have a sitdown with Adam and see where he’s at once he’s a little further along in that process," Reich said of Vinatieri's recovery from knee surgery. Turning 48 in December, 2020 would be Vinatieri's staggering 25th season. Season 24, of course, went exceptionally poorly. Vinatieri converted at least 85 percent of his field goal attempts every year from 2013-18, however. A bounce back would be far from surprising.   

Vinatieri is coming off a down season in which he converted just 17 of 25 field-goal attempts. His campaign came to an early end due to a left knee injury, for which the 47-year-old required season-ending surgery. While Vinatieri hasn't ruled out returning for a 25th campaign, further clarity on his situation likely won't come until later in the offseason. McLaughlin, who received a one-year contract extension from Indianapolis, made five of six field-goal tries in four games with the team.