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Patriots Called Out for Hall of Fame Snub

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matthew Davis | Last updated May 6, 2025 2:01 PM ET

As former star wide receiver Julian Edelman gets recognized as the latest New England Patriots Hall of Fame selection, a most essential former star has been left out.

That’s legendary former kicker and three-time All-Pro Adam Vinatieri delivered the Patriots’ first two Super Bowl wins on game-winning kicks in the 2001 and 2003 seasons. MassLive columnist Matt Vautour isn’t pleased that Vinatieri didn’t get in along with Edelman.

“If Vinatieri wasn’t one of the most reliable clutch kickers in the history of the sport, the Patriots’ entire stature as a franchise is different,” Vautour wrote on Tuesday.

Vautour went on to note how Tom Brady’s and Bill Belichick’s careers would have looked different had Vinatieri not made those field goals. In addition, Vantour noted that Edelman didn’t ever make All-Pro as Vinatieri did.

“For all the hand-wringing about how long it took Bill Parcells to get in, Vinatieri being left out is a bigger injustice,” Vautour wrote. “When the Patriots were trying to win their first Super Bowl in 1997 against the (Green Bay) Packers, (Bill) Parcells was plotting his move to New England’s arch rival.”

“Vinatieri left too, but only because the Patriots weren’t willing to commit the same salary cap space to a kicker that the (Indianapolis) Colts were,” Vautour added.

Vinatieri only added to his career with the Colts amid a Super Bowl win, another 336 field goals made in 14 seasons. He started his career with the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of then-Division II South Dakota State, where he kicked often in inclement weather.

His game-winning playoff kick for the Patriots in a snowy overtime AFC Divisional round game against the then-Oakland Raiders made the first Super Bowl win possible. As Vautour noted, Vinatieri “is a New England icon” who “deserves” to get in.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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