No kicker has made as many important kicks in NFL history than Adam Vinatieri. But that, along with the former Patriots kicker’s historic longevity, wasn’t enough for him to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on the first ballot.
Vinatieri was passed over for induction as part of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2025, it was announced Thursday. Only four ex-players (Eric Allen, Jared Allen, Antonio Gates, Sterling Sharpe) were voted for induction later this year, marking the smallest Hall of Fame class since 2005.
Many were surprised by Vinatieri’s exclusion from the 2025 class, including one of the 50 voters from the committee.