Stephen Gostkowski biography
Date of birth : 1984-01-24
Date of death : -
Birthplace : Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Nationality : American
Category : Sports
Last modified : 2010-12-03
Credited as : Football player NFL, Kicker for the New England Patriots, Pro Bowl/NFL Draft player
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Stephen Gostkowski was drafted by the New England Patriots in the fourth round (118th overall) of the 2006 NFL Draft ... Signed by the Patriots (7/24/06).
Career Highlights
* Entering the 2010 season, Gostkowski has hit 103-of-121 career field goal attempts, and his 85.1 percent accuracy rate is the highest in Patriots history.
* He has now scored over 100 points in each of his four NFL seasons (103 in 2006, 137 in 2007, 148 in 2008 and 125 in 2009).
* In 2008, Gostkowski was named to his first career Pro Bowl and also earned a spot on the Associated Press All-Pro First Team.
* Gostkowski set a Patriots single-season record and led the NFL with 36 successful field goals in 2008.
* In 2008, Gostkowski led the NFL with 148 points, the most by a Patriots player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and the second highest total in team history (Gino Cappelletti, 155 in 1964).
* Gostkowski connected on 90 percent of his field goal tries in 2008 (36-for-40), tying the second highest single-season field goal percentage in team history.
* Gostkowski set an NFL single-season record with 74 successful PAT kicks in 2007.
* Gostkowski was perfect in the 2006 playoffs, connecting on all eight of his field goals, including a game-winning, 31-yard boot with 1:10 remaining to seal the Patriots' divisional playoff victory at San Diego (1/14/07).
* Gostkowski kicked the longest field goal in Patriots playoff history when he nailed a 50-yard boot at San Diego (1/14/07).
* Gostkowski's 52-yard field goal against Chicago (11/26/06) was the longest field goal in Gillette Stadium history.
2010 (8/0)
* Placed on injured reserve with a thigh injury on Nov. 10, 2010.
* Made his only extra point attempt against the Browns, but did not play in the second half due to injury (11/7).
* Went 4-for-4 on extra points and did not attempt any field goals against Minnesota (10/31). Recorded his 15th touchback of the year as well as one special teams tackle.
* Made both extra points and all three field goals he attempted - a 40-yard kick and two 35-yards kicks. Also recorded his 14th touchback of the season against San Diego (10/24). Nailed a game-winning 35-yard field goal with 1:56 remaining in overtime, marking his first career game- winning overtime field goal in his first career opportunity. Gostkowski also made a 24-yard field goal to tie the game at 20-20 with 1:51 remaining in regulation against the Ravens and a 26-yard field goal in the first quarter (10/17). Was 2-for-2 on extra points.
* Hit both field goal attempts (23 and 30-yards) and made 5-of-5 extra points against the Dolphins (10/4).
* Made his only field goal attempt of the day, a 43-yard kick with 24 seconds left in the first half to put the Patriots up 17-16. Was 3-for-3 on extra points (9/26).
* Was 2-for-2 on extra points, but missed his only field goal attempt (37 yards) against the Jets (9/19).
* Connected on 1-of-3 field goal attempts and 3-of-3 extra points against Cincinnati (9/12).
2009 (16/0, 1/0)
* Kicked in all 16 games and connected on 26 of 31 field goals and 47 of 47 extra points for 125 total points.
* Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 9 vs. Miami) after tying his career-high with four field goals (30, 38, 34 and 40) in the Patriots' 27-17 victory.
* Went over 100 points on the season with two field goals and two extra points against Carolina (12/13) and finished the season with 125 total points. He has now scored over 100 points in each of his four NFL seasons (103 in 2006, 137 in 2007 and 148 in 2008).
* Passed Stanley Morgan (408 points) to move into fifth place on the Patriots' all-time scoring list during the victory vs. Atlanta (9/27) and pushed his totals to 513 total points to move into fourth place. Tied his career-high with four field goals in the win over the Falcons.
* Set a career-long with a 53-yard field goal at Denver (10/11), besting a 52-yard field goal he had vs. Chicago (11/26/06).
* His 47-yard field goal vs. Carolina (12/13) was the 100th field goal of his career.
* Tied a team record with eight extra points vs. Tennessee (10/18).
* Recovered a key fumble in the fourth quarter of the season-opener vs. Buffalo (9/14), diving on a Leodis McKelvin fumble on a kickoff return that was forced by Pierre Woods, giving the Patriots possession at the 31-yard line to help set up the go-ahead touchdown in a come-from-behind 25-24 Patriots win.
* Recorded a career-high 21 touchbacks, which was tied for second best in the AFC and sixth in the NFL.
2008 (16/0)
* Named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career in 2008.
* Named to the Associated Press All-Pro First Team.
* Also selected as an All-Pro by ESPN.com, SI.com, The Sporting News and Pro Football Weekly.
* Named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for the month of October, when he made 9-of-10 field goal attempts.
* Set a Patriots single-season record and led the NFL with 36 field goals.
* Led the NFL with 148 points, the most by a Patriots player since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger and the second highest total in team history (Gino Cappelletti, 155 in 1964).
* Connected on 90 percent of his field goal tries (36-for-40), tying the second highest single-season field goal percentage in team history.
* Recorded 16 touchbacks.
* With his 33-yard field goal of the Patriots' 13-0 victory over Buffalo on Dec. 28, set a new Patriots record for points in a season since the 1970 AFL-NFL merger with 144 points, topping Adam Vinatieri's mark of 141 points set in 2004.
* While making four-of-four field goal tries against Arizona (12/21), set a Patriots single-season franchise record for the most field goals with his 33rd of the season, breaking Tony Franklin's mark of 32 in 1986.
* Tied a single-game career high with four field goals made and attempted at the N.Y. Jets (9/14) and equaled the mark in a snowstorm against Arizona (12/21).
* Set a single-game career high with 17 points (five extra point attempts and four field goals) against Arizona (12/21).
2007 (16/0, 3/0)
* Set an NFL record for extra point attempts while going a perfect 74-for-74.
* Finished with a then career-high 137 points for the season while successfully making 21-of-24 field goal attempts in 2007.
* Set career-highs in extra points made and extra points attempted with eight in the Patriots' dominating 56-10 win over the Buffalo Bills (11/18).
* Tallied a season-high 12 points while going 6-for-6 on extra point attempts and 2-for-2 on field goal attempts at Dallas (10/14).
* Set career highs in extra points made and attempted by going 8-for-8 in the Patriots' rout of Buffalo (11/18).
* Tied a season high with 12 points in the season finale at the N.Y. Giants (12/29), kicking through a season high three field goals and knocking in three extra points to finish the season a perfect 74-for-74 in extra point attempts.
* Connected on all four extra point attempts while making one-of-two field goal tries in the Patriots' win over Jacksonville in the AFC Divisional playoffs (1/12).
2006 (16/0, 3/0)
* Saw action in all 16 regular season contests and three postseason games.
* Made good on 20-of-26 field goals and 43-of-44 extra point opportunities in his rookie season.
* Made 18 of his last 21 field goal attempts in the regular season.
* Finished fifth in the AFC with 12 touchbacks.
* Connected on his first career NFL field goal from 32 yards out in the Patriots' 19-17 victory over Buffalo (9/10).
* His 52-yard field goal against the Bears (11/26) was the longest by a Patriots player at Gillette Stadium.
* Connected on all eight of his field goal attempts in the 2006 postseason.
* Against Indianapolis (11/5), nailed a 49-yard field goal to cut the Colts' lead to 24-17 in the third quarter.
* Connected on all four field goal attempts and all of his extra point opportunities against Houston (12/17).
* Nailed a 48-yard field goal to give the Patriots a 3-0 lead in the second quarter at Jacksonville (12/24).
* Made good on all three field goal attempts and all four extra point opportunities in the wild card playoffs against the Jets (1/7).
* Gave the Patriots a 3-0 lead with a 50-yard field goal in the first quarter of the divisional playoffs at San Diego (1/14).
* Connected on his first career game-winning field goal from 31 yards out to give the Patriots a 24-21 lead with 1:10 remaining in the fourth quarter.
* In the AFC Championship Game at Indianapolis (1/21), gave the Patriots a 31-28 lead with a 28-yard field goal
* in the fourth quarter. Nailed a 43-yard field goal with 3:49 left to play in the game, giving the Patriots a 34-31 lead.
* college
* Finished his collegiate career placing 13th in NCAA Division 1-A history with 369 points and 14th with 70 successful field goals.
* His 369 career points set a Memphis record, shattering the old mark of 263 points by Joe Allison (1990-93).
* Made 70-of-92 field goals during his career, good for a 76.1 percent accuracy rate.
* Over his final two seasons, made 85.7 percent of his field goal attempts (42-of-49).
* Holds the top three spots on the Tigers' single-season record list for points scored by a kicker, totaling 101 points in 2003, 108 in 2004 and 101 in 2005.
* His 44 successful extra points in 2003 topped the old school single-season record of 42 by John Cobb (1949), and his 48 extra points in 2004 broke the previous record of 44, which he had established a year earlier.
College
* Finished his collegiate career placing 13th in NCAA Division 1-A history with 369 points and 14th with 70 successful field goals.
* His 369 career points set a Memphis record, shattering the old mark of 263 points by Joe Allison (1990-93).
* Made 70-of-92 field goals during his career, good for a 76.1 percent accuracy rate.
* Over his final two seasons, made 85.7 percent of his field goal attempts (42-of-49).
* Holds the top three spots on the Tigers' single-season record list for points scored by a kicker, totaling 101 points in 2003, 108 in 2004 and 101 in 2005.
* His 44 successful extra points in 2003 topped the old school single-season record of 42 by John Cobb (1949), and his 48 extra points in 2004 broke the previous record of 44, which he had established a year earlier.
Personal
* Stephen Carroll Gostkowski was born the son of Larry and Cindy Gostkowski on January 28, 1984 in Baton Rouge, La.
* Attended Madison (Miss.) Central High School, where he lettered for four years in football and soccer and three years in baseball.
* Earned all-state honors in all three sports.
* Completed his prep baseball career with a 16-2 record and a 1.00 ERA, leading Madison Central to the 2002 Mississippi state championship.
* Also holds the school record for the longest field goal at 55 yards.
* Also played baseball at Memphis.
* Supporter of Tufts University's Read by the River.
* Served as an honorary coach in the 2007 BELL Bowl, a fundraiser at Gillette Stadium to benefit the BELL Foundation.
* In 2008, participated in the United Way of Rhode Island's Hometown Huddle at the East Providence Boys & Girls Club, teaching club members how to incorporate nutrition and fitness into their daily routines.
* Participated in the 2008 Salvation Army Holiday Party at Gillette Stadium with nearly 250 children from the Boston and Providence Salvation Army centers.
* Majored in exercise and sport science at Memphis.
* Stephen and his wife Hallie have a son Slayden Kyle.
Extra
* As a college freshman, Stephen arrived at the University of Memphis with a partial baseball scholarship and walked on to the school's football team as a kicker. After excelling in his kicking duties, he earned a full football scholarship.
* In high school, Stephen earned all-state honors in Mississippi in three sports - football, baseball and soccer. In college, he was an All-Conference USA selection in both baseball and football.
