Stephen Gostkowski
Stephen Carroll Gostkowski (/ɡɒstˈkaʊski/ gost-KOW-skee;[1][a] born January 28, 1984) is an American former football placekicker who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons. A member of the New England Patriots for most of his career, he is the franchise's all-time leading scorer. Gostkowski played college football for the Memphis Tigers and was selected in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL draft by the Patriots, where he spent his first 14 seasons. In his final season, he played for the Tennessee Titans.
No. 3
January 28, 1984
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
215 lb (98 kg)
Memphis (2002–2005)
2006 / Round: 4 / Pick: 118
392
392
454
86.34
62
1,875
574
Gostkowski led the league in scoring five times during his career, including four consecutive from 2012 to 2015, and is the first post-merger player to lead the league in scoring for more than two consecutive seasons. Gostkowski also holds the NFL record for consecutive extra points.[3] He was named to four Pro Bowls and two first-team All-Pros, and won three Super Bowl titles.
Early life[edit]
Gostkowski graduated from Madison Central High School in Madison, Mississippi, in 2002.[4] While there, he won four varsity letters each in football and soccer, and three in baseball, and was an All-State honoree in all three sports. Gostkowski holds the school record for longest field goal, a 55-yard kick. His teammates at Madison Central included former 49ers executive Parys Haralson and former Seahawks center Chris Spencer. His opponents included former Atlanta Falcons running back Jerious Norwood, who returned one of Gostkowski's kickoffs from two yards deep in the end zone; Gostkowski raced him down at the 25-yard line to prevent a touchdown.
His most common nickname growing up was "Beaver"; he lost two front teeth playing hockey and had fake teeth that were too large put in as replacements.[5] While at Memphis, he was dubbed "Gotti" by Tigers head coach Tommy West, because West could not pronounce Gostkowski correctly.[6]
Personal life[edit]
Gostkowski and his wife Hallie met when they were both attending the University of Memphis; they married in 2008. Hallie works as a nurse at a Boston hospital and the couple lives in Wrentham, Massachusetts, with two sons as well as a daughter, who was born in 2016.[105]