Morning Sports Update
Vinatieri is still automatic, even in the thin air of the Swiss Alps.
Adam Vinatieri poses with his bust during the Pro Football Hall of Fame induction ceremony. AP Photo/David Dermer
September 23, 2026 | 11:01 AM
3 minutes to read
Adam Vinatieri’s world record: Fresh off his induction into the Pro Hall of Fame, Patriots legend Adam Vinatieri is still making impactful field goals in the snow.
Vinatieri, 53, was at the center of a recent effort to set a Guinness World Record for the field goal kicked at the highest altitude. In a partnership between the Patriots and Jungfraubahnen, Vinatieri traveled to the Jungfraujoch – Top of Europe in the Swiss Alps – to kick a field goal at the extraordinary altitude of 3,454 meters (11,332 feet).
And with (according to the Patriots) an acknowledgement from Guinness World Records, Vinatieri is officially the title holder of the highest altitude field goal ever kicked.
Granted, it’s a ceremonial distinction, but one that is fitting for Vinatieri. His history as a Patriots kicker is intertwined with winter elements.
In the team’s now-famous run to Super Bowl XXXVI, Vinatieri converted a 45-field goal in the snow to tie the AFC Divisional Round game late against the Raiders (eventually also kicking the overtime winner). It remains an accomplishment that former New England coach Bill Belichick (who doesn’t throw compliments around lightly) called “by far the greatest kick I have ever seen.”
The stunt is also part of a countdown to the Patriots’ November 15 game in the German city of Munich against the Lions as part of the NFL International Series.
“Snow is simply part of my time with the Patriots,” said Vinatieri, per the team’s announcement. “But kicking a field goal at 3,454 meters is something completely different from anything I’ve ever seen in the NFL. You feel the altitude with every breath you take, your heart rate is different, your rhythm is different, and no one can really tell you beforehand how it will affect the kick, because no one has done this before.
“The fact that we were able to set the record under these conditions makes me very proud. This is definitely one of the most special field goals I’ve ever made.”
Trivia: What city is home to the current NFL record for field goal kicked at highest altitude in a regular season game?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: It has also been the site of two World Cup finals.
Scores and schedules:
The Red Sox lost to the Guardians 3-2 on Tuesday. The two teams play again this evening at Fenway Park at 7:10 p.m.
Legacy FC face Reign FC in Seattle on Friday at 8:30 p.m.
On Saturday, the Revolution play Real Sale Lake on the road at 9:30 p.m.
And on Sunday, the Patriots play the Jaguars in Jacksonville at 1 p.m.
More from Boston.com:
Mic’d up: Patriots cornerback Christian Gonzalez shared his thoughts amid a Patriots win.
Pass, shoot, and score: The Bruins crushed the Flyers 5-1 on Tuesday, albeit in preseason action.
On this day: In 2001, the Patriots lost to the Jets 10-3. It was an emotional game for everyone involved, coming after the tragic events of September 11th. This was especially true for New England offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi, whose three brothers were working as New York City firefighters. Fortunately, all of Andruzzi’s brothers survived, and were honored prior to the game.
The game itself provided an unrelated epochal moment: The Mo Lewis hit on Drew Bledsoe. The Jets’ linebacker walloped the Patriots’ quarterback as he scrambled out of bounds, knocking Bledsoe out of the game (and, while it was only fully realized later, briefly causing a significant health scare). In came New England’s backup, then a lesser known sixth-round pick from the 2000 draft named Tom Brady. The rest, as New England fans fondly recall, became history.
Daily highlight: A close-range bicycle kick from forward Justin Hubbard helped UConn defeat Siena 3-1 on Tuesday.
Trivia answer: Mexico City (Estadio Azteca)
Hayden Bird
Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.
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