Games with Names - Dudes on Adam Vinatieri

Episode Date: July 18, 2026

We're covering legendary kicker and Patriot, Adam Vinatieri! Gronk and Julian Edelman discuss what made Adam so great and some of their favorite stories.Support the show: http://www.gameswithnames.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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All right, let's jump into these dudes. Let's get this AI summary. Bump-Bum, the AI summary is back. Start the clock. All right, here we go. At 6 foot, 212 pounds from Yankton, South Dakota. He played 24 NFL seasons with the New England Patriots in Indianapolis Colts. A product of South Dakota State, he went undrafted but earned a roster spot after time in NFL Europe,

known for his mental toughness and accuracy under pressure, he became the NFL's all-time leading score with 2,673 points and 599 field goals made. He is also in the history books for the most postseason points, 238 and field goals, 56. He won four Super Bowls with the game-winning kicks in two of them. Plus, he was the hero in the famous Snow Bowl against the Oakland Raiders.

Let's get on Adam Vinatari. Adam Vinetary Here we go I'll start with this Adam Vinetary I never met him He was before my time You know with the New England Patriots

Even though we played in the NFL Together at the same time But he was on the Colts You know his second half of his career Heard many great things about him New about his history Never got to meet him though And then I'm doing the kick of destiny

You know with Fanduel It's a live you know Commercial and I'm kicking a field goal And if I make it we're giving out prizes. So obviously I need a kicking coach. What a fan do they went and got Adam Vinatari as my kicking coach. So I was really thrilled that I finally got to meet the legend Adam Vinatari because he was a

patriot. I was a patriot. So I thought this was going to be a really, really cool and special moment. And it lived up to expectations when I met him for the first time on the set, man. He's such a cool dude. He's down to earth. If not, the best kicker in the NFL. of all time.

You know, he's up there, top one, two, or three. But it was just so cool to shoot a commercial with him, get some tips from him. But he didn't, you know, give me enough tips because I missed my kick.

About to say, maybe we shouldn't put coaching on this resume. Yeah, so coaching. Holy shneesh. Coaching crossed that off. Yeah, sorry, Adam. No. Is your coaching or else I would have made that kick.

No, Adam Vinutary is also one of those legendary names that was talked about in the locker room past his time there. I mean, whether it was the training staff with Jimmy Whalen, Joe Van Allen, they always talk about Vinatari. And you could see how much everyone loved Adam Venetary because of how clutchy was in the most important moments. And that's what Adam did.

He made the biggest kicks in the Snow Bowl, in the first Super Bowl, another Super Bowl. There's countless other ones to get them to the Super Bowl. You know, and he's just a, he was a monster. And he's like jacked now. Have you seen him lately? He's jacked, bro. Dude, was he jacked on the on the set? Yes, that's all I was talking about to everyone.

I'm like, how is Adam Vinatari so freaking jacked? Like, I'm not even that jacked. And I was telling him in person, I'm like, man, I admire, like, how jacked you are. And he was loving it. He was downplaying. He was like, oh, grunk like, you're not jacked. I'm like, no, I'm not as jacked as you, buddy. Like, check him out, man.

Jesus Christ, Vinatary. Holy! You would have never thought he was a kicker. No, the kickers, though, they get obsessed with things. Like Witherspoon was jacked. Remember from the, the Giants? Like, these guys, they're all little, like, they're all a little different in the head.

But, you know, I was just around him last night at the wedding. And, you know, he was hard. He was like a, he's a legend, man. Yeah, it's the most wild story about him, though, when I was talking to him because, you know, we were talking for a while on set. And he started telling me about his career, you know, before he got to the NFL, which was shocking to me. I think what? He told me he played an NFL Europe and Amsterdam.

Yeah. Correct. And that's where he got seen. But like a guy that is such a legend played 24 seasons in the NFL, the best kicker of all time. We got to say that, right? Yeah. best kicker of all time yeah he has to be you got to be at see we're I mean see by some there could be some situations no yeah he's how automatic he was

and also how many seasons he played and he was good in all elements all elements snowy sunny rainy cold hot cheerleaders in front of his face no cheerleaders in front of his face bill yelling at him on a shitty cold team on a great New England team he was still making kicks he won a Super Bowl the Colts too now we got to go back wait wait wait how about he won a Super Bowl with the Colts Peyton oh oh crap I think he thank thank and like yeah when did he leave New England I think like 2000 I want to say six and then when did the Colts win the Super Bowl 2005 because Steve there they got Steve

and six, then they went 07, and then they would, they went eight, nine, 2006. Mm-hmm. His first year after they got rid of Vanderjack. Wow. Wow. Well, Jules, that kind of makes sense now on why you just went into the Patriots Hall of Fame before Adam Venetary, because you're a patriot for life. You're Foxboro forever.

You are only a patriot. Adam Vinatary, this kind of makes. sense now. I think he played more years with the Indianapolis Colts that he did with the New England Patriots. And I would say that factors into it as well, you know, when it comes to voting. Because I was wondering like how he's not in already, which he should be in already. I thought I was hands down losing to Adam Ventry. But that kind of makes sense now why you got in over him because he played more with the Colts with a team that New England does not like. You know, so you kind of wait your turn now, buddy, because you played for the.

the cults too. He was a hell of a football player. But let's, how about his story though? These NFL, he's, I love hearing the NFL Europe guys when they come. Like, I wish I got to go play in NFL Europe in my first few years to get to live in a European country, play American football, Amsterdam. They used to have it in Frankfurt and I think they had Barcelona teams and shit. Like, that would have been kind of cool, even though you're not like big or anything,

but you're still learning the game. Like my first few years, I rather have done, like, maybe in like Amsterdam or you go to, I'd never been to Europe at that time of my life. That would have been fucking crazy. I don't think we would have made it out. No. Like Adam Vinatari made it out. Yeah. If it was you or I, we would still be in Amsterdam.

Brock would still be in Poland. He would have been playing for the freaking Bratwurst or whatever. What do they have? The Poland Bratwors. The Polish sausages. Yeah. I would have definitely never came back to America for Polish sausages.

Oh, I'd be a perfect fit. I'd be a hero there in Poland. You want to know what's cool. I was in Poland last year, and I swear no one knows me in Poland. It was, you look like every other person. Yeah, exactly.

I loved it. I loved it. I wanted to go back because of that reason. No, no. Not everyone's tall. Mm-mm. So what are you? It's a laid-back European country.

So a lot of these countries in your country, in Europe, you know, they're all different styles, you know, even though they're all one in Europe, but they all have their different, you know, it factor in. Poland is really, really laid back and more low-key, but beautiful, the nature, the grass, the woods. I mean, it's the most beautiful settings I've ever seen in my life. And now it makes sense why I'm so beautiful now, too, Joel's. Yeah. And what was the food like? Yeah, food was phenomenal. I was eating gas station cheeseburgers left and right. Yeah.

A plus grade. Talking no antibiotics in those gas station cheese burgers. What do you? Red phenomenal. I was eating them left and right. The mayonnaise, like different mayonnaise you would ever have here

in the United States. Aoli maybe. Yeah. Unbelievable man. I'd just be pouring the mayonnaise on, man, man, on those burgers. Oh, so good. Gas station burgers in Poland.

Through the roof. The best. We got to go to a gas station in Poland. You do. As a burger guy, you have to. All right, enough said. No, parochies? You didn't have any parochies?

No, I did. But the gas station cheeseburgers won me over. You've heard the chaos. Now you can see it. Hello. My gosh. Watch all your favorite podcasts from start to finish, right inside the free IHare Radio app.

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I remember you thinking that. Listen to Podlandia. Ayo rewatch on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You want to know what was cool? It was like, like, there's this bus. I was taking a piss in the gas station. I pulled over, taking a piss. And then this bus of, like, tourism came because they were just checking out the whole country.

And, like, literally, like, 60 people got off the bus. And I'm, like, usually like, oh, crap. Like, if I'm in the U.S., I'm like, I got to get out of here. All these people are going to, like, you know, ask me for pictures. And literally all these people just get out of it. out the bus, load up the whole gas station. I'm like freaking out. I'm like, oh, but then I'm like, oh, wait, no one knows me here. And I was just in there with 60 people coming off of this bus, just enjoying my cheeseburger and having all the freedom I needed in the world, man. So were you just

going up and down the hallways, like enjoying it? Like, man, I can get some gum right now. Yep. I don't have any anxiety of people. Oh, maybe I get some chips. I'm going up to them and asking them questions. You were asking questions. Yeah. Just, you know, I was. Speaking English? Barely. So let me hear, how do you, how do you, do you go Spanish? How do you do this? So if I'm someone in Poland, what were you saying like, hey, where's the gummy bears?

Now, do you say gummy bero or anything? Like, what do they sound like? Sure. GERMI? Yeah, there you go. That's a little too German. I'm not good at imitations. You are.

Yeah, that's exactly how. Like that. Like that. Fucking Adam Venetary playing in Amsterdam gets us talking about Poland. What's the number one trait that you look for in a kicker that Adam Vinatari had as well that made him special, Jules? What is it? Come on. Let's hear it.

And then we get on to what kind of duty is. For me, it's his swag. Really? His swag. Yeah. Like, he always had a confidence. Every time Adam Venetary lined up for a kick and like his little antique guy, he like, he act like he acted like he was there. already. Like, he was just clockwork. I remember he had the one, he had the single button. He

always had the single chin strap. Like, he would go up there and he had a black cleat on. I always remember. He had different cleats in the Super Bowl. And you just, you saw a swagger of confidence always. And that's what you want from your, but like a real confidence. I've met some kickers where they like think, oh, I remember I met some young kicker and he was bringing up Adam Venetier. I said, buddy, let's make a kick in the league before we even start bringing up Adam Venetary's name, Jesus fucking Christ. Mm-hmm. Like, you know what I mean?

Confidence. Confidence. Confidence it is. That's what you want in a kicker. Yeah, like even with like, remember of a folk? And that's what Venetary had. Yeah. Mm-hmm.

Remember folk? Like, he was also just, he didn't, he didn't have the leg, crazy leg, but he's still kicking. Mm-hmm. And what are you seeing like the, the, they're a calm, cool swagger that they have. Steve, he had that, they're like, they're just calm, cool. you don't hear them much, but you see them all the time because they make big fucking plays.

I like it. One more. Is Adam Vinatari the most clutch athlete of all time? Most clutch athlete. Did he make all his game-winning field goals? Like, basically.

I think so. I mean, but can a kicker be considered the most clutch athlete of all time? I mean, it's such a hard question because they have to be clutch. So like even if you're talking about most clutch athletes, you're basically banking on your kicker to being clutch.

And if he's the greatest kicker of all time, that means he's the most clutch of a clutch position. I mean, it could be argued. I mean, you got Michael Jordan, Tom Brady up in there. Tiger Woods. Tiger Woods. Adam Vinatari? Joe Montana. Montana.

Time. Adam Venetaria, we can say, is the most clutch kicker of all the time. Most clutch kicker of all time. There we go. I like that. Well, let's get on to it. What kind of dude is Adam Venetia? All right.

What kind of dude is he? Hmm. Man. Is he a stud? I mean, he had to go a long road. He did have to go to Europe before he came to the NFL, NFL Europe, undrafted guy, North Dakota kid, didn't get many offers. so he doesn't have the stud pedigree.

Is he a freak? I mean, I'm pretty sure he played quarterback in high school, linebacker in high school. You should play linebacker right now after seeing that fucking pitcher. And now he's done playing and he looks like an absolute physical freak of nature like with how jacked he is. So he could be a freak. He could be a freak.

Could be. I don't, when I see Adam. But he's not a freak. He's not a freak. No, he's not a freak. He's a dude's dude. He could be a dude's dude because. I wasn't around him.

Usually kickers, great kickers are dudes dudes. And he's not a whiz because if he was a whiz, he would have taught me all the mechanics I needed to make a kick. And I missed my kick when he was my coach with the kick of Destiny. So he's definitely not a whiz. On three, what is he? One, two, three. Dog. Oh.

Oh. But he's a stud. He had to go long road. He had to go to NFL Europe. bro. He had to go to NFL Europe. He was undrafted. He gets picked up.

Like, that was an underdog story. And then he just so happened to play 24 fucking years in the NFL. Motivated too. You got to have that relentlessness too. See that goddamn beard. Dogs have that relentlessness in them. He, that guy is, 24 seasons. And then become a bodybuilder when he's done.

And stud, I mean, he's magic in the air, Jules. The guy has made basically every clutch kick. that ever existed in mankind's history in the game of football. I mean, that's what studs do. What is a dog? They're physically and mentally tough, motivated guys that came from nothing. Guys like Adam Venetary that come from South Dakota, North Dakota. Who knows Dakota?

But you're coming from a Dakota and you're kicking game winning field goals in the goddamn snowball. You convinced me. Let's do it again. One, two, three, dog. Ruff, Roof, Hoo, Oh, Adam Ho, Terry. A home world cup only happens once in a lifetime, and we are not missing a second.

I'm Castle 1021. On the 1021 podcast, me and the crew, break down every match like it's personal, the drama, the upsets, the debates you'll be having all day, soccer, culture, and chaos in one place. Pick aside, we already did. Listen to the 1021 podcast,

on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On Raiders of the Lost Podcast, we explore cinema like no one else, including huge interviews with stars like Ryan Gosling on Project Hail Mary. It was like the Jaws Shark. Didn't always work, came with its own problems. That's what made it great. The cast of Obsession. On set, there was so much magic happening with each scene we were putting together.

Deep dives into classics like 2001 of Space Odyssey or Fight Club. Plus weekly episodes on all industry news. Listen to Raiders of the Lost podcast on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And for more, follow at Raiders of the Lost Podcast and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, Portlandia fans. Carrie Brownstein and Fred Armisen here. The Dream of the 90s is alive in podcast form. We're launching Podlandia, A.O. rewatch, our brand new podcast where we revisit every episode of Portlandia together.

breaking down sketches, going deep on our iconic characters, and pulling back the curtain on how it all got made. And we'll also be joined by the people who helped bring it all to life. Guestrars, collaborators, and friends, including director Jonathan Chrysall, the mayor himself, Kyle McLaughlin, legendary musician Amy Mann, and many more. Kyle is going for it here. You fully improvised, not just words, but a song about it. Well, I thought you were all going to write a song. I remember you thinking that.

Listen to Podlandia. A.O. Rewatch on the IHHHHH Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. What's up, fam, it's sports journalist Ari Chambers. Hey, what's up, y'all? It's your girl, Sam Jay. And we're the hosts of Everyone Watches Women's Sports, a new podcast from Together. We're breaking down the biggest headlines, the viral moments,

and the stories everyone's talking about across women's sports. From game-changing performances to culture-shifting conversations, we'll give you our takes, our debates, and a few laughs along the way. Because everyone watches women's sports. Listen to Everyone Watches Women's Sports. on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.