Garrett Hartley Garrett Hartley ( born May 16 , 1986 ) is an American football placekicker for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League . He was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2008 . He played college football at Oklahoma . He held the NFL record for most consecutive successful field goals to start a career , with 16 straight ( 2008 - 2009 ) until December 23 2012 when his record was broken by Kai Forbath of the Washington Redskins . Early years . Hartley prepped at Carroll High School in Southlake , Texas , where he was coached by former North Texas coach Todd Dodge . He set a state record with 90 PAT ' s in 2002 ( surpassed by Carroll Dragon , Kevin Ortega , in 2004 and then another Carroll Dragon , Cade Foster , in 2009 ) . Coming out of Carroll , Hartley was rated as the 2nd best placekicker in the country , by Rivals . com . College career . Hartley began his college career at Oklahoma in 2004 . He spent most of his first season redshirt ed , but after inconsistent play from Trey Dicarlo , head coach Bob Stoops decided to pull Hartley ' s redshirt and start him . He only played in three games during his abbreviated first season and finished 1 - for - 1 on field goals and 12 - for - 12 on extra points with his only field goal coming in the 2005 BCS National Championship Game . Hartley struggled during his sophomore year , missing eight of his 22 field goal attempts despite making two field goals from beyond the 50 - yard line . Although he was more consistent with extra points , missing only one in 38 attempts . Hartley broke out during his junior season going 19 - for - 20 in field goals and 49 - for - 50 in extra points . Hartley ' s . 950 field goal percentage was among the highest during the season and earned him a nomination for the Lou Groza Award which goes to the nation ' s best placekicker . Hartley ' s only miss of the season came during a controversial loss to Oregon when a 44 - yard kick was blocked after Hartley had already successfully made four field goals . Hartley ' s senior season did not quite match the level of performance of the year before . He finished going 13 - for - 15 in field goals and 71 - for - 77 in extra points . Professional career . Denver Broncos . Hartley was not drafted during the 2008 NFL draft but he signed as a free agent with the Denver Broncos . However , he was released on July 21 just before the start of training camp . New Orleans Saints . Hartley was signed by the New Orleans Saints on October 29 , 2008 to replace Taylor Mehlhaff , who was released . He played in his first game on November 9 , 2008 against the Atlanta Falcons . Hartley came out strong , booting 13 for 13 field goal attempts for the 2008 season . He was expected to be the Saints starting kicker for the 2009 season . However , Hartley was given a 4 - game suspension after testing positive for a banned stimulant , Adderall . Hartley remained inactive ( while longtime Saints kicker John Carney handled the kicking duties ) until the Saints ' twelfth game of the season , against the Washington Redskins . Hartley then kicked four field goals , including the game winning kick in overtime that allowed the Saints to preserve their undefeated record . He missed the first field goal of his professional career in this game , from 58 yards . He held the NFL record for most consecutive field goals made to start a career , with 16 until the record was broken in 2012 by Kai Forbath of the Washington Redskins . On January 24 , 2010 he made a 40 - yard field goal in overtime against the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Championship game to send the New Orleans Saints to their first Super Bowl . He continued in Super Bowl XLIV , going 3 - for - 3 with field goals of 46 , 44 , and 47 yards . He became the first kicker in Super Bowl history to convert three field goals of 40 yards or more . The 2010 season began erratically for Hartley . He missed 2 field goal attempts in the Saints ' Week 1 home win over Minnesota , then made 3 kicks despite windy conditions in a Week 2 win at San Francisco . In a Week 3 match with Atlanta , he made a last - second field goal to send the game into overtime , but then missed a 29 yard field goal attempt in overtime that would have won the game . In response , the Saints re - signed John Carney , and Hartley was inactive for the next 2 games . With injuries mounting at other positions , however , the Saints decided not to continue carrying 2 kickers , cutting Carney and returning Hartley to his starting position . He has since signed a contract extension that will make him the highest paid kicker in the game .