Kai Forbath Kai August Forbath ( born September 2 , 1987 ) is an American football kicker for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played college football at University of California , Los Angeles ( UCLA ) , and was recognized as an All - American and the best college kicker in the country in 2009 . He was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2011 . Early years . Forbath was born in Santa Monica , California . He attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks , California . During his last two prep seasons , he converted 26 of 33 field goal attempts and scored 213 total points , with a long field goal of 57 yards . He also forced touchbacks on 150 of 188 kickoffs . Forbath subsequently earned high school All - American recognition by " USA Today " . Considered a three - star recruit by " Rivals . com " , Forbath was listed as the No . 1 placekicker in the nation among the class of 2006 . He picked UCLA over California , Notre Dame , Oregon , and others . College career . Forbath attended University of California , Los Angeles ( UCLA ) , where he played for the UCLA Bruins football team from 2006 to 2010 . After redshirting his initial year at UCLA , Forbath made 25 of 30 field goals and all 30 points after touchdowns ( PATs ) for a team - high 105 points in 2007 . He became the first UCLA player to record five field goals of at least 50 yards in a season , including a freshman - best 54 - yarder versus Oregon . In his sophomore year , Forbath received first - team All - Pacific - 10 honors after making 19 of 22 field goals on the season , including his last 13 straight . As a junior in 2009 , he connected on another three field goals from 50 yards or more and has now made 9 of 12 tries from that length . Competing with Leigh Tiffin of Alabama and Blair Walsh of Georgia , Forbath was named the winner of the 2009 Lou Groza Award , recognizing the best college placekicker . On September 25 , 2010 , Forbath kicked two field goals in leading the Bruins to an upset victory over the No . 7 ranked Texas Longhorns 34 – 12 in front of a stadium - record 101 , 437 fans in Austin , Texas . Previous week , Forbath kicked a 42 - yard field goal in the 3rd quarter to give the Bruins a 24 – 3 lead in the game against then - No . 23 Houston . UCLA defeated Houston 31 – 13 . On November 6 , 2010 , Forbath kicked a game winning 51 - yard field goal in the last second of the game to give the Bruins a 17 – 14 win over Oregon State , and he was named Pac - 10 Conference Special Team Player - of - the - Week . Professional career . Dallas Cowboys . After being projected as the second - best kicker in the 2011 NFL Draft , Forbath was not selected . However , on August 2 , 2011 , he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a rookie free agent , and was subsequently placed on the reserve / non - football injury list . He was waived on April 16 , 2012 . Tampa Bay Buccaneers . The Tampa Bay Buccaneers claimed Forbath off waivers on April 17 , 2012 . During preseason , Forbath made five out of five field goal attempts , including a successful 55 - yard kick . Washington Redskins . The Washington Redskins signed Forbath on October 9 , 2012 , replacing Billy Cundiff . Forbath made his NFL and Redskins debut in an impressive fashion , knocking through a 50 - yarder as his first career NFL field goal in the home game against the Minnesota Vikings on October 14 , 2012 . He was also a perfect five of five on extra points , as the Redskins defeated the Vikings 38 – 26 . His performance was essential in the Redskins ' victory over the Baltimore Ravens in Week 14 , where he recorded 48 and 49 - yard field goals and then a game - winning 34 - yard field goal in overtime . On December 23 , 2012 , Forbath set the NFL record for consecutive field goals to begin a career with 17 in a row , beating Garrett Hartley , who previously held the record at 16 . The ball was sent to the Pro Football Hall of Fame .