Dan Carpenter Daniel Roy Carpenter ( born November 25 , 1985 ) is an American football placekicker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He was signed by the Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2008 after playing college football for the University of Montana . Early years . Carpenter attended Helena High School in Helena , Montana , where he was a member of the National Honor Society and had a 3 . 7 grade point average . As a football player at Helena , Carpenter was a two - time all - state and two - time all - league selection as a kicker and punter . During his senior season , he converted 26 of 29 point after attempts and made five field goals with a long of 53 yards . Additionally , he was a first all - conference and second - team all - state selection as a wide receiver , setting school records with 931 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns . College career . Carpenter enrolled at the University of Montana , and became the placekicker for the Montana Grizzlies football team as a true freshman in 2004 . He went 18 - for - 29 ( 62 . 1 percent ) on field - goal attempts while converting all 63 extra - point tries . Carpenter also rushed twice for 17 yards and scored a touchdown . His 123 points that season were the second - highest total in school history , and his performance earned him a second - team All - Big Sky selection . As a sophomore in 2005 , Carpenter went 14 - for - 21 ( 66 . 7 percent ) on field - goal attempts and punted nine times for a 41 . 4 - yard average . on the way to his second straight second - team All - Big Sky selection . His streak of 67 consecutive extra points made dating back to his freshman season was snapped in the 2005 season opener against Fort Lewis . Carpenter earned his third straight All - Big Sky selection as a junior in 2006 , receiving second - team honors as a placekicker as well as being an honorable mention as a punter . Additionally , he was named a first - team All - America n by the Associated Press . On the season , he converted 24 of 30 field goals ( 80 percent ) with four blocked and punted 62 times for a 41 . 9 - yard average . Carpenter had the most efficient season of his career as a senior in 2007 , converting 19 of 23 field goals ( 82 . 6 percent ) . His performance earned him his fourth - straight All - Big Sky selection and second straight All - America selection . In his four years at Montana , Carpenter converted on 54 of 75 field goals ( 72 . 8 percent ) and punted 71 times for a 41 . 8 - yard average . He also passed once for 14 yards , rushed twice for 17 yards and a touchdown , caught one pass for two yards and made seven solo tackles . Professional career . Miami Dolphins . After going undrafted in the 2008 NFL Draft , Carpenter signed a two - year contract with the Miami Dolphins on April 29 , 2008 . The deal included a $ 7 , 500 signing bonus . The Dolphins released 2007 starting kicker Jay Feely on August 12 , 2008 ( despite having set the Dolphins single - season field - goal percentage record in his only season ) , having already released try - out signing Dave Rayner on June 6 . The decision effectively selected Carpenter to be the starting kicker for the 2008 season , with coach Tony Sparano commenting that the decision to cut Feely " was based purely on numbers , on performance , and Carpenter has outperformed him right now . That ' s the bottom line . " Carpenter made his professional debut on September 7 , 2008 ( Week 1 ) against the Jets , going 2 / 2 on PAT ' s ( the team attempted no FG ' s ) . He kicked his first professional field goal the following week against the Cardinals , finishing the game with 1 / 1 FG ' s and 1 / 1 PAT ' s . On November 30 , 2008 , Carpenter set the Dolphins ' rookie record for most consecutive field goals made with 11 . Carpenter was awarded the AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November 2008 , for converting all eight of his field goal attempts during the month , including five from a distance longer than 40 yards . According to NFL stats , Carpenter finished the 2009 season going 25 for 28 on field goals with a long of 52 yards . He also finished 40 for 40 on extra point attempts . Carpenter made his first Pro Bowl in 2009 . San Diego Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding did not play due to injury , and Carpenter took his spot . As of the end of the 2010 season , Carpenter is the second most accurate kicker in NFL history , behind Kaeding . On December 5 , 2010 , Carpenter made a 60 - yard field goal in a home game against the Cleveland Browns . This was the longest field goal in Miami Dolphins history . On September 23 , 2012 , Carpenter missed a 47 - yard field goal in a home game against the New York Jets in overtime which would have sealed victory for Miami in overtime . Carpenter also missed a field goal from a similar distance earlier in the game . Miami would ultimately go on to lose 23 - 20 to New York in overtime . On November 25 , 2012 , his 27th birthday , he hit a 43 - yard field goal to win against the Seattle Seahawks in overtime to win 24 - 21 at home . Later on December 22 , he was placed on Injured Reserve . Former Charger Nate Kaeding was signed to replace him . Personal . Family . Carpenter married Kaela Clawson native of Plentywood , Montana , in a private ceremony and reception on July 2 , 2011 . The events were held on the acreage of the brides family farm and ranch in Montana . Carpenter and Clawson met in college in Missoula , Montana . Clawson studied elementary education .