Nate Kaeding Nathaniel James Kaeding ( born March 26 , 1982 ) is a former American football placekicker of the National Football League ( NFL ) . He played the majority of his career with the San Diego Chargers . Kaeding retired after the 2012 season as the second most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history , having made 86 . 2 percent of his career attempts . Kaeding played college football for the University of Iowa , where he earned All - American honors and was recognized as the top college placekicker with the Lou Groza Award . The San Diego Chargers drafted Kaeding in the third round of the 2004 NFL Draft . He was twice named to the Pro Bowl , and he was a two - time All - Pro selection . However , he struggled in the playoffs , making just 8 - for - 15 ( 53 . 3 % ) field goals . He was released by San Diego midway through the 2012 season after a groin injury . He finished the season with the Miami Dolphins before retiring . Early years . Kaeding was born in Iowa City , Iowa . He attended Iowa City West High School , and played high school football for the Iowa City West High Trojans . College career . Kaeding attended the University of Iowa , where he played for the Iowa Hawkeyes football team from 2000 to 2003 . Kaeding earned a teaching certificate in secondary education while at Iowa . He won the Lou Groza Award in 2002 and is the all time leading scorer . In high school , he played in state championship games in three different sports : ( basketball , football and soccer ) at Iowa City West High School . Professional career . San Diego Chargers . During the 2004 season , Kaeding attempted to become the first rookie since the 1970 season to make a game - winning field goal in the in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime . His 40 - yard field goal attempt on a wet field missed , and the Chargers lost in the wild card round to the New York Jets , who won the game on a Doug Brien field goal . Kaeding ' s postseason struggles continued in the 2006 NFL Playoffs , when he missed a potential game tying 54 - yard field goal attempt against the New England Patriots . He had not missed a field goal at home in the previous two years prior to that 54 - yard attempt . He was selected to his first Pro Bowl that season , where he kicked the game - winning 21 - yard field goal with four seconds left in the game . Kaeding suffered a fractured fibula when he made a tackle on the opening kickoff against the Denver Broncos on December 24 , 2007 and played the final 5 games of the season with the fractured fibula . In the 2007 playoffs , Kaeding missed a field goal each in the Wild Card weekend game against Tennessee ( which San Diego won ) and against the Indianapolis Colts ( which San Diego also won ) . His streak of consecutive playoff games with a missed field goal stood at 4 but was ended with a made field goal from 40 yards against New England . In the 2009 NFL season , Kaeding connected on 91 . 4 % ( 32 / 35 ) of his field goals , a percentage that led the NFL . His season long of 54 yards came in a Week 15 victory over Cincinnati Bengals . However , in the against the New York Jets , Kaeding ' s postseason struggles continued as he missed all three of his attempted field goals , from 36 , 57 , and 40 yards ; the Jets won the game 17 - 14 . In his postseason career , Kaeding was 3 - for - 9 on field goal attempts at home and 8 - for - 15 ( 53 . 3 % ) overall in eight playoff games . In the 2011 NFL season , Kaeding was injured on the first play of the season when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament , causing him to miss the duration of the season and necessitated the signing of Nick Novak . Kaeding ended the 2011 season as the NFL ’ s most accurate kicker of all - time , converting 86 . 5 % of his field goals attempts . He competed for his job in 2012 and beat out Novak , who also had a strong showing . However , Kaeding suffered a right groin injury and was replaced by Novak in the week 4 game against Kansas City . After missing three games , Kaeding was placed on injured reserve with a minor injury designation that required the Chargers to release him after he recovered . On October 30 , Kaeding became an unrestricted free agent after he was released by the Chargers upon a physical ; he collected over $ 1 million in termination pay . Kaeding made all seven of his field goal attempts with the Chargers in 2012 , and left the team as the most accurate kicker in NFL history at 87 % ( 180 - of - 207 ) . Miami Dolphins . On December 21 , 2012 , Kaeding signed with the Miami Dolphins , replacing incumbent Dan Carpenter , who was out with a groin injury . He missed two of three field goals as a Dolphin , making a 45 - yarder while missing from 41 and having a 46 - yard attempt blocked . His career percentage dropped to 86 . 2 , falling to second behind Mike Vanderjagt ( 86 . 5 ) . Retirement . On April 2 , 2013 Kaeding signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers . However , he suffered another groin injury during the offseason . Days later on May 2 , Kaeding retired from the NFL , citing " chronic issues " with his groin muscle . Personal . In January 2008 , Kaeding began writing weekly movie reviews for CorridorBUZZ , a daily arts & entertainment web site serving the Iowa City / Cedar Rapids , Iowa corridor . He owns a restaurant in Iowa City called Short ' s Burgers Nate and his wife , Samantha ( née Gervich ) , have two sons , Jack and Wyatt , and a daughter , Tess .