Chase Vinatieri was in the stands when his uncle Adam kicked the Patriots to championships in Super Bo൲wls XXXVI and XXXVIII, starting an unpreceden☂ted run of success for two decades.
No♈w he could be joining that same team. As Chase Vinatieri prepares for a shot at the NFL, the Patriots need a kicker.
“There are bits and pieces I do kind of remember — being at the [team] hotel, conversing with him before and after the games. I do remember how much of a celebration it was for him and our family,” the 23-year-old kicker out of South Dakota State . “Now, I just go back and rewatch the YouTube videos of his kicks.
“Just recently, they were on TV, so as my family sat down and hung out, we rewatched those Super Bowls. It’s different now, being older, where I can understand what happened and how high-stakes they were.”
Chase is the son of Chad Vinatieri, Adam’s older brother. He is considered a quality kicking prospect, ranked fifth in the draft at the position by ESPN’s Todd McShay, behind the likes of Georgia’s Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia Southern’s Tyler Bass and UCLA’s JJ Molson. Chase ranks third in South Dakota State history in field goals made (47) and points scored (374).
Like most draft prospects, Vinatieri’s pro day was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. He was able to spend time working with Mike McCabe of One On One Kicking. The Patriots know McCabe well. He worked with Ryan Allen, who punted for them from 2013-18.
“From watching the draft the last few years, maybe one, two or three kickers get drafted, and so realistically, it’s more likely I’ll be an undrafted free agent,” Chase said. “I’m definitely OK if that’s what it is. I’m just looking for a team to give me an opportunity.”
The Patriots are in the market for a new kicker after cutting Stephen Goꦓstkowski last month. Perhaps Vinatieri could follow in his uncle’s footsteps.