Blake Grupe Bio
Blake Robert Grupe is an American professional football placekicker for the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). Born on November 5, 1998, in Sedalia, Missouri, he played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before entering the NFL. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL draft and currently wears jersey number 10 for Indianapolis.
Listed at 5 feet 7 inches and 156 pounds, Grupe has built his professional career on a strong leg and a reliable track record from college. He joined the Colts late in the 2025 season and re-signed with the franchise in March 2026, securing his place in the league for the coming campaign.
Early Life and Background
Blake Robert Grupe was born on November 5, 1998, in Sedalia, Missouri, where he grew up and attended Smith-Cotton High School. At Smith-Cotton, he was a three-sport athlete, competing in soccer, baseball, and football. Although he did not begin playing football until his sophomore year, Grupe developed quickly and became one of the most versatile athletes in the program.
As a senior, Grupe was named all-state in both football and soccer, a rare double honor that reflected his exceptional athletic talent. He also set school records for single-season and career field goals made during his high school career. Following his senior season, he committed to play college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves, launching a path that would eventually take him to the NFL.
Path to American Football
Grupe arrived at Arkansas State University in 2017 and redshirted his true freshman year, preserving a year of eligibility while he adjusted to the college level. By his sophomore season in 2018, he had earned the starting placekicking job by week three, converting 14 of 21 field goal attempts and finishing seventh in the Sun Belt Conference in field goals made.
His breakthrough came in 2019, when he made 19 of 22 field goal attempts and was named first-team All-Sun Belt as well as a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s best placekicker. That season, his 110 total points scored set a school record for kickers and ranked second in the conference and 13th nationally. He continued producing in 2020 and 2021, and in his final year with the Red Wolves he set program records for career extra points made, career field goals made, and career points scored.
Seeking a final season of eligibility on a larger stage, Grupe transferred to the University of Notre Dame in 2022. In his lone year with the Fighting Irish, he went 14 of 19 on field goals and made all 49 of his extra point attempts, demonstrating the consistency that would soon earn him an NFL opportunity.
Blake Grupe Career
Early Career (2023)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Blake Robert Grupe was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. He introduced himself immediately in the preseason by making the game-winning field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs. He then competed with veteran kicker Wil Lutz for the starting placekicking job and won the position battle, opening the regular season as the Saints’ primary kicker.
As a rookie, Grupe converted all 40 of his extra point attempts and 30 of 37 field goal attempts, an encouraging start to his professional career. His most memorable early moment came in Week 5, when he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after hitting multiple 50-plus-yard field goals and recording five touchbacks on seven kickoffs in a 34–0 win over the New England Patriots.
New Orleans Saints (2023–2025)
Grupe’s first two full seasons in New Orleans were largely productive. In 2023, he finished his rookie year with 30 made field goals and a perfect record on extra points, establishing himself as a dependable option. The following season, in 2024, he converted 31 of 33 extra point attempts and 27 of 31 field goal attempts, continuing his upward trajectory.
The 2025 season, however, proved more difficult. Through Week 12, Grupe missed a league-high eight field goal attempts, including making only 5 of 11 attempts past 40 yards. On November 25, 2025, the New Orleans Saints released him, ending his tenure with the franchise after parts of three seasons.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2025–Present)
On December 2, 2025, Blake Robert Grupe signed with the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad, and he was elevated to the active roster on December 10. He wasted little time making an impact. In Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks, he drilled a go-ahead 60-yard field goal with 40 seconds remaining, breaking the Colts’ franchise record of 58 yards set by Dan Miller in 1982, although Indianapolis ultimately lost the game 18–16.
On March 16, 2026, Grupe re-signed with the Indianapolis Colts on a one-year, $1.4 million contract, signaling the team’s confidence in his leg and his fit within the roster. He enters the coming seasons as the Colts’ starting placekicker.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Grupe’s career came in his first preseason game with the Saints, when he booted a game-winning field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs to announce his arrival. In his rookie year, he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week following a perfect performance against the New England Patriots. Most recently, his 60-yard field goal against the Seattle Seahawks set a new Indianapolis Colts franchise record and stands as the longest kick of his professional career.
Blake Grupe Career Wins
Throughout his career, Blake Robert Grupe has produced consistent results as both a field goal kicker and an extra point specialist. His resume includes the Lou Groza Award semifinalist honor in 2019, first-team All-Sun Belt recognition that same year, and second-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2021. At Arkansas State, he set school records for career extra points made, career field goals made, and career points scored.
New Orleans Saints Highlights
During his time with the New Orleans Saints, Grupe accumulated 57 made field goals across his first two seasons, including a perfect 40-for-40 mark on extra points as a rookie in 2023. He also earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors and helped deliver a game-winning preseason kick against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Indianapolis Colts Highlights
With the Indianapolis Colts, Grupe’s signature moment to date is his 60-yard go-ahead field goal against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15 of the 2025 season, which set a new franchise record. His performance down the stretch helped him secure a one-year, $1.4 million contract to remain with the team in 2026.
Blake Grupe Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Blake Robert Grupe was raised in Sedalia, Missouri, the same community where he attended Smith-Cotton High School and developed into a multi-sport standout. Specific details about his parents and immediate family members have not been publicly confirmed.
Personal Life
Public information about Blake Robert Grupe’s personal life is limited. He maintains an active presence on social media under the handle @blakegrupe on both X and Instagram. He has been based in the cities of his NFL teams, including New Orleans and Indianapolis, while continuing his professional career.
2025 Season Performance
Blake Robert Grupe’s 2025 season was a tale of two chapters. With the New Orleans Saints, he struggled to find his form, missing a league-high eight field goal attempts through Week 12, including making only 5 of 11 attempts from beyond 40 yards. The difficulties culminated in his release by the Saints on November 25, 2025.
His move to the Indianapolis Colts revitalized his season almost immediately. Joining the practice squad on December 2 before being promoted to the active roster on December 10, he delivered a memorable performance in Week 15, drilling a 60-yard go-ahead field goal against the Seattle Seahawks that broke the Colts’ all-time record. Although Indianapolis fell 18–16, the kick itself announced Grupe’s arrival as a powerful new weapon for the franchise.
Heading into the 2026 campaign, the outlook for Blake Robert Grupe is bright. His one-year, $1.4 million re-signing with the Colts in March 2026 confirms that the organization views him as its kicker of the present and the foreseeable future, and his record-breaking leg gives Indianapolis one of the longest field goal threats in the league.
