Mike Badgley Bio
Michael Badgley, nicknamed “the Money Badger,” is an American professional football placekicker. He played college football for the Miami Hurricanes and entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2018, beginning a career that has included multiple team stops and several high-pressure kicking performances.
Early Life and Background
Michael Badgley was born on July 28, 1995, in Summit, New Jersey. He attended Summit High School, where he excelled as a multi-sport athlete, competing in football, lacrosse, and hockey and helping his teams to state championships in multiple sports.
At Summit High School Badgley compiled extensive all-purpose statistics and kicking records, including a long field goal of 49 yards and a streak of consecutive PATs. After graduating he attended Fork Union Military Academy for a post-graduate year, where he remained the top-ranked kicker in composite recruiting and recorded a 58-yard field goal.
Path to American Football
Badgley planned originally to pursue collegiate lacrosse, following the lead of his older brother Peter Badgley, a standout Division I lacrosse goalie. A coach convinced him to pursue Division I football and he accepted an opportunity at the University of Miami.
At Miami Badgley developed into a reliable scorer and special teams leader, ultimately earning team captain status and conference recognition. His college performance opened doors to postseason showcases and NFL evaluation opportunities despite going undrafted in 2018.
Mike Badgley Career
Early Career (2014–2018)
Badgley was the Miami Hurricanes starting kicker from his true freshman season in 2014 through his senior year in 2017. He finished his collegiate career as Miami’s all-time leading scorer, leaving the program with multiple school records in field goals and points scored.
After graduating, Badgley accepted invitations to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the NFL Scouting Combine and then signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He performed well in preseason work alongside veteran kickers but was released in final roster cuts.
Los Angeles Chargers Breakthrough (2018–2020)
Mike Badgley signed with the Los Angeles Chargers during the 2018 season and made his NFL regular-season debut in Week 6. He converted all extra points and his lone field goal in that debut, and soon became notable for long-range accuracy and clutch kicking.
During the 2018 season Badgley set a Chargers franchise record with a 59-yard field goal and earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He also delivered a postseason performance that included multiple first-half field goals against the Baltimore Ravens and set Chargers postseason club records for field goals and points in a game.
Across his time with the Chargers Badgley established himself as a consistent scoring option, finishing his first full season with the team among the club’s all-time scoring leaders by the completion of 2020.
Detroit Lions Era (2022–2024)
Badgley joined the Detroit Lions in 2022, initially on the practice squad, and earned promotion to the active roster later that year. He produced a strong late-season stretch, converting a high percentage of field goals and extra points and earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition after a 16-point game that featured four field goals.
He re-signed with the Detroit Lions and played a key role during the 2023 postseason run. Badgley made a 54-yard game-deciding field goal in the NFC Wild Card Round to secure a victory over the Los Angeles Rams and remained perfect on postseason attempts that campaign, finishing 3-of-3 on field goals and 11-of-11 on extra points.
Badgley re-signed with Detroit in early 2024 but suffered a torn hamstring in July and was placed on injured reserve, missing the 2024 regular season while the Lions advanced as the NFC’s top seed without him.
Buffalo Bills Era (2025–Present)
In December 2025 Michael Badgley was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad following an injury to the team’s veteran kicker. He was elevated for a late-season game and converted a 41-yard field goal while missing one PAT in that appearance.
Badgley appeared in a follow-up game for the Bills and handled field-goal duties but was released later in December. His brief stint with Buffalo continued a professional career defined by short-term team signings and situational kicking assignments across multiple NFL rosters.
Driving Style and Strengths
Badgley’s strengths include leg strength, accuracy from long distances, and the ability to perform in high-pressure moments. He has demonstrated range with multiple field goals beyond 50 yards and has shown mental resilience after misses, rebounding to make decisive kicks in close games.
Notable Events and Milestones
Key milestones in Badgley’s career include Miami’s all-time scoring record, a Chargers franchise record 59-yard field goal, an AFC Special Teams Player of the Week award in 2018, and a 54-yard playoff game-winning field goal for the Detroit Lions in the 2023 postseason.
Mike Badgley Career Wins
As a placekicker, Badgley’s on-field contributions are measured in scoring totals and clutch kicking rather than individual wins. Through 2025 his career NFL statistics include over 100 field goals made, more than 500 career points, and high conversion rates on both field goals and extra points, reflecting sustained scoring production across several teams.
NFL Highlights
Badgley left the University of Miami as the program’s all-time leading scorer and was a 2017 first-team All-ACC selection. In the NFL he recorded a franchise-record 59-yard field goal for the Los Angeles Chargers and posted multiple standout performances that earned weekly conference honors.
Other Wins & Perfromances
At the high school and prep levels Badgley compiled extensive scoring and all-purpose numbers, set multiple Summit High School kicking records, and won state championships in lacrosse and hockey. His post-graduate season at Fork Union Military Academy further solidified his kicking profile with long-distance success and national recognition.
Mike Badgley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Michael Badgley’s older brother, Peter Badgley, played Division I lacrosse as a goalie at Providence College and earned conference honors. The brothers’ athletic background contributed to Michael’s multi-sport development through high school and prep school.
Personal Life
Publicly available information about Badgley’s personal life focuses on his athletic career and education. He attended Summit High School, completed a post-graduate year at Fork Union Military Academy, and played college football at the University of Miami.
2025 Season Performance
In 2025 Badgley was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad in mid-December and was elevated for game duty following an injury to the roster’s primary kicker. He converted a 41-yard field goal in his appearance and missed two PAT attempts across late-season game action before being released later in December.
The 2025 stint with Buffalo added another chapter to Badgley’s career as a reliable short-term option for NFL teams needing experienced kicking depth. His late-season appearances underscored a professional profile built on leg strength, experience in pressure situations, and availability to step into game-day roles.