Nick Folk

Nick Folk Bio

Nicholas Alexander Folk, known professionally as Nick Folk, is an American professional football placekicker currently playing for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Born on November 5, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, Folk has built a long and reliable career as one of the league’s most consistent kickers since entering the NFL in 2007. Over the years, he has played for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Hotshots, New England Patriots, and Tennessee Titans, earning Pro Bowl honors in his rookie season.

Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 225 pounds, Folk is recognized for his accuracy, longevity, and ability to perform under pressure. He holds a notable position on the NFL’s all-time field goals made list and has repeatedly led the league in field goal percentage in recent seasons. His career has been defined by clutch kicks, including multiple game-winning field goals across nearly two decades of professional play.

Early Life and Background

Nicholas Alexander Folk was born on November 5, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, to Anton Folk and Kathryn Folk. His father, originally from Austria, is an accountant, while his mother works as a pediatrician. Folk grew up in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles alongside his two younger brothers, Erik and Gregory. Through his father’s Austrian heritage, the family holds dual citizenship in both the United States and Germany, where his father spent his early years.

Folk attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, where he developed his skills as both a kicker and punter. As a senior, he was named All-CIF as a punter and earned second-team All-CIF honors as a placekicker. In addition to football, Folk was a standout soccer player, serving as captain of his high school team and earning All-CIF Division, all-league, and All-Valley recognition for his performances on the pitch.

Path to American Football

After high school, Folk accepted a football scholarship to the University of Arizona, where he played for the Arizona Wildcats from 2003 to 2006. He became the team’s starting kicker during his sophomore season and also took on punting duties, demonstrating the versatility that would later help him at the professional level. One of the highlights of his college career came in 2005, when he booted a 52-yard field goal against USC, the longest of his time at Arizona.

Folk’s final college season was his most decorated, as he earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors in 2006. He completed his college career with statistics of 30 field goals made out of 47 attempts, 79 extra points made out of 81 attempts, and 96 punts totaling 4,242 yards, including a long punt of 61 yards. His accuracy and range drew the attention of NFL scouts, leading to his selection in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Nick Folk Career

Early Career (2007-2009)

The Dallas Cowboys selected Nick Folk in the sixth round, 178th overall, of the 2007 NFL Draft. He quickly established himself as a reliable kicker, hitting a 53-yard game-winner against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football during his rookie campaign. Folk finished the 2007 season going 26-of-31 on field goals and 53-for-53 on extra points, earning Pro Bowl honors and a spot on the PFWA All-Rookie Team. He also broke the Cowboys’ single-season record for points by a placekicker with 131 points.

After a strong 2008 campaign in which he made 91% of his field goals, Folk underwent surgery in May 2009 to repair a torn labrum in his hip. The injury hampered his performance that season, as he converted only 18 of 28 field goal attempts. The Cowboys waived him on December 21, 2009, after a missed 23-yard attempt against the New Orleans Saints, ending his three-year tenure in Dallas.

Dallas Cowboys Breakthrough (2007-2009)

Folk’s arrival in Dallas marked the beginning of a successful professional career. As a rookie, he became the first Cowboys kicker in franchise history to be selected to the Pro Bowl, an accomplishment that signaled his arrival as one of the league’s promising young specialists. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week during Week 5 of the 2007 season after a strong performance against the Buffalo Bills.

Although his career in Dallas was relatively short, Folk’s impact on the Cowboys was significant. His 131 points in 2007 set a franchise record, and his accuracy on extra points was perfect. Despite the abrupt end to his Cowboys tenure, the foundation he built in his first three NFL seasons set the stage for a long and productive career.

New York Jets First Stint (2010-2016)

Nick Folk signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets on February 23, 2010, beginning a seven-year run with the franchise. Working with special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff, Folk refined his technique and regained his confidence after recovering from hip surgery. On October 11, 2010, he became the first Jets kicker since Pat Leahy in 1984 to make five field goals in a home game, and he set a franchise record with a 56-yard kick against the Denver Broncos later that month.

Folk’s most iconic moment as a Jet came during the 2010 AFC Wild Card Round, when he drilled a game-winning field goal with three seconds remaining to defeat the Indianapolis Colts. He continued his strong play in subsequent seasons, earning the franchise tag in 2014 and signing a four-year, $12 million contract. In 2013, he set a Jets record for the longest field goal made at home with a 55-yard kick. He ranks second on the franchise’s all-time list in points scored with 729, second in field goals made with 175, and first in field goal percentage at 81.3%.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers and AAF (2017-2019)

Released by the Jets in a salary cap move on February 23, 2017, Folk signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 17, 2017. He won the starting kicker job after the team released Roberto Aguayo and Zach Hocker during training camp. However, his season was marked by inconsistency, including a Week 5 performance in which he missed three field goals against the New England Patriots. He was placed on injured reserve in October 2017 and released the following February.

After sitting out the 2018 season, Folk attempted an NFL comeback with the Chicago Bears in January 2019 but was not signed. He instead joined the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football, where he set a record for the longest field goal in AAF history at 55 yards. The league ceased operations in April 2019, prompting Folk’s return to the NFL later that year.

New England Patriots Era (2019-2022)

Folk signed with the New England Patriots on October 29, 2019, beginning a four-year run in New England. He finished the 2019 season converting all 12 extra point attempts and 14 of 17 field goal attempts. In 2020, he earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors after a Week 9 performance against his former team, the Jets, in which he made a 51-yard game-winning field goal in a 30-27 victory. He added a second Player of the Week award that season after a Week 12 game-winner against the Arizona Cardinals.

The 2021 season was Folk’s most productive in New England, as he converted 36 of 39 field goal attempts and 42 of 47 extra points, tying Daniel Carlson for the league lead in scoring. In 2022, he set an NFL record for most consecutive field goals made under 50 yards, reaching 57 in a row before the streak ended at 64. He also transitioned into a kickoff specialist role late in the season.

Tennessee Titans Era (2023-2024)

On August 29, 2023, the Patriots traded Folk to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick. He made an immediate impact, going 5-for-5 in the Titans’ season opener against the New Orleans Saints and earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 2 after a game-winning 41-yard field goal in overtime against the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished the 2023 season going 29-for-30 on field goals, breaking the Titans’ single-season record for highest field goal percentage.

Folk re-signed with the Titans on March 20, 2024, and produced another strong season despite turning 40 years old. He converted 21 of 22 field goal attempts, including a career-tying 56-yard kick, and made all 25 of his extra point attempts. He led the league in field goal percentage at 95.5% for the second consecutive year. Injuries forced him to miss the final three games of the 2024 season.

New York Jets Second Stint (2025)

On July 29, 2025, Folk signed a one-year contract to return to the New York Jets, the team where he had spent the most productive years of his career. He set a new career long with a 58-yard field goal on September 29, 2025. In Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, he made a 56-yard game-winning field goal in a 27-24 victory, marking the 20th game-winning kick of his career. He completed the 2025 season going 28-for-29 on field goals, leading the NFL in field goal percentage at 96.6% for the third straight season.

Notable Events and Milestones

Throughout his career, Nick Folk has been defined by his ability to deliver in pressure situations. He earned Pro Bowl and PFWA All-Rookie Team honors in 2007 and was named NFL scoring co-leader in 2021. Folk set a Jets franchise record for consecutive field goals made with 23 and holds the Titans’ single-season record for field goal percentage. On September 29, 2025, he set a new career long with a 58-yard field goal, and he reached 20 career game-winning field goals in Week 13 of the 2025 season. With 431 career field goals made, he ranks 12th on the NFL’s all-time list and first among active players.

Nick Folk Career Wins

Nick Folk has compiled one of the most consistent kicking careers in modern NFL history, amassing 431 field goals made and 1,826 career points through the 2025 season. Known for his accuracy, he has led the league in field goal percentage in three consecutive seasons from 2023 to 2025, posting marks of 96.7%, 95.5%, and 96.6%, respectively. His career field goal percentage stands at 85% on 507 attempts, while he has converted 533 of 550 extra point attempts for a 96.9% success rate.

NFL Highlights

Folk’s first NFL win came in dramatic fashion during his rookie season with the Dallas Cowboys, when he booted a 53-yard game-winning field goal against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. Most recently, he kicked a 56-yard game-winning field goal against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13 of the 2025 season, his 20th career game-winning kick. His career-long field goal of 58 yards came on September 29, 2025, while wearing a Jets uniform for the second time.

Other Wins and Performances

Beyond his NFL accomplishments, Folk set the record for the longest field goal in Alliance of American Football history at 55 yards while playing for the Arizona Hotshots in 2019. He has earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors multiple times, including performances with the Jets in 2010, the Patriots in 2020 and 2022, and the Titans in 2023 and 2024. His first-team All-Pac-10 selection in 2006 marked the earliest notable achievement in his decorated career.

Nick Folk Family

Family Background and Racing Lineage

Nicholas Alexander Folk was born to Anton Folk and Kathryn Folk in Los Angeles, California. His father, originally from Austria, is an accountant whose parents were Donauschwaben, a German-speaking community historically based in southeastern Europe. His mother is a pediatrician. Through his father’s Austrian background, Nick and his two younger brothers, Erik and Gregory, hold dual citizenship in the United States and Germany.

Both of Nick’s brothers followed athletic paths. Erik Folk played as a placekicker for the University of Washington Huskies football team through the 2011 season, while Gregory Folk was a soccer player at UCLA and has played professionally for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The family’s cousin, Blake Robinson, was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis as a child, inspiring Nick to partner with the Children’s Tumor Foundation to support research into the condition.

Personal Life

Nick Folk majored in marketing at the University of Arizona. An avid soccer fan, he attends New York Red Bulls games when in the area and is a member of the Viking Army Supporters Club. He is married to his wife, Julianne, and together they have four children, including twin boys, a daughter, and a younger son. The family has remained connected to both the Los Angeles area and the various NFL communities where Nick has played throughout his career.

2025 Season Performance

Nick Folk’s 2025 campaign with the New York Jets marked a triumphant return to the franchise where he enjoyed his most productive years. Signed to a one-year contract on July 29, 2025, Folk delivered one of the finest seasons of his career, converting 28 of 29 field goal attempts and leading the NFL in field goal percentage at 96.6%. He tied Eddy Piñeiro for the league lead, capping three consecutive seasons of leading the NFL in field goal percentage from 2023 through 2025.

Among the highlights of his 2025 season was a 58-yard field goal on September 29, his new career long. He also delivered a 56-yard game-winning kick against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 13, giving the Jets a 27-24 victory and marking the 20th game-winning field goal of his career. Folk’s consistency proved vital for the Jets’ special teams unit, providing stability and reliability in close-game situations throughout the season.

Following the conclusion of the 2025 season, Folk signed a two-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on March 12, 2026, beginning a new chapter in his long NFL career. At an age when most kickers have long retired, Folk continues to perform at an elite level, ranking first among active players with 431 career field goals made. His 2025 performance further cemented his legacy as one of the most accurate and dependable kickers in league history.