Tristan Vizcaino Bio
Tristan Vizcaino is an American football placekicker born on July 31, 1996, in Chino Hills, California. Standing 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighing 203 pounds, he has built a journeyman professional career across more than a half-dozen National Football League franchises since first signing with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2019. After going undrafted out of the University of Washington, he has continued to compete in professional football and is currently a member of the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League.
Early Life and Background
Tristan Vizcaino grew up in Southern California and attended Damien High School in La Verne, where he developed into a kicking prospect. His physical build, listed at 6 feet 2 inches and 203 pounds, gave him the frame of a prototypical kicker, and his high school career helped him attract attention from college programs along the West Coast.
Coming out of Damien, Vizcaino was rated as one of the top kicking prospects in his region, and he was recruited by the University of Washington, where he would spend the next four years developing his game at the highest level of college football. The combination of a strong leg and dependable accuracy on field goals and extra points made him a valuable multi-phase specialist for the Huskies.
Path to American Football
Vizcaino joined the University of Washington program in 2014 and immediately began working as both a placekicker and a punter. Across his four college seasons he continued to refine his mechanics, and his most productive year came in 2017 when he converted twelve field goals, showing the consistency that would later help him earn NFL opportunities.
Although he went undrafted in the 2018 NFL draft, Vizcaino was widely viewed as a candidate to latch on with a team as a free agent thanks to his college production. His first chance came when he attended a rookie minicamp tryout with the New York Jets in May 2018, an experience that helped set the stage for his eventual entry into the league in 2019.
Tristan Vizcaino Career
Early Career (2019)
Vizcaino signed a reserve/futures contract with the Cincinnati Bengals on January 1, 2019, officially beginning his professional career. He spent the offseason and training camp with Cincinnati, working to show that he could handle both field goal and kickoff duties at the NFL level.
His first stint with the Bengals ended on August 30, 2019, when he was waived at the conclusion of the preseason. Vizcaino then remained unsigned for the rest of the 2019 regular season, a common path for specialists who need to wait for the right opportunity.
Dallas Cowboys and Return to Cincinnati (2020)
On January 21, 2020, Vizcaino signed a reserve/futures contract with the Dallas Cowboys, hoping to compete for a roster spot. The Cowboys waived him on April 22, 2020, ending his brief time in Dallas.
He returned to the Cincinnati Bengals on August 1, 2020, but was waived again on August 26, 2020, as teams finalized their regular season rosters. The pattern of being signed and waived was a familiar one for Vizcaino during this stretch of his career.
Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers (2020–2021)
Vizcaino was signed to the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad on November 21, 2020, and spent time working with the special teams unit. He was released by the Vikings on December 15, 2020.
He found his next opportunity with the San Francisco 49ers, who signed him to their practice squad on January 1, 2021. The 49ers elevated him to the active roster the next day for a Week 17 game against the Seattle Seahawks after Robbie Gould entered COVID-19 protocols. Vizcaino made his NFL debut in that contest and converted all three of his field goal attempts, an impressive first impression that briefly hinted at a longer stay in San Francisco. His practice squad contract expired after the season on January 11, 2021.
Buffalo Bills and Los Angeles Chargers (2021)
Vizcaino signed with the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad on January 23, 2021, although that contract also expired after the season on February 1, 2021, without a regular-season appearance.
On March 5, 2021, he signed with the Los Angeles Chargers and beat out incumbent Michael Badgley to win the starting kicker job out of training camp. The Chargers waived him on October 26, 2021, after he missed a league-high five extra point attempts through the first seven weeks of the season. He was later re-signed to the Chargers’ practice squad as the team continued to manage the kicking position.
New England Patriots, Arizona Cardinals, and Return to Dallas (2022–2023)
Vizcaino signed with the New England Patriots on June 10, 2022, and was waived on August 30, 2022, before being re-signed to the practice squad on September 21, 2022. He was released on November 1, 2022. On November 12, 2022, he was signed to the Arizona Cardinals’ active roster, but was waived three days later on November 15, 2022.
He returned to the New England Patriots’ practice squad on November 21, 2022, and was elevated for a Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills to handle kickoff duties after Nick Folk allowed a kickoff return for a touchdown the previous week. On January 18, 2023, Vizcaino signed with the Dallas Cowboys’ practice squad, was re-signed on February 22, 2023, and was released prior to the regular season on August 7, 2023.
San Antonio Brahmas Era (2025–Present)
On April 18, 2025, Vizcaino signed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, joining a spring league that has become a popular landing spot for veteran specialists. The move to the UFL gave him a chance to take on a more consistent role after years of moving between practice squads and short stints in the NFL.
With the Brahmas, Vizcaino has been able to focus on being a full-time kicker rather than competing for practice squad spots. The San Antonio Brahmas era represents a fresh chapter in a career defined by persistence and adaptability.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Vizcaino’s career came in his NFL debut with the San Francisco 49ers in January 2021, when he made all three of his field goal attempts against the Seattle Seahawks. The performance was a reminder of the talent that has kept him in professional football despite numerous roster moves. Across his verified NFL career, he has connected on 9 of 10 field goal attempts, with his longest successful kick measuring 47 yards.
Tristan Vizcaino Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public information about Tristan Vizcaino’s family background is limited, and verified details about his parents and any family athletic lineage are not currently available.
Personal Life
Vizcaino resides in the United States and has built his professional life around the demands of being a professional football kicker. Detailed information about his marital status, spouse, or children is not publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
Vizcaino’s 2025 season is being spent with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League, a league that has provided him with a more stable home than many of his previous stops. After years of moving from one NFL franchise to the next, the UFL season has given him a chance to play a full slate of games and contribute consistently as a placekicker.
His prior NFL experience, including his reliable performance for the San Francisco 49ers, has carried over to the spring league and given the Brahmas a specialist familiar with high-pressure situations. The 2025 UFL campaign represents an opportunity for Vizcaino to continue his professional career and re-establish himself as a dependable kicker at a competitive level.