Although Mike Vanderjagt played four different sports at Oakville’s White Oaks Secondary School, he became laser-focused on football when attending Michigan State University. There, he played as the team’s quarterback and kicker, and performed at a high level.
In 1991 and 1992, he moved to West Virginia University. He played as punter and place kicker, and finished off his NCAA career with an excellent record. Following graduation, he returned to Canada and became a kicker in the CFL, where he played for four different teams—including the Toronto Argonauts.
In 1998, Vanderjagt made the switch to the NFL, joining the Indianapolis Colts, where he became a fixture as the club’s place kicker. He had an especially spectacular 2003 season, becoming the first kicker in the league’s history to go a full season—including the playoffs— without missing a field goal or point after attempt. He finished the regular season 37 for 37 in field goals, and 46 for 46 in point afters.
He was also perfect on 3 field goals and 12 point afters in the play offs. With this achievement under his belt, Vanderjagt made his first Pro Bowl and was named first team all-pro.
Vanderjagt’s streak of 42 consecutive successful field goals, the longest in NFL history, ended on Sept 9, 2004, when he missed a 48-yard attempt against the New England Patriots. After one year playing with the Dallas Cowboys, he left the NFL and returned to the CFL Toronto Argonauts, where he played in 1996 and 1997.
Vanderjagt retired as the most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history. He made 230 of 266 field goal attempts, with an accuracy percentage of 86.5%.
