EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Vikings on Wednesday announced the signing of kicker Kai Forbath.
The 29-year-old Forbath a former standout at the University of California, Los Angeles. He spent the past four seasons in Washington and New Orleans and has made 69 of 82 field goals (84.1 percent) in his career.
The Vikings added Forbath after Blair Walsh was released Tuesday.
Here are five things to know about the newest Minnesota Viking:
1. The UCLA connection
There will be a few familiar faces around Winter Park for Forbath. He will be reunited with a pair of college teammates in punter/holder Jeff Locke and long snapper Kevin McDermott. The trio simultaneously attended UCLA together from 2008-2010, but were not all on special teams together. Locke and McDermott redshirted in 2008, and McDermott didn't become UCLA's long snapper until 2011. Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks also were with the football program in Forbath's senior season in 2010.
View images of Vikings new K Kai Forbath from his days with the New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins and at UCLA.
2. Life as a pro
Forbath got off to a strong start in the NFL as he made 59 of 67 field goals (88.1 percent) in his first three seasons in Washington. He then spent 10 games with the Saints last season, converting on 10 of 15 field goals and 33 of 34 extra points.
3. A quick glance
Forbath connected on 85 of 101 field goals at UCLA, good for an 84.2 percent clip. He was also solid from long range, making 10 of 13 tries from beyond 50 yards. Forbath had a career long of 54 yards while with the Bruins.
4. Bringing home the hardware
Forbath received at least one notable honor during each of his four years at UCLA. He was a Sporting News Second-Team Freshman All-American before earning Third-Team All-American accolades the next year from the Associated Press. Forbath won the Lou Groza Award as the nation's best kicker as a junior in 2009 and was a consensus All-American. He was a semifinalist for the award in 2010 and earned Second-Team All-Pac-10 honors.
5. Surf's up, dude
The Southern California native has an affinity for surfing, Forbath grew up in the coastal community of Pacific Palisades. He attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, was on football teams that won three California Interscholastic Federation championships and was the top-ranked kicker in the nation as a senior.
