EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings announced Wednesday that they have re-signed kicker Kai Forbath.
Initially signed by the Vikings for the final seven games of the 2016 season, Forbath is entering his second full season with Minnesota.
In 23 games for the Vikings, Forbath has made 47 of 53 field goal attempts (88.7 percent) and is 45-of-53 (84.9 percent) in extra points attempted.
Forbath earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in October following his performance against Baltimore. The kicker made all six of his field goal attempts from distances of 52, 51, 43, 43, 34 and 32, setting a career-high with 18 points and marking the first time in his career to make multiple field goals from beyond 50 yards. His performance helped the Vikings defeat the Ravens 24-16 for the team's third consecutive win.
Forbath successfully kicked six field goals of 50-plus yards during the 2017 regular season, including a 53-yard field goal at Washington in Week 10 to give the Vikings a comfortable fourth-quarter lead.
The product of UCLA, who spent time with the Redskins (2012-15) and the Saints prior to signing with the Vikings, has demonstrated on multiple occasions that he can be cool under pressure.
Perhaps most significant in 2017 was Forbath's performance in the Divisional round playoff game against the Saints. After knocking one through the uprights from 20 yards out in the first quarter, Forbath made a 49-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter.
But after a Saints comeback to put them over the Vikings 21-20 late in the game, Forbath was called upon from 53 yards out with just 1:29 left on the clock. The field goal was good, allowing the Vikings to take a two-point lead. Saints kicker Wil Lutz came through for New Orleans with another field goal at the 25-second mark, but it was Forbath's success that allowed the Vikings to win with the "Minneapolis Miracle" walk-off touchdown by Stefon Diggs.
Forbath has mentioned on a handful of occasions how much he appreciates the Vikings locker room and being a part of it, calling Minnesota his "favorite team I've ever played for." Following the Vikings loss in the NFC Championship game, Forbath told media members in Philadelphia that he hoped to continue his NFL career in Purple.
"I love playing for this team and made it clear that this is somewhere I want to be," Forbath said. "That's one of the things I talked to [Special Teams Coordinator Mike Priefer] about, was that this locker room was so different than any team I've ever been on. It's something I want to be a part of going forward."
