From near-drowning in Hawaii to the highest-paid kicker in the NFL
In short: Before he was a record-breaking professional athlete, Kaʻimi Fairbairn almost lost his life in a pool. Today, the Houston Texans kicker stands as one of the most accurate players in football history, transforming early struggles with distance into a career of precision and unprecedented financial value.
Born in Kailua, Hawaii, Kaʻiminoeauloamekaʻikeokumupaʻa Fairbairn’s path to professional football was anything but linear. As a young student at Punahou School, he actually preferred catching the ball to kicking it and even attempted to try out for water polo. However, a near-drowning incident forced him to realize he was not a proficient swimmer, leading him back to the football field where he eventually became a two-sport star in both football and soccer.
Fairbairn’s collegiate career at UCLA was marked by both brilliance and high-pressure heartbreak. Despite securing the 2015 Lou Groza Award and being the inaugural Bruin to reach 100 points every year of his tenure, he encountered major difficulties. He struggled with long-distance attempts early on, including a missed 52-yard field goal in a 27–24 loss to Stanford and a missed 55-yard attempt against Utah in 2014. Despite these setbacks, he achieved a UCLA record with a 60-yard field goal in 2015.
In the NFL, Fairbairn has evolved into a statistical powerhouse for the Houston Texans. With a career field goal percentage of 87.6%, he ranks as the sixth most accurate kicker in league history. His reliability has made him a cornerstone of the franchise, leading to massive contract extensions. By March 2026, after signing a two-year, $13 million deal, he became the highest-paid kicker in the league. His 2025 season was particularly historic, as he tied David Akers for the NFL record for field goals converted in a single season, scoring a career-high 160 points.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Kaʻimi Fairbairn
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