How a soccer-loving immigrant became the NFL's most feared and celebrated kicking machine
In short: Born in Argentina, Martin Gramatica arrived in Florida at age nine with no interest in American football. Yet, his natural precision on the soccer pitch soon transformed him into a record-breaking NFL kicker, known as Automatica, who eventually secured a Super Bowl ring and a massive multi-million dollar contract.
Martin Gramatica’s journey from Buenos Aires to the NFL is a study in unlikely athletic adaptation. After settling in LaBelle, Florida, his high school football coach recruited him solely because of his soccer-honed kicking accuracy. This talent propelled him to Kansas State University, where he shattered records, including a 65-yard field goal—the longest in NCAA history without a tee. His collegiate dominance, which included 349 total points and the Lou Groza Award in 1997, earned him the nickname Automatica, a moniker reflecting the expectation that every attempt would succeed.
Drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1999, Gramatica quickly established himself as a premier professional. By 2002, he was a key contributor to the Super Bowl XXXVII championship team, becoming the first Argentine-born player to participate in the NFL's final game. His success was so profound that a 2002 contract extension worth $14,500,000 placed him among the highest-paid Argentine athletes of his era. However, his career was marked by physical volatility; he suffered multiple injuries, including a torn ACL in 1996 and chronic lower abdominal issues that he later cited as the primary cause for his performance decline in 2003 and 2004.
Beyond the field, Gramatica’s career offers a lesson in the psychological and physical demands of professional sports. He was once famous for his exuberant post-kick celebrations, but he abandoned the practice after his younger brother, Bill, suffered a severe knee injury while mimicking the same celebratory jump. Following his retirement from the NFL, Gramatica transitioned into coaching, applying the tactical lessons he learned from former Buccaneers head coach Tony Dungy to the world of indoor soccer. Today, he remains active in the sport, guiding youth teams like the West Florida Flames toward national competition.
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