Quick Facts
Biography
Nicholas Alexander "Nick" Folk (born November 5, 1984) is an American football placekicker for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arizona. Folk was selected to be the NFC kicker in the Pro Bowl as a rookie in 2007. He also spent seven seasons with the New York Jets, ranking second on the franchise's all-time points list with 729.
Early years
Folk played high school football at Notre Dame High School, Sherman Oaks, California, where as a senior, he was named "All-CIF" as a punter and second-team as a placekicker.
College career
Folk played college football at the University of Arizona and became the starter as a sophomore. The longest field goal of his college career, 52-yards, came in 2005 against USC. During his sophomore year, he also took over the punting duties in addition to his kicking duties.
He earned All-Pac-10 honors as a senior. He finished his college career after making 30-of-47 field goals, 79-of-81 extra points and 96 punts for 4,242 yards (44.2 avg.), including a long of 61 yards.
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
2007: Rookie season
Folk was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. Folk made the longest kick of his career to that point, a 53-yard game winner against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football during his rookie season. That season, he became the first Cowboys rookie Pro Bowl kicker, after being selected to serve as the NFC's kicker during the 2008 Pro Bowl, having gone 26-31 in field goal attempts and making all 53 extra points he attempted during the season. Folk also broke the Cowboys single-season record for most points by a placekicker (131) during his rookie season.
2008 season
In 2008, Folk continued his strong performance as he made 91% of his kicks and once again made all of his extra point attempts. Following the 2008 season, Folk discovered an issue with his hip that the Cowboys medical personnel identified as an issue with his flexor, but the prescribed treatment did not resolve the matter. After conducting more tests, it was discovered that Folk had a torn labrum and underwent surgery in May 2009. The proper recovery time would have had Folk returning sometime at the beginning of training camp but Folk rushed his rehab and as a result his hip did not heal properly.
2009 season
Folk struggled as he entered his third season with the Cowboys in 2009. His performance was erratic, evidenced by the fact that he only made 64.3% of his field goals, converting 18 out of 28 opportunities. On December 19, 2009, Folk attempted a 23-yard field goal against the New Orleans Saints that would have increased the Cowboys lead to ten. However, he missed as the ball hit the goal post. Although the Cowboys won the game, the team lost faith in Folk and he was waived on December 21, and was replaced by Shaun Suisham.
New York Jets
2010 season
On February 23, Folk signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets. Head coach Rex Ryan mocked Folk's early performances during the team's offseason workouts, however, after working out with special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff, who helped refine Folk's kicking technique after allowing his hip to fully recover, Folk began to gain consistency once again.
On October 11, Folk became the first Jets kicker to kick five field goals in a home game since Pat Leahy achieved the feat in 1984. Folk set a franchise record for the longest kick, making a career long kick of 56 yards against the Denver Broncos on October 17.
During the 2010 season, Folk converted 30 field goals out of 39 opportunities. During the AFC Wild Card Round against the Indianapolis Colts on January 8, 2011, Folk kicked the game-winning field goal with only 3 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter, helping the team make their 2nd straight AFC Championship where they would end up losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
2011 season
During opening night on September 11, 2011, Folk kicked a 50-yard field goal with 27 seconds left to give the Jets a 27-24 victory over his former team, the Dallas Cowboys. During the 2011 season, Folk converted 19 field goals out of 25 opportunities.
2012 season
On March 14, Folk was re-signed by the Jets. During the 2012 season, Folk converted 21 field goals out of 27 opportunities.
2013 season
In the preseason, Folk beat out Billy Cundiff for the Jets' starting kicker role. In the first game of the season, with 7 seconds left in the game, Folk successfully kicked a field goal from 48 yards to give the Jets an 18-17 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 5, Folk kicked the game winning field goal as time expired in a 30-28 win at the Atlanta Falcons. During a AFC East rivalry game against the New England Patriots in Week 7, Folk kicked another gaming-winning field goal to give the Jets a 30-27 overtime victory.
Folk's career-high and Jets record of 23 consecutive field goals made was snapped after missing from 48 yards during a 14-37 loss against the Bills. He established a franchise record in field goal percentage (91.7), after making 33-of-36 field goal attempts and his 23 consecutive field goals also ranked second in Jets history.
2014 season
Set to become a free agent during the 2014 offseason, it was announced on February 28, 2014, that the Jets had placed the franchise tag on Folk. On March 10, it was announced that Nick Folk had signed a 4-year, $12 million contract. He led the league in field goal attempts (39), tied for third in field goals made (32), and set a franchise record for the longest field goal made at home (55-yards).
2015 season
In pregame warm-ups against the Jacksonville Jaguars, he suffered a season-ending quad injury. On November 10, 2015, Folk was placed on the team's injured reserve. In 8 games, he finished the year making 13 field goals out of 16 opportunities. He also made all 19 extra point attempts.
2016 season
Returning from a quad injury, Folk played all 16 games in the 2016 season, making 27 field goals out of 31 opportunities. He also made 24 extra points out of 26 opportunities.
On February 23, 2017, he was released in a salary cap move, at the time he ranked on the franchise’s all-time list second in points made (729), second in field goals made (175) and first in field goal percentage (81.3).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On March 17, 2017, Folk was signed as a free agent by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to compete with the previous year second-round draft choice Roberto Aguayo.
Career awards and highlights
- Pro Bowl (2007)
- PFWA All-NFC (2007)
- 3× AFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 5, 2010, Week 1, 2013, Week 9, 2013)
- NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week 5, 2007)
- Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Week (Week 5, 2007)
- PFWA NFL All-Rookie Team (2007)
Personal life
Folk was born to Anton and Kathryn Folk. His father, who was born in Austria to Bavarian parents, is an accountant. Folk's mother is a pediatrician and direct descendant of William Bradford, an original Mayflower passenger and governor of the Plymouth Colony. Nick Folk and his younger brothers, Erik and Gregory, are dual citizens of the United States and Germany, where his father grew up.
Erik was the placekicker for the University of Washington Huskies football team through the 2011 season. Gregory Folk was a soccer player for UCLA and has played for Los Angeles Galaxy. The Folks' cousin, Blake Robinson, was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis when at eighteen months of age. Folk partnered with the Children's Tumor Foundation to support the research of NF.
Folk majored in marketing at Arizona. He is an avid soccer fan, attends New York Red Bulls games, and is a member of the Viking Army Supporters Club.