‘I feel a sense of calmness,’ Texans all-time leading scorer Ka’imi Fairbairn nails game-winning, 59-yard field goal

HOUSTON – Ka’imi Fairbairn followed his traditional routine to the letter, walking off his steps, measuring the distance between his foot and the uprights in his mind before a powerful swing of his right leg launched the football through the air.

The path of the ball was true from the Texans ultra-reliable kicker. Fairbairn was on his mark once again. The game was won. Fairbairn, who became the franchise’s all-time leading scorer Sunday with 773 points to surpass Kris Brown’s record, absolutely drilled a 59-yard, game-winning field goal with a few additional yards to spare as time expired in the fourth quarter.

Bedlam ensued. A wild celebration capped by the Texans’ players lifting Fairbairn onto their shoulders in a raucous post-game scene following a 23-20 victory over the Buffalo Bills at NRG Stadium after the longest game-winning field goal in franchise history.

While the Texans are still prone to penalties, have a running game stuck in neutral without an injured Joe Mixon, turned the ball over twice, uncharacteristically with an interception and lost fumble by star quarterback C.J. Stroud and surrender the occasional big play on defense, they can always count on Fairbairn. He’s the most accurate kicker in the NFL the past two seasons. Signing Fairbairn to a three-year, $15.9 million free agent contract that includes $11.106 million guaranteed with a $4.3 million signing bonus counts as one of general manager Nick Caserio’s smartest offseason decisions after the veteran kicker’s four-year, $17.65 million contract had expired.

Fairbairn, a Hawaii native and a former Lou Groza award kicker from UCLA, stays in the moment when he’s kicking. His fundamentals and concentration are pinpoint. He scored 11 points on three field goals and two extra points. He’s now 11 for 12 this season on field goals and 9 for 9 on extra points.

“I feel a sense of calmness when I’m out there, when I’m walking out,” Fairbairn said. “I think that’s just from preparation. When it comes off my foot, it’s not up to me anymore. I did all I could. Had a nice little cut on that one that went through. I’m thankful, and then it was just celebration, enjoy it with my teammates.”

Fairbairn, 30, booted a kick that was shifting left initially off his foot before splitting the middle of the uprights, dead-on. Four years ago, Fairbairn won an AFC wild-card playoff game in overtime with a game-winning field goal. Now, he’s beaten them again.

And his teammates were ultra-confident in Fairbairn’s skills.

“Oh, I was taking my pads off,” Texans nickel-safety Jalen Pitre said. “I knew he was going to hit it. We see it every day in practice. I was good, I wish there was a camera on me, I had them off already. I was ready to go home.”

“Very confident,” Texans wide receiver Tank Dell said. “Ka’imi is one of one, man. We’ve seen him do that before, and he did a great job.”

Fairbairn is the 12th kicker in NFL history to hit a 59-yard plus game-winning field and the first to do so since Greg Joseph hit a 61-yard field goal in 2022. He has now made eight 50-plus yard field goals this season, the most in a single season in franchise history and the most by any player in the NFL this season. He’s having an All-Pro caliber season.

“When you talk about Ka’imi, he had my back, just like I have his back,” Stroud said. “Everybody has each other’s back on this team. This is one of the most close-knit teams I’ve ever been on.”

Fairbairn focuses on his work diligently, especially his well-timed operation with long snapper Jon Weeks and holder Tommy Townsend.

And becoming the Texans’ all-time leading scorer is significant for Fairbairn.

“It’s a special one,” he said. “I don’t take it lightly. One guy definitely I have to shout out is Jon Weeks. He’s been with me every step of the way, every single snap. So, he’s just as much a part of that as I am. I’m very thankful for him and all my teammates. A stat like that doesn’t happen without everybody involved. I’m happy. It’s incredible. I’m honored to be here for this long. I am hoping to score a lot more.”

Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week: ‘Ice in his veins’ (click2houston.com)

Sources: Texans signing Ka’imi Fairbairn to three-year, $15.9 million contract (click2houston.com)

Embracing the pressure. Wanting to be counted on. Delivering in the clutch moments. That’s what Fairbairn is all about.

“I think kickers, I only can speak for myself, but I love the opportunities like that, especially when it’s coming down to it and it’s going to happen,” he said. “Whatever yardage it is, I really don’t care. I want that shot. I think that’s part of being good at this job, is wanting that and wanting that opportunity. Yeah, I look forward to them.”

And the Texans’ trust in Fairbairn has been earned time and time again. He gets the job done.

“It’s comforting to know you have a guy who can hit it at that critical moment,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “It’s clutch time and he stood up. He didn’t waver. He put it through the uprights. It’s comforting for everyone to know wherever we are, ‘Imi’ can make a play. It’s exciting.”

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com