Houston Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn has always had the leg. However, the trick with field goals of 50-plus yards is accuracy, not so much the distance.
On the last play of the first half, the Texans sent Fairbairn out to try a 61-yard field goal. The former 2015 Lou Groza Award winner connected to set the Texans’ record for longest field goal and chip into Seattle Seahawks’ lead 16-13 at the break.
Ultimately, those would be the Texans’ last points of the game as they succumbed 33-13 to the Seahawks in Week 14 at NRG Stadium.
Fairbairn was pleased to etch his name in franchise annals, but was looking for more.
“It was pretty sweet,” said Fairbairn. “Felt good coming off the foot and I just wish we got the win it would have been that much sweeter.”
According to Fairbairn, who says he has hit from 65 yards in practice “on a good day,” he went through the same routine as a closer kick.
“Obviously it’s a little longer so I tried to get more behind it, but pretty much same routine,” Fairbairn said.”
The former 2016 undrafted free agent from UCLA is 11-14 on field goals with a 7-10 rate on extra points. Fairbairn had to work his way back from a preseason groin injury that affected his accuracy.
Nevertheless the Texans stuck with him.
Said Fairbairn: ““I think just riding the waves of ups and downs; learning from each opportunity whether it’s make or miss. Try to learn more from the misses. It’s a lot of mental game for me and I try to work on that through the week and take one rep at a time. I’ve been lucky to have good teammates, good coaches that believe in me and throw me out there for a 61-yarder. Lucky to make it.”
The Texans had the roof open at NRG Stadium, but Fairbairn did not believe it had too much of an effect on aiding his record-setting field goal.
“I’m not too sure,” said Fairbairn. “There was a little swirl with the wind in there, but played it right and made it through.”
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