7 things to know about new Rams kicker Kai Forbath
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Cameron DaSilva
October 21, 2020 8:52 am
The Los Angeles Rams moved one step closer to making a change at kicker Tuesday, signing veteran Kai Forbath off the Bears’ practice squad. Samuel Sloman remains on the 53-man roster, so he hasn’t lost his job yet, but it’s clear the Rams are pushing him to improve after his recent struggles to start the year.
Here are seven things to know about Forbath, a journeyman kicker who has bounced around the league and is returning home to the L.A. area.
He was the No. 1 kicker recruit in 2006 and attended UCLA
Forbath was born in Santa Monica and went to high school at Notre Dame in Sherman Oaks, Calif. So this is somewhat of a homecoming for the journeyman kicker. He was the No. 1 kicker recruit out of high school in 2006, which led him to UCLA.
He picked UCLA over other powerhouse schools, choosing to stay close to home. In college, he made 102 of his 104 PAT attempts and 84.2% of his field goals. He had a career-low 72.2 field goal percentage as a senior, however, after making 28 of 31 field goals the year prior.
He went undrafted in 2011 after looking like a solid prospect as a junior in 2009.
The Rams are the 10th NFL team to give him a shot
Forbath got his first shot in the NFL with the Cowboys as an undrafted rookie. However, he spent one year on the team’s NFI list before being cut in 2012. Washington signed him in 2012 and in 11 games, he made 17 of 18 field goals and 33 of 34 PATs, which is still one of his best seasons to date. He led the NFL with a field goal percentage of 94.4. His longest field goal made was 50 yards and he was a perfect 11 for 11 between 40 and 49 yards.
Since his stint in Washington, he’s bounced around the league, never spending more than two seasons with a team. He’s spent time with nine other teams, either on their roster or practice squad. Since 2018 alone, he’s been with the Vikings, Jaguars, Patriots, Cowboys, Panthers and Bears, making 15 of 16 field goals in that stretch with Jacksonville, Dallas and New England.
He’s 9th among active players in FG percentage
Forbath may not have a reputation as being an elite kicker, but his field goal percentage is among the best in the NFL. He’s made 86.8% of his field goal attempts, which is the ninth-highest rate among active kickers. He’s led the NFL in field goal percentage twice, once in 2012 (94.4%) and again in 2016 with the Vikings (100%, 15-for-15).
He’s only attempted 151 career field goals, but he’s made 131 of them, including a long of 57 yards.
He’s only missed six career attempts between 40 and 49 yards
The Rams emphasized the importance of kickers being accurate between 40 and 49 yards this offseason, and Forbath certainly fits the bill. He’s a stellar 43-for-49 from that distance, which is 87.8%.
Forbath may not have the biggest leg, but he’s been deadly from 40-49 yards throughout his career, which is arguably the most important range for a kicker.
He’s better outdoors than in a dome
This isn’t typical of a kicker, but Forbath has actually been better throughout his career outdoors than he has been in a dome. In a dome, he’s made 37 of 46 field goal attempts (80.4%), but is 73-for-83 outdoors (88.0%). In stadiums with a retractable roof, he’s 21-for-22 (95.5%).
The Rams play in somewhat of a hybrid indoor-outdoor stadium, but it should count as a dome because there’s a roof overhead and artificial turf on the ground.
He’s won Special Teams Player of the Week twice
Forbath has won Special Teams Player of the Week twice, both in the NFC and with different teams. The first time he won it was in 2014 with Washington after making a game-winning field goal against the Cowboys.
The second time came in 2017 with the Vikings when he made six field goals, including a 52-yarder against the Ravens.
He has seven career game-winning FGs
In his career, Forbath has kicked seven game-winning field goals. His most recent one came in 2017 when he was with the Vikings, a 26-yarder with 12 seconds left on the clock to win 20-17. In 2014 alone, Forbath kicked three game-winners for Washington, the last of which was a 26-yarder against the Eagles with five seconds remaining.
