Mississauga – The
Toronto Argonauts are thrilled to announce that two-time Grey Cup Champion, and
the most accurate kicker in NFL history, Mike Vanderjagt has signed a contract with the club.
An Oakville, Ontario
native, Vanderjagt carried the Argonauts on his foot to consecutive Grey Cup
Championships in 1996 and 1997. He still holds several Argos regular season,
playoff and Grey Cup records for excellence in place kicking and punting. In
1996, he was named the Grey Cup game’s Most Outstanding Canadian for a perfect
5-for-5 performance. He was named an East Division and CFL All-Star for a
terrific 1997 season in which he single-handedly scored 190 points.
Regarded as the most
accurate field goal kicker in NFL history with a staggering 86.4% average, Vanderjagt
spent nine seasons in the NFL, primarily with the Indianapolis Colts and part
of one season with the Dallas Cowboys. He achieved perfection for field goal
kicking (37 for 37) in the 2003 season, the same year he won the AFC scoring
title and was named to the NFL Pro-Bowl team. He also won the 1999 NFL scoring
title in just his second season.
Argos’ GM/VP, Football
Operations Adam Rita remarked,
“Mike Vanderjagt is probably the best field goal kicker in the history of the
game. We know him, he’s been an Argonaut before and we think he’ll be
good in the locker room and on the field. We’re ecstatic to have the
hometown boy back again.”
Vanderjagt is
expected to report late this afternoon and will be on the field with his
teammates tomorrow at 3:00 p.m.
Mike Vanderjagt #13
Kicker/Punter
6’5”, 211 lbs.
West Virginia
Born: March 24, 1970
Oakville, Ontario
1st year Argos
/ 1st Year CFL
Non-Import
Acquired: Signed as a free agent with Toronto on May 31, 2008.
2007: Did not play football.
2006: Granted free agency by the Indianapolis Colts…Signed
with the Dallas Cowboys (NFL) and released on November 27…Was good on 13 of 18
field goals and scored 72 points.
2005: Started every game for the Colts as a kicker…Played
in AFC Championship game versus Pittsburgh.
2004: Appeared in 15 games and was 20-25 field goals and
59-60 PATs for 119 points…Missed 10/10 vs. Oakland with hamstring injury,
snapping consecutive games played streak at 91… PATs and PAT attempts marked
club records…Hit franchise-best 149 consecutive PATs, dating back to
2001…Streak was ended with blocked attempt at Detroit 11/25…Extended NFL record
streak for consecutive field goals to 42 before missing 48-yard attempt…NFL
Playoffs: 7-7 PATs vs. Denver
1/9…1-1 FGs at New England 1/16.
2003: Had finest career season and one of top seasons for
any NFL kicker with 37-37 field goals and 46-46 PATs for AFC-high and club
seasonal-best 157 points…Earned Pro Bowl honours for 1st time in career…Point
total and field goal total set personal seasonal-highs…Produced only fourth
perfect FG season in NFL history (Tony Zendejas, 17-17, L.A. Rams, 1991; Gary Anderson, 35-35, Minnesota, 1998; Jeff Wilkins, 17-17, St. Louis, 2002)…Posted
6th consecutive 100+ point season…5-5 FGs at Tennessee 12/7 to win AFC Special
Teams Player-of-the-Week honors and tie club record for most in a game…AFC
Special Teams Player-of-the-Month for October, November and December…NFL Playoffs: 2-2 FGs vs. Denver 1/4…1-1 FGs at Kansas City 1/11…had no attempts at
New England 1/18.
2002: 23-31 FGs and 34-34 PATs for 103 points…Extended
club record to five consecutive seasons with 100+ points…topped team in scoring
for 5th consecutive season, the 2nd-longest streak in club history (9,
Biasucci, 1986-94)...Had field goals in 10 games, including 5-5 vs. Baltimore
10/13, tying personal-best and club-best…Hit 54- and 51-yard field goals at
Denver 11/24 (with :03 left and 5:38 into OT) to become only NFL kicker to
force and decide an OT game with 2 50+-yard boots. POST-SEASON: Was 0-1 FGs 1/4
at NYJ.
2001: Was 28-34 FGs and 41-42 PATs for 125 points, his
club-record 4th consecutive 100+ season…15-20 beyond 40 yards…Ranked 1st in AFC
scoring, 2nd in NFL (127, K-Jeff Wilkins, St. Louis)…5-5 FGs vs. Denver 1/6 to
tie club record for most in a game (Blanchard, Michaels, Biasucci, Raul
Allegre)…Had 3 FGs vs. New England 10/21 and at Buffalo 11/4 and had FGs in 13
outings.
2000: Totalled 25-27 FGs and 46-46 PATS for 121
points...Posted then career-best 92.6 FG pct....Ranked 2nd in AFC scoring, T5th
in NFL...started season with 26 consecutive FGs streak and extended it to 28
before missing from 47 yards vs. Oakland 9/10...Streak of 28 consecutive FGs
was then T5th-longest in NFL history (40, Gary Anderson, SF/Min., 1997-98; 31,
Fuad Reveiz, Min., 1994-95; 30, Jeff Wilkins, St. L., 1999-01; 29, John Carney,
SD, 1992-93; 28, Chris Boniol, Dal/Phil., 1996-97)...NFL Playoffs Was 3-4 FGs (32, 26, 50, 49 WR) at Miami 12/30.
1999: Totalled 34-38 FGs and 43-43 PATs for 145 points…Hit
26 consecutive FGs over last 10 games to set new club record, surpassing
Blanchard who hit 13 cons. FGs on two different occasions…Became only 3rd Colt
to win NFL scoring title, joining Moore (120, 1964) and Linhart (109, 1976).
POST-SEASON: Was 3-3 FGs and 1-1 PATs vs. Tennessee 1/16.
1998: Signed as Free Agent with Indianapolis on March
4…Was 27-31 FGs and 23-23 PATs for 104 points...Marked 3rd-best seasonal FG
pct. of any rookie or first-year kicker in NFL history (91.9, Richie
Cunningham, Dallas, 1997; 88.0, Roger Ruzek, Dallas, 1987).
1997: Saw action in 18 games with the Toronto Argonauts
(CFL) and helped lead team to Grey Cup championship...Topped league in punting
avg. with 118-5,303, 44.9 avg....Added 33-43 FGs with long of 51 and 77-77
PATs... 5-5 FGs in Grey Cup and 9-9 total in second Grey Cup
appearances...Career CFL totals include 238-10,434-43.8 punting avg., 73-99 FGs
and 136-136 PATs.
1996: Saw action in 18 games with Toronto and helped lead
team to Grey Cup championship...Named Grey Cup Most Valuable
Canadian…103-4,459-43.3 punting avg. with long of 70...40-56 FGs with long of
51 and 59-59 PATs...Played with Minnesota Pike of Arena Football League.
1995: Did not play...signed by Toronto as FA on March 16,
1995, and was released on June 25, 1995.
1994: Did not play...Signed by Toronto as FA on February
15, 1994 and released on June 13, 1994...Signed by Hamilton Tiger-Cats as FA on
June 24, 1994, and was released on July 11, 1994.
1993: Saw action in two games for the Saskatchewan
Roughriders...Was 17-672-39.5 punting.
College: Two-year letterman (1991-92)...15-20 FGs and 27-32
PATs as senior kicker...was 52-39.2 punting as junior...transferred from Allan
Hancock (Calif.) Junior College...was all-conference punter and team’s starting
QB...originally signed as QB at Michigan State in 1988.