Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn crushes 59-yard field goal, sets NFL record in win over Bears: ‘Ice in his veins’

HOUSTON – Texans veteran kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn makes his clutch performances look routine with his fundamentally sound, swing of his powerful right leg.

Fairbairn put on a textbook kicking clinic Sunday night during a 19-13 victory over the Chicago Bears as he crushed a 59-yard field goal among his four field goals and one extra point to provide 13 overall points for the defending AFC South champions.

The 59-yard boot would have been good from 60 yards or longer, too.

The Texans improved to 2-0 as Fairbairn set an NFL record as the first kicker to connect on six field goals of 50 yards or longer during a two-game span. Fairbairn hit kicks from 59, 56, 53 and 47 yards.

Fairbairn, signed to a three-year, $15.9 million contract this offseason, is pivotal to the Texans’ outlook. The former Lou Groza award winner from UCLA made 27 of 28 field goals last season and 21 of 22 extra points. He hit 11 of 12 field goals from 50 yards or beyond the previous two seasons.

“Yeah, ‘Imi’ got ice in his veins,” Texans Pro Bowl quarterback C.J. Stroud said. “Super happy and proud of him. He broke a record today or something like that. We definitely need him. All points are big points. I definitely think the preparation, just who he is at practice, you know that he’s going to knock it down just because how hard he is on himself during practice.”

Fairbairn has made all seven of his field goals through two games. He made three kicks from 50 yards or more against the Indianapolis Colts in a season-opening road win. His shortest field goal was a 47-yarder against the Bears.

Fairbairn was signed to a deal that averages $5.3 million annually and included a $4.3 million signing bonus and $11.06 million guaranteed.

“Nobody talks about it enough,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “‘Imi’ is the reason why we won these two games. That’s been the player of the game. It’s very special for ‘Imi’. He’s been consistent. He’s on it. He’s the reason why we’re standing here. We talk a lot about offense and defense. The kicking game is the reason why we won this game today.

“It’s the right time now. He’s kicking it at the right time now. ‘Imi’, he puts a lot of work in. Just to see his confidence, he knows we’re behind him. Everything he’s showing, he’s proving to his teammates. He’s been consistent, he’s confident. Our operation has been flawless.”

During training camp, Fairbairn told KPRC 2 it’s all about his consistency.

“Day in and day out, putting the work in,” Fairbairn said. “Focus is a big thing and not letting mental distractions creep in and taking every rep seriously, whether it’s in practice myself or obviously in the game, taking everything, the same approach every day.”

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