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

HOUSTON – Texans veteran kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn was named the AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after setting an NFL record in a victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday night.

Fairbairn made every one of his four field goals, connecting from 56, 47, 59, and 53 yards as he put on a clinic in kicking fundaments.

Fairbairn became the first kicker in NFL history with six 50-plus yard field goals within a two-game span. He was the only kicker in the NFL to make three field goals from beyond 50 yards last week. He became the first kicker in league history to make three 50-yard field goals in multiple games throughout their career.

“Ka’imi is just calm and cool,” Texans coach DeMeco Ryans said. “As a kicker, with so much pressure on you, he’s always cool in the moment. He never gets too high or gets too low. He’s banging 59-yard field goals and he still just comes to the side like, ‘Hey, that’s what I do.’

“When you have that demeanor, I think it really helps you. In that specialist-type mode, you have to be just even-keeled and he doesn’t show a ton of emotion. I think that keeps him calm and allows him to go out and perform even when you can’t really see the pressure, but we all know and understand the pressure that’s on him. But he never shows it.”

Fairbairn ranked tied first in the NFL in field goal percentage and field goals made, while tying first in the AFC with 13 total points scored. His 59-yard boot at the end of the first half stands as the longest field goal made this season and ranks second in franchise history.

The 59-yard boot would have been good from 60 yards or longer, too. And Fairbairn’s range is well above 60 yards, creating flexibility for special teams coordinator Frank Ross and Ryans’ decisions on when to kick a long-distance field goal.

“Yeah, that helps a lot when we’re talking about other kickers or we’re talking pregame, talking about the range that these kickers are at, I’m like, ‘Man, Frank are you sure this is his range?’ And seems like he tells me every week, ‘Coach, he’s hitting it from 60 in warmups,’ Ryans said. “I’m like, ‘Man, every kicker hits from 60 now.’ The game has definitely changed from that perspective. A lot of kickers are able to hit the long ball and when you have a guy on your side as ‘Imi who can do that, I tell the offense, ‘Hey, let’s make sure we cross the 50 when we’ve got a shot. So, excited for ‘Imi and very thankful to have him on our side.”

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.