The impossible has happened with common ground finally being found in the historical Colts and Patriots rivalry
Colts and Patriots fans don’t agree on much, but recent news honoring a franchise great from both teams leaves them with no choice.
The last matchup between the Indianapolis Colts and New England Patriots, featuring both Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, was in 2010. The last time Brady faced the Colts as a member of the Patriots was in 2018.
To say the rivalry between the Colts and Patriots looks a lot different today than it did at its peak would be an understatement. You wouldn’t guess it though as the hatred between those fan bases still lives on as if those Hall of Fame QB duels happened yesterday.
The impossible happened on Thursday, though, and common ground was found. Both fan bases united to celebrate the greatest player at a specific position, not only for both franchises but in NFL history.
Adam Vinatieri selected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026
The consensus greatest kicker in NFL History, Adam Vinatieri, didn’t make it into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on his first try in 2025. Thankfully, the committee got it right this time around, making the former Colts and Patriots kicker a second ballot Hall of Famer.
You could make the argument that Vinatieri had two separate Hall of Fame careers by just using his time with both the Colts and Patriots. He spent the first 10 years of his legendary career in New England and his final 14 in Indianapolis.
With the Patriots, he was a two-time All-Pro and made 263 of his 321 field goals, giving him a 81.9% field goal percentage, and won three Super Bowls. With the Colts, he was a one-time All-Pro, made 336 of his 394 field goals (85.3%), and won a Super Bowl.
He still holds the most attempted and made field goals in NFL history, making 599 of his 715 attempts giving him a 83.7% field goal percentage. A record that likely won’t be broken anytime soon, with the closest active players to him being 41-year-olds Nick Folk and Matt Prater, who sit with 431 and 425 field goals made.
Colts and Patriots fans don’t agree on much, but one thing they have always and will always agree on is the “goat status” of Vinatieri. And now his greatness has been recognized at the highest level by becoming a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
So I think I speak for Colts, Patriots, and football fans everywhere when I say congratulations to Pro Football Hall of Fame class of 2026 member Adam Vinatieri.
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