Adam Vinatieri Undecided About Returning for 25th NFL Season at 47 Years Old

Legendary kicker Adam Vinatieri remains undecided about returning to the NFL in 2020. 

Speaking to reporters Tuesday (h/t Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star), Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich noted he hopes to meet with Vinatieri soon to discuss his plans. 

"(We plan) to have a sitdown with Adam and see where he’s at once he’s a little further along in that process," Reich said.

No one with the Colts has been able to glean any insight about Vinatieri's future in the NFL since the end of last season. 

Colts owner Jim Irsay spoke to reporters in February about the three-time Pro Bowler:

"I don’t know. I know he’s rehabbing that knee and it's something that Chris and Frank will talk about and give their opinions to me. As an owner I occasionally step in, but I like to give my people room to make mistakes. Often times that’s how you learn. The best way to learn. It hurts, but you learn that way. But Adam knows how much I think of him. He’s unbelievable. … We’ll see. He’s in rehab mode now, and we’re in the middle of trying to put the team together.”

After a difficult start last season, Vinatieri seemed as if he was teasing an in-season retirement:   

Vinatieri ultimately played out the 2019 campaign, though his season came to an end after Week 13 due to a knee injury that required surgery.

When Vinatieri was able to play last season, his performance was well below its usual standard. The South Dakota native set career lows in field-goal percentage (68.0) and extra-point percentage (78.6).