Ka’imi Fairbairn

Ka’imi Fairbairn Bio

John Christian Kaʻiminoeauloamekaʻikeokekumupaʻa Fairbairn (born January 29, 1994) is an American professional football placekicker for the Houston Texans of the National Football League. A native of Kailua, Hawaii, Fairbairn played college football for the UCLA Bruins, where he won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top college kicker in 2015. He signed with Houston as an undrafted free agent in 2016 and became the team’s starting kicker in 2017. Fairbairn is currently the sixth most accurate kicker in NFL history with an 87.6% career field goal percentage and holds the Houston Texans franchise record for longest field goal at 61 yards.

Early Life and Background

Fairbairn was born in Kailua, Hawaii, to John and Rochelle Fairbairn. Since childhood, he has gone by the name Ka’imi, forgoing his given name John Christian. In Hawaiian, his name means “seeker of wisdom,” a meaning he has embraced throughout his life. He has stated that the meaning of one’s name carries significant weight in Hawaiian culture, describing it as a reflection of one’s ancestry and identity.

As a young man, Fairbairn was a kicker in football but initially preferred catching the football instead of kicking it. He attended Punahou School in Honolulu, where he excelled as a two-sport athlete in football and soccer. Playing central defender in soccer, Fairbairn was a two-time first-team all-state player, and his team won two state championships. He did not initially envision a future in football and tried out for water polo instead. After almost drowning during water polo practice, Fairbairn realized he was not a proficient swimmer and returned to football. As a sophomore, he earned second-team all-state honors, followed by first-team all-state selections as a junior and senior.

Path to American Football

At Punahou School, Fairbairn was teammates with future NFL defensive end DeForest Buckner. He was ranked nationally as the No. 4 recruit at kicker coming out of high school. His journey to becoming a professional kicker took an unconventional route, as he initially pursued other sports before fully committing to football at the high school level.

Fairbairn won the starting kicking job at UCLA as a true freshman in 2012, becoming the first Bruin to score at least 100 points in each of his four seasons. His career got off to a challenging start when his first two extra points were blocked against Rice, but he developed into a dependable kicker from close range over time. In the Pac-12 Conference Championship Game that year, he experienced a difficult moment when he missed a 52-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining in a 27-24 loss to Stanford, though the wet field conditions and a poor snap contributed to the difficult situation.

Ka’imi Fairbairn Career

UCLA Years (2012-2015)

Fairbairn’s journey at UCLA had its share of struggles, particularly with longer-distance kicks early in his career. In his junior year in 2014, UCLA was trailing Utah 30-28 when Fairbairn missed a 55-yard attempt as time expired. However, the Utes were penalized for running into the kicker, providing him another chance at a 50-yard field goal, which he narrowly missed.

Entering the 2015 season as a senior, Fairbairn was 11 for 22 on field-goal tries of 40 yards or more. That year marked his breakthrough. On October 3 against Arizona State, he made a 53-yard field goal, the first successful 50-plus yarder of his career after missing his first five attempts from that distance. On November 14, Fairbairn made four field goals against Washington State to set the Pac-12 record for most career points, breaking former Bruins kicker John Lee’s previous mark of 390 points set from 1982 to 1985. He finished the regular season having made 20 of 23 field goal attempts, including a perfect 16 of 16 from inside 40 yards and four from beyond 40. He was awarded the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the nation’s top college kicker, and was a near-unanimous first-team All-American.

Houston Texans Breakthrough (2016-Present)

After not being selected in the 2016 NFL draft, Fairbairn signed with the Houston Texans. However, he spent all of 2016 on injured reserve with a quadriceps injury. In 2017, Fairbairn was named the Texans’ starting kicker over Nick Novak after demonstrating a stronger leg and deeper kickoffs than the incumbent during the preseason. As a rookie, he converted 32 of 35 extra point attempts and 20 of 25 field goal attempts.

The 2018 season marked Fairbairn’s first major breakthrough in the NFL. During Week 15, he kicked five field goals and two extra points during a 29-22 road victory over the New York Jets, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He also earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December. On the season, Fairbairn did not miss a kick inside of 40 yards and led the league in points scored (150), field goals made (37), and field goals attempted (42), with the 37 field goals also setting a franchise record. The Texans won the AFC South with an 11-5 record, and Fairbairn made his playoff debut in the Wild Card Round against the Indianapolis Colts.

On March 10, 2020, Fairbairn signed a four-year, $17.65 million contract extension with the Texans. On September 8, 2021, he was placed on injured reserve but was activated on October 2. On December 12, 2021, Fairbairn made a career-long 61-yard field goal during a 33-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, which set a Texans franchise record for longest field goal.

Houston Texans Era (2024-Present)

On March 6, 2024, Fairbairn signed a three-year, $15.9 million contract extension with the Texans through 2026. During Week 2 of the 2024 season, a 19-13 victory over the Chicago Bears, Fairbairn converted four field goals, including three of 50-plus yards, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Three weeks later, he converted a 59-yard field goal against the Buffalo Bills with 0:00 remaining in the fourth quarter to deliver the Texans a victory. He finished the 2024 season converting 36 of 42 field goal attempts and 34 of 36 extra point attempts.

Driving Style and Strengths

Fairbairn has developed a reputation as a reliable long-distance kicker with a powerful leg. His ability to convert from 50-plus yards has made him a valuable asset in clutch situations. With a career field goal percentage of 87.6%, he ranks among the most accurate kickers in NFL history. His consistency from inside 40 yards has been a hallmark of his game, particularly during his 2018 NFL scoring leader season when he did not miss a single attempt from that distance.

Notable Events and Milestones

Fairbairn’s career has been defined by several signature moments. In the 2019 Wild Card Round, he made a game-winning 28-yard field goal in overtime for a 22-19 comeback victory over the Buffalo Bills. His 61-yard field goal against the Seattle Seahawks in 2021 set a Texans franchise record. During Week 15 of the 2023 season, he converted a 54-yard game-winner in overtime to give the Texans a 19-16 road victory over the Tennessee Titans, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In 2025, he tied the NFL record for field goals converted in a season with 44.

Ka’imi Fairbairn Career Wins

Fairbairn has established himself as one of the most consistent kickers in the NFL, accumulating significant statistics across his career with the Houston Texans. His career totals include over 1,000 points scored, more than 250 field goals made, and a career-long kick of 61 yards.

NFL Highlights

In the NFL, Fairbairn’s standout season came in 2018 when he led the league in scoring with 150 points, converting 37 field goals and setting a Texans franchise record. He earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice in his career (Week 15, 2018 and Week 15, 2023) and AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December 2018. His 2025 season was his best to date, as he tied the NFL record for field goals converted in a season with 44 while converting 44 of 48 attempts and all 28 extra point attempts for 160 points scored, setting a career high. He is currently the sixth most accurate kicker in NFL history with an 87.6% career field goal percentage.

College Achievements

In college, Fairbairn won the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker in 2015 and was a consensus first-team All-American. He set the Pac-12 Conference record for most career points scored and became the first UCLA player to score at least 100 points in each of four seasons.

Ka’imi Fairbairn Family

Family Background and Hawaiian Heritage

Fairbairn was born in Kailua, Hawaii, to John and Rochelle Fairbairn. His Hawaiian name, Ka’imi, means “seeker of wisdom,” and he has embraced this heritage throughout his life and career. His connection to Hawaiian culture has been an important part of his identity, and he has spoken about the significance of names in Hawaiian tradition.

Personal Life

Fairbairn attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was a two-sport athlete in football and soccer. He was teammates with DeForest Buckner, who went on to become a prominent NFL defensive end for the Indianapolis Colts and San Francisco 49ers. Fairbairn was ranked as the No. 4 recruit at kicker nationally coming out of high school.

2025 Season Performance

The 2025 season represented Ka’imi Fairbairn’s best professional season to date. Despite missing two games due to injury, he delivered an exceptional performance that placed him among the elite kickers in NFL history. Fairbairn converted 44 of 48 field goal attempts and all 28 of his extra point attempts, tying the NFL record for most field goals converted in a single season held by David Akers. His 160 points scored set a new career high and demonstrated his consistency and reliability as the Texans’ kicker.

Fairbairn’s performance in 2025 solidified his status as one of the league’s premier kickers and earned him a new contract. On March 10, 2026, he signed a two-year, $13 million extension with the Texans, making him the highest-paid kicker in the league. The extension reflected the team’s confidence in his abilities and his importance to the franchise’s success. With his powerful leg, consistency from distance, and clutch performances, Fairbairn has become a cornerstone of the Houston Texans’ special teams unit.