Nicholas Alexander Folk Bio
Nicholas Alexander Folk (born November 5, 1984) is an American professional football placekicker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). Folk played college football for the Arizona Wildcats, earning first-team All-Pac-10 honors, and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL draft. During his three seasons with the Cowboys, Folk received Pro Bowl honors as a rookie. He went on to play seven seasons for the New York Jets, becoming the franchise’s second-leading all-time scorer. Folk ranks 12th on the all-time NFL field goals made list with 431, which is the highest among active NFL players. He is married to Julianne Folk, and they have four children together.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Alexander Folk was born on November 5, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, to Anton and Kathryn Folk. His father, who was born in Austria to Donauschwaben parents, is an accountant. His mother works as a pediatrician. Folk and his younger brothers, Erik and Gregory, hold dual citizenship in the United States and Germany, where their father grew up. Erik went on to become a placekicker for the University of Washington Huskies football team, and Gregory played soccer for UCLA and the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Folk attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, where he played high school football. As a senior, he earned “All-CIF” honors as a punter and second-team recognition as a placekicker. Folk also served as captain of the soccer team, earning All-CIF Division, all-league, and All-Valley honors. He majored in marketing during his college years at the University of Arizona.
Path to the NFL
Folk accepted a football scholarship from the University of Arizona, where he became the starting kicker as a sophomore. The longest field goal of his college career came in 2005 against USC, a 52-yarder. During his sophomore year, he also took over the punting duties in addition to his kicking responsibilities. Folk continued to develop his skills over the next two seasons, demonstrating the versatility that would serve him well in the NFL.
As a senior in 2006, Folk earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors. He finished his college career having made 30 of 47 field goals, 79 of 81 extra points, and 96 punts for 4,242 yards (44.2 average), including a long punt of 61 yards. His strong senior season and All-Pac-10 recognition caught the attention of NFL scouts, leading to his selection in the 2007 NFL Draft.
Nicholas Alexander Folk Career
Dallas Cowboys (2007–2009)
Folk was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft. During his rookie season, he made a 53-yard game-winning kick against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 5 and became the first Cowboys rookie Pro Bowl kicker, having gone 26 of 31 in field goal attempts and making all 53 extra points he attempted during the season. Folk also broke the Cowboys single-season record for most points by a placekicker with 131 points.
In 2008, Folk continued his strong performance, making 91 percent of his kicks and all 42 of his extra point attempts. Following the season, he discovered a problem with his hip that required surgery in May 2009 after a torn labrum was discovered. Folk rushed his rehabilitation and the hip did not heal properly, affecting his performance in 2009. He struggled that season, making only 64.3 percent of his field goals (18 of 28 opportunities). On December 21, 2009, Folk was waived by the Cowboys and replaced by Shaun Suisham.
New York Jets (2010–2016)
On February 23, 2010, Folk signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets. After working with special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff to refine his kicking technique, Folk regained consistency. On October 11, 2010, he became the first Jets kicker to kick five field goals in a home game since Pat Leahy in 1984. Later that season, he set a franchise record with a career-long 56-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos.
During the 2010 season, Folk converted 30 field goals out of 39 opportunities. In the AFC Wild Card Round against the Indianapolis Colts on January 8, 2011, Folk kicked the game-winning field goal with only three seconds remaining, helping the team advance to the AFC Championship. In the 2013 season, Folk established a Jets record with 23 consecutive field goals made, which ranked second in franchise history, and set a franchise record in field goal percentage at 91.7 percent.
Folk signed a four-year, $12 million contract with the Jets in March 2014. He led the league in field goal attempts (39) and tied for third in field goals made (32) that season. He was placed on injured reserve in November 2015 due to a quad injury suffered in pregame warm-ups. Folk returned to play all 16 games in 2016, making 27 field goals out of 31 opportunities. On February 23, 2017, he was released in a salary cap move, ranking second on the franchise’s all-time list in points scored (729), second in field goals made (175), and first in field goal percentage (81.3).
Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Arizona Hotshots (2017–2019)
On March 17, 2017, Folk was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to compete for the starting kicking job. After the team released Roberto Aguayo and Zach Hocker, Folk won the starting role. In Week 5, he missed three field goals in a loss to the New England Patriots. On October 9, 2017, he was placed on injured reserve. He was released by the Buccaneers on February 22, 2018.
Folk attended a tryout with the Chicago Bears on January 25, 2019, but was not offered a contract. The next day, he signed with the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football (AAF). Folk was the record-holder for the longest field goal in AAF history at 55 yards. The league ceased operations in April 2019.
New England Patriots (2019–2022)
On October 29, 2019, Folk was signed by the New England Patriots following the release of Mike Nugent. He underwent an appendectomy in November 2019 and was briefly released before being re-signed. In the 2019 season, Folk converted all 12 extra point attempts and 14 of 17 field goal attempts. He rejoined the Patriots in 2020 and chose to wear number 6, which he had worn with the Cowboys.
In the 2020 season, Folk converted 30 of 33 extra point attempts and 26 of 28 field goal attempts. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week twice, including a perfect 3-for-3 performance against his former team, the Jets, with a 51-yard game-winning field goal. On March 23, 2021, Folk re-signed with the Patriots. In Week 2 against the Jets, he broke the Patriots record for consecutive field goals made, finishing the streak at 36. Folk tied for the NFL scoring lead in 2021 with Daniel Carlson, converting 36 of 39 field goal attempts and 42 of 47 extra point attempts.
Folk re-signed with the Patriots on March 15, 2022, to a two-year, $5 million deal. On September 25, 2022, he set an NFL record for most consecutive field goals under 50 yards, hitting his 57th. His streak ended at 64 following a miss on a 45-yard field goal. In the 2022 season, Folk converted 32 of 35 extra point attempts and 32 of 37 field goal attempts.
Tennessee Titans (2023–2024)
On August 29, 2023, Folk was traded from the Patriots to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick. In the season opener against the New Orleans Saints, Folk went 5-for-5, accounting for all of the Titans’ points in the game. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 2 after kicking a game-winning 41-yard field goal in overtime against the Los Angeles Chargers. Folk finished the 2023 season going 29-for-30 on field goals, breaking the Titans’ single-season record for highest field goal percentage.
On March 20, 2024, Folk re-signed with the Titans. In Week 4, he converted all seven of his kicks, including three field goals over 50 yards, in a win over the Miami Dolphins, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. In Week 9, he kicked a 25-yard field goal in overtime to seal a win over the Patriots. Despite turning 40 years old during the 2024 season, Folk posted one of his strongest years, converting 21 of 22 field goal attempts and leading the league in field goal percentage for the second consecutive season.
New York Jets (2025–Present) and Atlanta Falcons (2026)
On July 29, 2025, Folk signed a one-year contract to return to the New York Jets. On September 29, he kicked a 58-yard field goal, a career-long. In Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, Folk made a 56-yard game-winning field goal, giving the Jets a 27–24 victory and marking the 20th game-winning field goal of his career. Folk completed the 2025 NFL season going 28-for-29 on field goals, leading the NFL in field goal percentage at 96.6 percent for the third consecutive season.
On March 12, 2026, Folk signed a two-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons, joining his new team for the 2026 season.
Driving Style and Strengths
Folk has built a reputation as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. His strength lies in his consistency from mid-range and his ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes situations. Folk has demonstrated particular excellence in clutch kicking, with 20 career game-winning field goals. His technique refinement under various special teams coordinators has helped him maintain consistency throughout his lengthy career. He has shown the ability to adapt to different teams and situations while remaining reliable.
Notable Events and Milestones
Throughout his career, Folk has achieved numerous notable milestones. As a rookie with the Cowboys in 2007, he became the first Cowboys rookie Pro Bowl kicker. His Pro Bowl selection that year came after setting the franchise single-season scoring record for a placekicker with 131 points. With the Jets, he established a franchise record of 23 consecutive field goals made and a record field goal percentage of 91.7 percent. His 56-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos in 2010 set a Jets franchise record that stood for years. Most recently, his 58-yard field goal in 2025 marked a new career long.
Nicholas Alexander Folk Career Wins
Throughout his NFL career spanning from 2007 to 2026, Nicholas Alexander Folk has established himself as one of the most consistent kickers in league history. His career statistics include 431 field goals made, 507 attempted, with a career field goal percentage of 85 percent. He has also made 533 of 550 extra point attempts for a 96.9 percent success rate, accumulating 1,826 career points. Folk ranks 12th on the all-time NFL field goals made list, the highest among active NFL players.
Pro Bowl and Major Honors
Folk’s most prestigious honor came in his rookie season of 2007 when he was selected to the Pro Bowl as the NFC’s kicker, becoming the first Cowboys rookie to earn that distinction. That same season, he was named to the PFWA All-Rookie Team. In 2021, Folk tied with Daniel Carlson for the NFL scoring lead, demonstrating his ability to remain elite even after 14 seasons in the league. His consistency has earned him multiple AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors throughout his career with the Patriots and Titans.
Records and Milestones
Folk holds several notable records throughout his career. While with the Patriots in 2022, he set an NFL record for most consecutive field goals under 50 yards, hitting his 57th before the streak ended at 64. With the Jets in 2010, he established a franchise record with a 56-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos, later broken by his own 58-yard kick in 2025. His 23 consecutive field goals made in 2013 ranked second in Jets franchise history at the time. With the Titans, he broke the franchise single-season record for highest field goal percentage in 2023.
Other Achievements
Beyond his NFL accomplishments, Folk earned first-team All-Pac-10 honors during his senior season at the University of Arizona in 2006. His 52-yard field goal against USC in 2005 stands as the longest kick of his college career. In the AAF with the Arizona Hotshots in 2019, Folk set the league record for the longest field goal at 55 yards.
| Competition Level | Field Goals Made | Field Goals Attempted | Field Goal Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| NFL Career (2007–2026) | 431 | 507 | 85.0% |
| Extra Points Made | 533 | 550 | 96.9% |
Nicholas Alexander Folk Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Nicholas Alexander Folk comes from an athletic family with connections to both the United States and Germany. His father, Anton Folk, was born in Austria to Donauschwaben parents and is an accountant by profession. His mother, Kathryn Folk, is a pediatrician. Folk and his two younger brothers, Erik and Gregory, hold dual citizenship in both the United States and Germany, where their father grew up.
Folk’s brother Erik was a placekicker for the University of Washington Huskies football team through the 2011 season. His brother Gregory Folk was a soccer player for UCLA and went on to play for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Folk family’s athletic tradition continues through their cousin Blake Robinson, who was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis when he was 18 months old. Folk has partnered with the Children’s Tumor Foundation to support NF research.
Personal Life
Nicholas Alexander Folk is married to his wife, Julianne Folk. Together, they have four children: twin boys, a daughter, and another younger son. Folk is an avid soccer fan and attends New York Red Bulls games when in the area. He is also a member of the Viking Army Supporters Club. Despite his German heritage and dual citizenship, Folk has pursued a career in American football rather than soccer, following a path similar to his brother Erik.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season marked a significant chapter in Nicholas Alexander Folk’s career as he returned to the New York Jets for his second stint with the franchise. Folk signed with the Jets on July 29, 2025, reuniting with the team where he had spent seven seasons from 2010 to 2016. The reunion proved highly successful as Folk demonstrated the same consistency that has defined his lengthy career.
Throughout the 2025 season, Folk was a model of precision and reliability. On September 29, he kicked a 58-yard field goal, establishing a new career-long distance. In Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, Folk delivered a 56-yard game-winning field goal, giving the Jets a 27–24 victory and marking the 20th game-winning field goal of his career. His ability to deliver in clutch situations continued to define his performance.
Folk completed the 2025 NFL season going 28-for-29 on field goal attempts, leading the NFL in field goal percentage at 96.6 percent alongside Eddy Piñeiro. This marked the third consecutive season in which Folk led the league in field goal percentage, a remarkable feat for a kicker in his 40s. His performance solidified his standing as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history and demonstrated his enduring elite-level play into his 19th professional season.