Joshua Karty Bio
Joshua Karty is an American professional football kicker who currently plays in the National Football League. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal, where he established himself as one of the most accurate kickers in the country. Karty was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL draft and has since played for both the Rams and Arizona Cardinals. His career highlights include multiple All-American honors and a strong rookie season in the NFL.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Karty was born on March 7, 2002, in Burlington, North Carolina. His father, Joel Karty, was a rower at Stanford University while pursuing his Ph.D. in physical and organic chemistry. Valerie and Joel Karty were attending a game at Stanford Stadium when they learned she was pregnant with Joshua. Karty grew up in Elon, North Carolina, where he attended Western Alamance High School.
During his high school years, Karty played as both a placekicker and punter for the Warriors. He earned recognition as a consensus three-star prospect and was ranked as the number one kicking prospect in his class by 247Sports, Kohl’s Kicking, and ESPN. His standout performances led to his selection to play in the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game.
Karty received scholarship offers from several major programs, including Georgia, UNC, and Appalachian State. He ultimately chose to continue his football career at Stanford, committing to the Cardinal on a full scholarship on January 20, 2019.
Path to the NFL
Karty joined the Stanford Cardinal football program in 2020 and spent four seasons developing as their primary kicker. In his first season with the team in 2021, he demonstrated consistency by going 27 for 27 on extra point attempts and 10 for 15 on field goal attempts.
The 2022 season marked Karty’s breakthrough as he emerged as one of the top kickers in college football. He delivered a standout performance against Arizona State, making five field goals to help Stanford secure a 15-14 victory. He also earned Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors after going 3 for 3 in a win over Notre Dame. For the season, Karty connected on 18 of 19 field goal attempts with a long of 61 yards, earning First-team All-American and First-team All-Pac-12 honors. He was also a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s best collegiate kicker.
Karty continued his strong play into the 2023 season, earning preseason First-team All-American recognition. One of his most memorable performances came in week seven against Colorado, where he made a 47-yard game-tying field goal to send the game into overtime and then delivered the game-winning kick in the extra period. Stanford completed a remarkable comeback from a 29-0 deficit to win 46-43 in double overtime. Karty finished the 2023 season going 23 for 27 on field goals and 21 for 21 on extra points, once again earning First-team All-American and First-team All-Pac-12 honors. Following the season, he declared for the 2024 NFL draft.
Joshua Karty Career
Rookie Season with the Los Angeles Rams (2024)
Joshua Karty was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round with the 209th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He secured the starting kicker job during the preseason, converting 4 of 5 field goal attempts across three games.
Karty made his regular season debut in the Rams’ season opener against the Detroit Lions. He made a 41-yard field goal on his first professional attempt in the first quarter and added a 26-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, though the Rams fell 20-26 in overtime. In Week 3 against the San Francisco 49ers, Karty delivered a game-winning 37-yard field goal with two seconds remaining, capping a 27-24 victory for the Rams. This marked his first career game-winning field goal.
Throughout his rookie season, Karty proved to be a reliable kicker for Los Angeles. He converted 4 of 5 attempts including a 52-yarder in a loss to the Chicago Bears, and was the Rams’ sole scorer with 5 of 6 field goals made against the Miami Dolphins. In Week 15 at San Francisco, he again provided all the team’s points with four field goals in a 12-6 victory. He closed the regular season with a 58-yard field goal, the longest of his career, in the finale against the Seattle Seahawks. Over the final five weeks of the season, Karty converted 13 consecutive field goal attempts and was named NFL Special Teams Player of the Month for December.
In the postseason, Karty remained perfect. He made field goals of 34 and 44 yards along with three extra points in the Rams’ Wild Card victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The following week, he added two more field goals in the Divisional Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
2025 Season and Transition
Karty entered the 2025 season as the Rams’ starting kicker but struggled early in the year. He made only 10 of 15 field goal attempts and missed three extra points through the first nine weeks, with crucial misses contributing to losses against Philadelphia and San Francisco. After missing both a field goal and an extra point in a Week 9 win over New Orleans, Karty was benched in favor of Harrison Mevis and subsequently waived on November 28. He was re-signed to the Rams’ practice squad on December 1.
On December 23, 2025, Karty was signed by the Arizona Cardinals off the Rams’ practice squad, providing him an opportunity to continue his NFL career with a new team.
Driving Style and Strengths
Karty has built his reputation on consistency and clutch performances in high-pressure situations. His ability to deliver accurate kicks from long range was evident during his college career, where he made a 61-yard field goal and was frequently relied upon for critical kicks. His strong leg strength was demonstrated in the NFL with a 58-yard field goal during his rookie season, and he has shown the capacity to be a team’s sole scoring option when the offense struggles.
Notable Events and Milestones
Several key moments have defined Karty’s young NFL career. His game-winning 37-yard field goal against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 3 of his rookie season provided his first dramatic professional moment. Earning NFL Special Teams Player of the Month for December 2024 highlighted his ability to perform consistently down the stretch of a season. His perfect postseason performance in the Rams’ two playoff games demonstrated his capability to elevate his play when the stakes were highest.
Joshua Karty Career Statistics
Through his first two NFL seasons, Karty has demonstrated the ability to be a reliable starting kicker at the professional level. His rookie season showed particular promise with strong accuracy and clutch gene in crucial moments.
Regular Season Statistics
| Year | Team | Field Goals Made | Field Goals Attempted | Field Goal % | Longest FG | Extra Points Made | Extra Points Attempted | Points Scored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Los Angeles Rams | 29 | 33 | 87.9 | 58 | 51 | 57 | 138 |
| 2025 | Los Angeles Rams | 10 | 15 | 66.7 | — | — | — | 30 |
| Career | — | 39 | 48 | 81.3 | 58 | 51 | 57 | 168 |
Postseason Statistics
Karty appeared in two playoff games during the 2024 season with the Los Angeles Rams. He made all four field goal attempts he took in those games, including conversions from 34, 44, 30, and 34 yards. He also converted five extra point attempts across the two contests.
Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joshua Karty’s connection to Stanford runs deep through his family history. His father, Joel Karty, was a member of the rowing team at Stanford University while completing his Ph.D. in physical and organic chemistry. This family tie influenced Karty’s decision to attend Stanford for both football and his academic pursuits. His mother, Valerie Karty, shared this Stanford connection as well.
Personal Life
Growing up in North Carolina, Karty excelled in football from an early age, developing the skills that would eventually earn him a college scholarship and professional career. His family supported his athletic pursuits throughout his development as a kicker. Karty continues to maintain connections to his North Carolina roots while building his professional career in the NFL.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season represented a challenging chapter in Karty’s young NFL career. After a promising rookie year, he experienced significant difficulties with consistency during his second season with the Rams. His struggles manifested particularly in crucial situations, with missed kicks in prime-time and divisional matchups proving costly for the team. The decision to bench him in Week 9 came after a difficult stretch that included errors in both field goals and extra point attempts.
The transition to the Arizona Cardinals in late December 2025 offered Karty a fresh start with a new organization. Joining the Cardinals’ roster provided him with an opportunity to work with different coaches and specialists while continuing to develop his skills at the professional level. The move demonstrated his resilience in overcoming adversity and his commitment to earning another opportunity in the league.
The outlook for Karty’s career remains tied to his ability to regain the consistency that characterized his college and rookie seasons. His demonstrated range, including a 58-yard field goal, and his success in pressure situations suggest he has the tools to be an effective NFL kicker. His performance in the 2026 offseason and beyond will determine whether he can establish himself as a reliable starter with the Cardinals or another team.