Blake Grupe Bio
Blake Robert Grupe, born on November 5, 1998, in Sedalia, Missouri, is an American professional football placekicker currently with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the New Orleans Saints following the 2023 NFL draft. Standing 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing approximately 157 pounds, Grupe has built his professional reputation on a strong leg and consistent accuracy from long range.
Early Life and Background
Blake Robert Grupe was raised in Sedalia, Missouri, where he attended Smith-Cotton High School. At Smith-Cotton, he was a three-sport athlete, competing in soccer, baseball, and football, though he did not begin playing organized football until his sophomore year. This late introduction to the sport did not hold him back, as he developed into one of the most accomplished kickers in school history.
As a senior at Smith-Cotton High School, Grupe was named all-state in both football and soccer, an uncommon dual-sport distinction that highlighted his athletic versatility. During his high school career, he set school records for single-season and career field goals made, a foundation that drew attention from college recruiters. Eventually, he committed to play college football for the Arkansas State Red Wolves, the first major step on his path toward a professional kicking career.
Path to Professional Football
Blake Robert Grupe arrived at Arkansas State University in 2017 and used his true freshman year to redshirt and develop his kicking skills. By his sophomore season in 2018, he had earned the starting placekicking job by week three, finishing the year with 14 successful field goals out of 21 attempts and ranking seventh in the Sun Belt Conference. That early breakthrough confirmed that he had the consistency and leg strength to compete at the collegiate level.
In 2019, Grupe elevated his profile significantly, making 19 of 22 field goal attempts and earning first-team All-Sun Belt Conference honors. He was also named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award, given annually to the best placekicker in college football, and his 110 total points set a school record for kickers. He continued to produce at a high level in 2020 and 2021, finishing his Arkansas State career as the program’s all-time leader in extra points made, field goals made, and total points scored. After the 2021 season, he transferred to Notre Dame, where he went 14 of 19 on field goals and made all 49 extra point attempts in his lone year with the Fighting Irish in 2022.
Blake Grupe Career
Early Career (2017–2022)
Blake Robert Grupe spent the formative years of his football career at Arkansas State and Notre Dame, steadily refining his craft and building the statistical resume that would later earn him an NFL opportunity. As a redshirt freshman, he focused on development, and by his second year, he had already established himself as one of the top kickers in the Sun Belt Conference. His consistency from inside 50 yards, paired with increasing range, made him a reliable weapon for his college teams.
At Notre Dame in 2022, Grupe operated within one of the most prestigious programs in college football, and his perfect 49-for-49 mark on extra points demonstrated his reliability under high-pressure circumstances. The combination of his accuracy and his ability to connect from beyond 50 yards eventually made him an attractive prospect for NFL teams, even though he entered the professional ranks without the benefit of being selected in the 2023 NFL draft.
New Orleans Saints Era (2023–2025)
After going unselected in the 2023 NFL draft, Blake Robert Grupe was signed by the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent. He immediately made an impact, hitting the game-winning field goal against the Kansas City Chiefs in his first preseason appearance. He then competed with veteran kicker Wil Lutz for the starting job and won the position battle, securing his place on the Saints’ roster.
During his rookie 2023 season, Grupe produced a perfect 40-for-40 mark on extra point attempts and converted 30 of 37 field goal attempts. In Week 5, he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after drilling two 50-plus-yard field goals and recording five touchbacks on seven kickoffs in a 34–0 win over the New England Patriots. In 2024, he remained steady, going 31 of 33 on extra points and 27 of 31 on field goals. He was released by the Saints on November 25, 2025.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2025–Present)
On December 2, 2025, Blake Robert Grupe signed with the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad, and he was promoted to the active roster on December 10, 2025. His first significant action with the Colts came in Week 15 against the Seattle Seahawks, when he drilled a go-ahead 60-yard field goal with 40 seconds remaining. That kick broke the Colts’ franchise record of 58 yards, which had been set by Dan Miller in 1982, although Indianapolis ultimately fell 18–16.
Notable Events and Milestones
The 60-yard field goal against Seattle stands as the defining moment of Grupe’s young NFL career, instantly rewriting the Colts’ record book. His earlier game-winning preseason kick against Kansas City in 2023 and his NFC Special Teams Player of the Week award during his rookie season also rank among his most memorable professional achievements.
Blake Grupe Career Highlights
Across his college and professional career, Blake Robert Grupe has been recognized for both accuracy and range. At Arkansas State, he earned first-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2019 and second-team All-Sun Belt honors in 2021, while setting program records for career extra points made, career field goals made, and career points scored. In the NFL, he has converted the majority of his field goal attempts in each of his first two professional seasons and has already authored one of the longest field goals in Indianapolis Colts history.
Blake Grupe Family
Family Background and Personal Life
Blake Robert Grupe grew up in Sedalia, Missouri, and was raised in a community where he developed into a multi-sport athlete. Limited verified information is available about his immediate family members or personal relationships beyond his hometown roots. He maintains a public presence on social media platforms, including X and Instagram, where fans can follow his professional updates.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been a year of transition for Blake Robert Grupe. He began the year with the New Orleans Saints, where he continued to handle placekicking duties and remained accurate on field goal and extra point attempts through the early weeks of the campaign. His release on November 25, 2025, opened the door for a new chapter in Indianapolis.
Joining the Indianapolis Colts in December, Grupe quickly made his mark, highlighted by the franchise-record 60-yard field goal against the Seattle Seahawks. The performance demonstrated that his leg strength had not diminished despite the midseason change of scenery. Although the Colts ultimately lost that contest, the kick signaled his long-range value to the franchise going forward. Looking ahead, Grupe will look to build on that momentum and compete for the Colts’ long-term placekicking role as the team shapes its roster and special teams plans for the seasons to come.