Joshua Karty Bio
Joshua Karty (born March 7, 2002) is an American professional football kicker for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League. He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round of the 2024 NFL Draft. After one full season in Los Angeles, he now continues his professional career in Arizona.
Early Life and Background
Joshua Karty was born on March 7, 2002, in Burlington, North Carolina, and grew up in nearby Elon. He is the son of Joel Karty and Valerie Karty, both of whom have strong academic ties to Stanford. Joel Karty is a former Stanford rower who earned his Ph.D. in physical and organic chemistry, and Valerie and Joel Karty were at Stanford Stadium when she informed him that she was pregnant with Joshua.
Karty attended Western Alamance High School, where he played football as both a placekicker and a punter. He was ranked a consensus three-star prospect and was listed as the No. 1 kicking prospect in his class by 247Sports, Kohl’s Kicking, and ESPN. His senior recognition included an invitation to the 2020 Under Armour All-America Game, where he earned a roster spot among the nation’s top high school specialists.
On January 20, 2019, Karty committed to Stanford on a full scholarship, choosing the Cardinal over several other scholarship offers, including Georgia, North Carolina, and Appalachian State.
Path to American Football
Karty’s progression to elite kicking talent began in his high school years, where he developed into the country’s most sought-after kicking recruit. His combination of leg strength and accuracy on field goals and kickoffs drew attention from national scouting services, and his performance in the Under Armour All-America Game confirmed his readiness for the college level.
By the time he enrolled at Stanford, Karty had already mapped out a clear path to a starting role. The Stanford coaching staff valued his accuracy and the directional control he showed during pre-season camps, and he quickly earned the starting kicker job as a true freshman. His early development under the Cardinal’s special teams coaches laid the foundation for the record-setting accuracy he would later display in the Pac-12.
Joshua Karty Career
Early Career (2021–2023)
Karty’s Stanford debut came in 2021, when he went a perfect 27 for 27 on extra points and 10 for 15 on field goal attempts. As a sophomore, he elevated his game and became one of the most reliable kickers in the Pac-12. During the 2022 season, Karty had his best performance against Arizona State, making five field goals in a 15–14 Stanford victory, and he was later named Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week after going 3 for 3 on field goals in a win over Notre Dame.
He finished the 2022 campaign a perfect 18 for 18 on field goals, including a long of 61 yards, and was named a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, given to the nation’s top kicker. Heading into 2023, he was a preseason first-team All-American, and he finished that year 21 for 21 on extra points and 23 for 27 on field goals, earning first-team All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 honors in both 2022 and 2023. After his junior season, Karty declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Los Angeles Rams Breakthrough (2024–2025)
Karty was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the sixth round, 209th overall, of the 2024 NFL Draft. He won the starting kicker job during the preseason, going 4 for 5 on field goal attempts, and made his regular season debut in Week 1 with a 41-yard field goal against the Detroit Lions. Two weeks later, he drilled a 37-yard kick with two seconds remaining to give the Rams a 27–24 victory over the San Francisco 49ers, his first career game-winning field goal.
Karty closed his rookie regular season on a tear, making his last 13 field goal attempts over the final five weeks, including a season-long 58-yarder against the Seattle Seahawks, and was named NFL Special Teams Player of the Month for December. In the postseason, he was perfect in the Wild Card win over the Minnesota Vikings, hitting field goals of 34 and 44 yards along with three extra points, and added two more field goals in the Divisional Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Arizona Cardinals Era (2025–Present)
Karty’s second NFL season with the Rams proved far more difficult. Through nine games, he made only 10 of 15 field goal attempts and missed three extra points, with his miscues contributing directly to Los Angeles losses to Philadelphia and San Francisco. After missing both a field goal and an extra point in a 34–10 win over New Orleans in Week 9, Karty was benched in favor of Harrison Mevis and was waived on November 28, 2025. He was re-signed to the Rams’ practice squad on December 1, 2025.
On December 23, 2025, the Arizona Cardinals signed Karty off the Rams’ practice squad, giving him a fresh start and a chance to compete for a kicker role in the desert. The move to Arizona marks a new chapter in his professional career, and he looks to rediscover the form that earned him a Lou Groza Award finalist nod in college.
Driving Style and Strengths
Karty built his reputation on accuracy and composure under pressure, traits that helped him deliver a perfect 18-for-18 mark on field goals in 2022 and a flawless postseason as a rookie. Coaches have praised his consistent mechanics, his ability to perform in adverse weather, and his poise in late-game situations, where his 37-yard winner against the 49ers and his 47-yard game-tying kick against Colorado in college stand out as defining examples of his clutch kicking style.
Notable Events and Milestones
Karty’s signature moments include his 47-yard game-tying and game-winning field goals in Stanford’s double-overtime comeback over Colorado in 2023, his first NFL game-winning kick against the 49ers in 2024, and his recognition as NFL Special Teams Player of the Month for December of his rookie year. He also became only the second Stanford kicker ever to finish a season perfect on field goal attempts, matching a mark that cemented his status as one of the Cardinal’s all-time specialists.
Joshua Karty Career Wins
Joshua Karty’s competitive record features standout performances at both the collegiate and professional levels, highlighted by his perfect 2022 field goal campaign at Stanford and a memorable rookie postseason with the Los Angeles Rams.
Stanford Highlights
Across his three seasons with the Stanford Cardinal, Karty was a two-time first-team All-American and a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection. His most iconic victory came in 2023 against Colorado, when he hit a 47-yard game-tying field goal and the overtime winner to complete a 46–43 comeback from a 29–0 deficit, and his 2022 performance, which included five field goals in a one-point win over Arizona State, helped him finish as a Lou Groza Award finalist.
Joshua Karty Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Joshua Karty is the son of Joel Karty, a former Stanford rower who holds a Ph.D. in physical and organic chemistry, and Valerie Karty. The Kartys’ deep connection to Stanford University, which began long before Joshua enrolled, shaped his path to the Cardinal and ultimately to the NFL.
Personal Life
Karty grew up in Elon, North Carolina, and is a United States citizen. Public details about his current residence, marital status, or children are not widely available, and he continues to focus on his professional football career with the Arizona Cardinals.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 season has been the most turbulent of Joshua Karty’s professional career. After a strong rookie year with the Los Angeles Rams, he struggled to find consistency in his second season, converting only 10 of 15 field goal attempts and missing three extra points through the first nine weeks. Those missed kicks proved especially costly in losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers, putting his roster spot under increasing scrutiny.
Following a missed field goal and an extra point in a Week 9 win over the New Orleans Saints, the Rams made a change, benching Karty in favor of Harrison Mevis before ultimately waiving him on November 28. He rejoined the organization on the practice squad three days later, hoping to stabilize his trajectory for the stretch run.
On December 23, 2025, the Arizona Cardinals signed Karty off the Rams’ practice squad, offering him a new opportunity to compete for a roster role and rebuild the accuracy that defined his college career. With a fresh start in Arizona, Karty will look to recapture the confidence and precision that once made him one of the most reliable kickers in college football.