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 (NFL). He has spent his entire NFL career with the Texans since joining the team as an undrafted free agent in 2016. Fairbairn earned national recognition in college at UCLA, where he was a consensus first-team All-American and the 2015 Lou Groza Award winner. In the NFL, he has emerged as one of the league’s most reliable kickers, leading the league in scoring during the 2018 season.
Early Life and Background
Fairbairn was born in Kailua, Hawaii, to John and Rochelle Fairbairn. Since he was a child, Fairbairn has gone by the name Kaʻimi, forgoing John Christian. In Hawaiian, his name means “seeker of wisdom.” Reflecting on the meaning, Fairbairn once said: “The meaning of your name is your life. Hawaiians have a long ancestry. It’s really meaningful for me to go by my Hawaiian name.”
As a young man, Fairbairn played kicker in football but preferred catching passes. He attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he was a two-sport star in football and soccer. Playing central defender in soccer, he was a two-time first-team all-state player, and the team won two state championships. Fairbairn did not initially play football at Punahou. He tried out for water polo instead but almost drowned, which made him realize he was not a proficient swimmer. He returned to football and, as a sophomore, was named second-team all-state, then earned first-team all-state as a junior and senior. At Punahou, Fairbairn was teammates with DeForest Buckner and was ranked nationally as the No. 4 recruit at kicker coming out of high school.
Path to American Football
Fairbairn won the 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 began inauspiciously when his first two extra points were blocked against Rice. He became a dependable kicker from close range but struggled from distance early on. In the 2012 Pac-12 Conference Championship Game, he missed a 52-yard field goal with 30 seconds remaining in a 27–24 loss to Stanford. As a junior in 2014, UCLA trailed Utah 30–28 when Fairbairn missed a 55-yard attempt as time expired.
Entering the 2015 senior season, Fairbairn was 11 for 22 on field-goal tries of 40 yards or more. On October 3 against Arizona State, he made a 53-yard field goal, the first successful 50-plus yarder of his career. In a victory over California on October 22, he converted a UCLA record 60-yard field goal, the first 60-yard field goal in the Football Bowl Subdivision since 2012. 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.
Ka’imi Fairbairn Career
Early Career (2016)
After not being selected in the 2016 NFL draft, Fairbairn signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. He spent all of his rookie year on injured reserve with an injured quadriceps. Although he did not play in a regular-season game, Fairbairn used the time to develop his approach to the pro game.
Houston Texans Breakthrough (2017–2019)
In 2017, Fairbairn was named the Texans’ starting kicker over Nick Novak. He had attempted all of the team’s field goals during the preseason and showed a stronger leg and deeper kickoffs than the incumbent. During a Week 4 57–14 victory over the Tennessee Titans, Fairbairn converted six-of-seven extra points and all three field goal attempts. As a rookie, he made 32 of 35 extra point attempts and 20 of 25 field goal attempts.
During the 2018 season, Fairbairn earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors in Week 15 after kicking five field goals and two extra points in a 29–22 road victory over the New York Jets, and was later named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December. He did not miss a kick inside of 40 yards all season and led the league in points scored (150), field goals made (37), and field goals attempted (42). The 37 field goals were also a franchise record. The Texans won the AFC South with an 11–5 record.
On March 11, 2019, the Texans placed a second-round restricted free agent tender on Fairbairn. He began the 2019 season slowly while adjusting to a new holder, punter Bryan Anger, who had replaced Trevor Daniel. Fairbairn made his last seven field goals to finish 20 of 25 on field goals and 40 of 45 on extra points. In the Wild Card Round, he made a game-winning 28-yard field goal with 3:20 left in overtime for a 22–19 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
Houston Texans Era (2020–2024)
On March 10, 2020, Fairbairn signed a four-year, $17.65 million contract extension with the Texans. He converted 37 of 40 extra point attempts and 27 of 31 field goal attempts during the 2020 season. In 2021, he was placed on injured reserve on September 8 before being activated on October 2. On December 12, Fairbairn made a career-long 61-yard field goal during a 33–13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, setting a Texans franchise record for the longest field goal. He appeared in 13 games and converted 13 of 16 extra point attempts and 15 of 19 field goal attempts.
Fairbairn converted all 24 extra point attempts and 29 of 31 field goal attempts during the 2022 season. In 2023, a quad injury landed him on injured reserve on November 11 before he was activated on December 16. In Week 15, he converted all five of his kicks for 13 points, including a 54-yard game-winner in overtime in a 19–16 road victory over the Titans, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors. He finished the 2023 season 21 of 22 on extra points and 27 of 28 on field goals across 12 games.
On March 6, 2024, Fairbairn signed a three-year, $15.9 million contract extension with the Texans through 2026. During a Week 2 19–13 victory over the Chicago Bears, he converted four field goals, including three from 50-plus yards, again earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Week. Three weeks later, he converted a 59-yard field goal against the Buffalo Bills with no time remaining in the fourth quarter to deliver the Texans a win. He finished the 2024 season 34 of 36 on extra points and 36 of 42 on field goals.
Driving Style and Strengths
Fairbairn is recognized for his powerful leg and accuracy from long range, with multiple 50-plus yard field goals in clutch moments. His ability to convert under pressure has been a defining trait, including a 60-yard UCLA record and a 61-yard career long with the Texans. He has been especially dependable inside 40 yards, going an entire 2018 season without a miss from that range. His partnership with the Texans’ special teams unit, including his holders and snappers, has produced consistently strong results in both regular and postseason play.
Notable Events and Milestones
Fairbairn set the Pac-12 Conference record for most career points scored while at UCLA. In 2018, he led the NFL in scoring and set a Houston Texans franchise record with 37 field goals made in a single season. He also set the Texans’ franchise record for longest field goal with a 61-yarder in 2021. In 2019, his overtime game-winning 28-yard field goal against the Buffalo Bills delivered the Texans a playoff victory. In 2024, a walk-off 59-yard field goal against the Buffalo Bills added another signature moment to his career.
Ka’imi Fairbairn Career Wins
Throughout his career, Fairbairn has been one of the most productive kickers in the NFL, leading the league in scoring during the 2018 season with 150 points. He has consistently delivered in high-pressure situations, including game-winning field goals in the postseason and the regular season. His accuracy and power have made him a cornerstone of the Houston Texans’ special teams unit.
NFL Regular Season Highlights
Fairbairn has produced several standout regular-season performances. In 2017, he converted 20 of 25 field goal attempts as a rookie. In 2018, he led the league with 37 made field goals and 150 points, earning AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December. In 2024, he earned AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors twice, including a Week 2 performance with three 50-plus-yard field goals against the Chicago Bears and a Week 5 walk-off 59-yard field goal against the Buffalo Bills.
Playoff Highlights
In the 2018 Wild Card Round, Fairbairn converted an extra point in a 21–7 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, making his playoff debut. In the 2019 Wild Card Round, he made a game-winning 28-yard field goal in overtime for a 22–19 victory over the Buffalo Bills. These performances have established him as a reliable kicker in postseason play.
Ka’imi Fairbairn Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Fairbairn was born in Kailua, Hawaii, to John and Rochelle Fairbairn. His Hawaiian name, Kaʻiminoeauloamekaʻikeokekumupaʻa, carries cultural significance and translates to “seeker of wisdom.” The family has deep roots in Hawaii, and Fairbairn has spoken about the importance of carrying his Hawaiian name in his daily life.
Personal Life
Fairbairn grew up in Kailua, Hawaii, and attended Punahou School in Honolulu. He is known for embracing his Hawaiian heritage and the meaning of his given name. He has continued to reside in the United States throughout his professional career, playing his home games for the Houston Texans.
2025 Season Performance
Fairbairn enters the 2025 season as the longest-tenured member of the Houston Texans, having signed a three-year, $15.9 million contract extension in March 2024 that runs through 2026. He finished the 2024 season 36 of 42 on field goal attempts, demonstrating continued accuracy despite a strong year that included two AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Heading into 2025, Fairbairn remains the Texans’ primary placekicker and a key part of the team’s special teams unit. His 2024 performance, including multiple clutch kicks and a walk-off 59-yard field goal against the Buffalo Bills, has reinforced his reputation as a reliable closer. With the Texans aiming to build on their 2024 campaign, Fairbairn’s consistency from both inside and beyond 40 yards will be a critical factor in close games throughout the season.
Fairbairn’s outlook for 2025 is shaped by his durability and the trust placed in him by the Texans’ organization. After navigating quad injuries in 2021 and 2023, he has remained healthy and productive. As the team continues its push in the AFC South, Fairbairn’s veteran presence and big-leg accuracy position him to remain one of the league’s top placekickers in 2025 and beyond.