Mike Badgley Bio
Michael Badgley, nicknamed “the Money Badger,” is an American professional football placekicker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). Born on July 28, 1995, in Summit, New Jersey, he excelled at multiple sports during high school and went on to play college football at the University of Miami. Undrafted in 2018, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts and has since played for several NFL franchises, including the Los Angeles Chargers, Chicago Bears, and Detroit Lions.
Known for his accuracy and impressive distance, Badgley has built a reputation as a dependable kicker across multiple teams. He holds the Miami Hurricanes all-time scoring record and a Los Angeles Chargers franchise mark for longest field goal.
Early Life and Background
Michael Badgley was born on July 28, 1995, in Summit, New Jersey. He attended Summit High School, where he played hockey, lacrosse, and football. Badgley won at least one state championship in every sport he played in high school, including consecutive NJSIAA state lacrosse championships in 2010 and 2011, and a NJSIAA state hockey championship at the Prudential Center in 2012.
In addition to kicking, Michael started on both sides of the ball at defensive back and running back, returned kicks and punts, and filled in at quarterback due to injuries, completing 18 of 33 passes for 448 yards and seven touchdowns. He set 12 Summit Hilltoppers football records, including a longest field goal of 49 yards, and scored 181 total points during his senior season, earning Star-Ledger Player of the Year honors in Union County in 2012.
Badgley originally planned to play collegiate lacrosse and follow his older brother Peter Badgley, a former Division I lacrosse goalie at Providence College. However, a coach convinced him that he could play football at the Division I level, which redirected his athletic career toward placekicking.
Path to American Football
After Summit High School, Badgley attended Fork Union Military Academy’s post-graduate program, where he played for head coach Col. John Shuman. He made the Dean’s list and was the No. 1 ranked kicker in the 247Sports Composite Rankings, with a longest field goal of 58 yards at Fork Union Military Academy.
Badgley then enrolled at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida, where he became the starting kicker as a true freshman in 2014. He held that role through his senior season in 2017, finishing his college career as the Miami Hurricanes all-time leading scorer with 403 points and a school-record 77 field goals. In 2017, he was named team captain, first-team All-ACC, Walter Kichefski Award recipient, and University of Miami Special Teams MVP. Following his senior year, Badgley was invited to the Reese’s Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine.
Mike Badgley Career
Early Career (2018)
After going unselected in the 2018 NFL Draft, Michael Badgley signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. During the preseason, he worked with veteran kicker Adam Vinatieri and connected on all five of his field goal attempts, with a long of 51 yards. The Colts released him on September 1, 2018, as part of their final roster cuts.
On October 11, 2018, the Los Angeles Chargers signed Badgley to their active roster. He made his NFL debut in Week 6 against the Cleveland Browns, converting all five extra point attempts and his one field goal try in a 38-14 victory.
Los Angeles Chargers Breakthrough (2018-2020)
Badgley quickly established himself with the Chargers. In a Week 7 victory over the Tennessee Titans, he made two field goals and two extra points. The following week against Cincinnati, he drilled four field goals from 59, 31, 32, and 46 yards during a 26-21 win. The 59-yarder set a Chargers franchise record for the longest field goal in team history, earning him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
During the 2018 AFC Wild Card matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, Badgley went 4-for-4 on field goals in the first half, becoming only the third kicker to achieve that feat. The Chargers won 23-17, with Badgley setting franchise postseason records for most field goals (five) and points (15) in a playoff game. He was named the league’s top special teams rookie for the 2018 season.
At the conclusion of the 2020 season, Badgley ranked 19th in Chargers history with 238 regular-season points scored for the franchise. He was waived by the Chargers on August 31, 2021.
Tennessee Titans and Indianapolis Colts Era (2021)
On September 10, 2021, Badgley was signed to the Tennessee Titans’ practice squad but was waived three days later. On October 14, 2021, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts practice squad and was elevated to the active roster two days later after an injury to starting kicker Rodrigo Blankenship.
Badgley finished the 2021 season making 18 of 21 field goals and a perfect 39 of 39 on extra points. The Colts were eliminated from playoff contention following a Week 18 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions Era (2022-2023)
On October 1, 2022, the Chicago Bears signed Badgley to their practice squad. He was elevated for a game against the New York Giants, making all four of his field goal attempts, and was released two days later. On October 5, 2022, he joined the Detroit Lions practice squad and was promoted to the active roster on October 29.
Badgley finished the 2022 season making 24 of 28 field goal attempts (85.7 percent) and a perfect 33 of 33 extra points. He was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 13 after scoring 16 points in a 40-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Lions released him on July 20, 2023.
After brief stints with the Washington Commanders and a return to the Tennessee Titans in 2023, Badgley rejoined the Detroit Lions practice squad on August 30, 2023. He was elevated for a game against the Denver Broncos and later signed to the active roster on December 29. With the Lions, he advanced to the 2023 NFC Championship, hitting a 54-yard game-deciding field goal in the NFC Wild Card Round to secure a 24-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He finished that postseason a perfect 3-for-3 on field goals and 11-for-11 on extra points.
Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills Era (2024-2025)
On February 22, 2024, Badgley re-signed with the Detroit Lions. On July 26, he suffered a torn hamstring and was placed on injured reserve, missing the entire 2024 season while the Lions posted a 15-2 record as the NFC’s top seed.
On October 7, 2025, the Indianapolis Colts signed Badgley to their active roster following a season-ending injury to Spencer Shrader. He was waived by the Colts on December 2, 2025, after a crucial PAT miss in Week 13 against the Houston Texans. On December 16, 2025, Badgley was signed to the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad following an injury to Matt Prater. He was elevated for the December 20 game against the Cleveland Browns, missing a PAT but converting his only field goal attempt from 41 yards in a 23-20 win.
Notable Events and Milestones
Badgley’s 59-yard field goal for the Los Angeles Chargers against the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 stands as a franchise record for longest field goal. His five field goals and 15 points in the 2018 AFC Wild Card game remain Chargers postseason records, and his 54-yard game-winning kick in the 2023 NFC Wild Card Round highlighted his clutch reputation.
Mike Badgley Career Wins
Across his NFL career, Michael Badgley has delivered several signature performances for multiple franchises. His most memorable victories include game-winning kicks for the Los Angeles Chargers, the Detroit Lions’ 2023 playoff run, and clutch field goals during his 2025 stint with the Indianapolis Colts and Buffalo Bills.
Los Angeles Chargers Highlights
Badgley’s standout moment as a Charger came against the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2018, when he hit a 29-yard game-winner to give Los Angeles a 33-30 victory on Sunday Night Football. He set a franchise record with a 59-yard field goal against Cincinnati and was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week.
Detroit Lions Highlights
During the 2022 season, Badgley was perfect on 33 extra point attempts and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a 40-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. In the 2023 NFC Wild Card Round, his 54-yard field goal as time expired sealed a 24-23 victory over the Los Angeles Rams, sending Detroit to the Divisional Round.
Mike Badgley Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Michael Badgley’s older brother, Peter Badgley, is a former Division I lacrosse goalie at Providence College, where he competed in the Big East Conference and was named first-team and Big East Goalie of the Year in 2015. Peter Badgley’s collegiate lacrosse career helped inspire Michael’s initial interest in collegiate sports before he shifted focus to football.
Personal Life
Michael Badgley, who carries the nickname “the Money Badger,” grew up in Summit, New Jersey, and has continued his professional football career after recovering from a torn hamstring that cost him the 2024 season.
2025 Season Performance
Michael Badgley began the 2025 NFL season as a free agent before being signed by the Indianapolis Colts on October 7, 2025, following a season-ending injury to Spencer Shrader. His stint with Indianapolis ended on December 2 after a critical PAT miss in a Week 13 game against the Houston Texans, leading to his release.
On December 16, 2025, Badgley was signed to the Buffalo Bills’ practice squad following an injury to veteran kicker Matt Prater. He was elevated for the December 20 game against the Cleveland Browns, where he missed a PAT but converted his only field goal attempt from 41 yards in a 23-20 Buffalo victory.
Badgley’s 2025 season has highlighted his ability to step in quickly for contending teams in need of kicking help, even after a season lost to injury in 2024. With the Bills pushing toward the postseason, his role in Buffalo could expand depending on Prater’s recovery timeline.