Nick Folk Bio
Nicholas Alexander Folk, known professionally as Nick Folk, is an American professional football placekicker for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). Born on November 5, 1984, in Los Angeles, California, Folk has built a lengthy NFL career as a reliable kicker, earning Pro Bowl honors as a rookie and later becoming the second-leading scorer in New York Jets franchise history. He is currently in his second stint with the Jets after spending time with several other NFL teams.
Standing 6 feet 1 inch tall and weighing approximately 223 pounds, Folk has long been regarded as one of the steadiest kickers in the league. Over the course of his career, he has suited up for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New England Patriots, and Tennessee Titans, in addition to a brief stint with the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football.
Early Life and Background
Nicholas Alexander Folk was born on November 5, 1984, and raised in Los Angeles, California, by his parents, Anton and Kathryn Folk. His father, who was born in Austria to Donauschwaben parents, works as an accountant, while his mother is a pediatrician. The family maintains dual citizenship in the United States and Germany, where his father grew up.
Folk attended Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, where he was a versatile athlete. As a senior, he was named All-CIF as a punter and second-team as a placekicker. He was also captain of the soccer team and earned All-CIF Division, all-league, and All-Valley honors, demonstrating his strong leg and competitive temperament across multiple sports.
Folk has two younger brothers, Erik and Gregory, who also pursued athletic careers. Erik was the placekicker for the University of Washington Huskies football team through the 2011 season, while Gregory was a soccer player at UCLA and later played for the Los Angeles Galaxy. The Folk family has been involved with the Children’s Tumor Foundation, supporting research into neurofibromatosis.
Path to Professional Football
After high school, Folk accepted a football scholarship to the University of Arizona, where he majored in marketing. He became the starting kicker as a sophomore and also took over punting duties during that season. The longest field goal of his college career, a 52-yarder, came in 2005 against USC, signaling his strong leg to professional scouts.
As a senior, Folk earned All-Pac-10 honors and finished his college career with impressive statistics. He made 30 of 47 field goal attempts, 79 of 81 extra point attempts, and punted 96 times for 4,242 yards, averaging 44.2 yards per punt with a long of 61 yards. His dual-threat ability as both a kicker and punter made him an intriguing prospect for NFL teams.
Folk was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round, 178th overall, of the 2007 NFL draft. The selection marked the beginning of what would become one of the most enduring kicking careers of his generation.
Nick Folk Career
Early Career with the Dallas Cowboys (2007–2009)
Folk made an immediate impact with the Cowboys during his rookie season in 2007. He made the longest kick of his career to that point, a 53-yard game winner against the Buffalo Bills on Monday Night Football, and was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for Week 5. Going 26 of 31 on field goal attempts and making all 53 extra points, he was selected to the 2008 Pro Bowl as the NFC’s kicker, becoming the first Cowboys rookie Pro Bowl kicker. He also broke the Cowboys single-season record for most points by a placekicker with 131 points.
In 2008, Folk continued his strong performance by making 91 percent of his kicks and all 42 extra point attempts. However, following the season, he was diagnosed with a torn labrum and underwent surgery in May 2009. His recovery was hampered when he rushed his rehab, and his performance suffered in 2009. He converted only 18 of 28 field goal attempts and was waived on December 21, 2009, replaced by Shaun Suisham.
New York Jets First Stint (2010–2016)
Folk signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets on February 23, 2010, marking the start of a successful seven-year run with the franchise. Working with special teams coordinator Mike Westhoff helped refine his technique, and he set a franchise record with a career-long 56-yard field goal against the Denver Broncos on October 17, 2010. During the AFC Wild Card Round against the Indianapolis Colts on January 8, 2011, Folk kicked the game-winning field goal with only three seconds remaining, helping the Jets reach their second consecutive AFC Championship Game.
Throughout his first stint with the Jets, Folk established himself as one of the most reliable kickers in team history. He set a Jets record with 23 consecutive field goals made, established a franchise record in field goal percentage at 91.7 percent, and led the league in field goal attempts in 2014. The Jets placed the franchise tag on him in 2014 before signing him to a four-year, $12 million contract. He ranks second on the franchise’s all-time list in points scored with 729, second in field goals made with 175, and first in field goal percentage at 81.3 percent.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Alliance of American Football (2017–2019)
Released by the Jets in a salary cap move on February 23, 2017, Folk signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on March 17, 2017. He won the starting kicking job after the team released Roberto Aguayo and Zach Hocker. However, his season was cut short when he was placed on injured reserve on October 9, 2017, and he was released on February 22, 2018.
After a year away from football, Folk attempted a comeback in 2019. Following an unsuccessful tryout with the Chicago Bears, he signed with the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football on January 26, 2019. Folk became the record-holder for the longest AAF field goal at 55 yards before the league ceased operations in April 2019.
New England Patriots Era (2019–2022)
Folk returned to the NFL when he was signed by the New England Patriots on October 29, 2019. After a brief release and re-signing later that season, he became a dependable presence for the Patriots. In 2020, he kicked a 51-yard game-winning field goal against his former team, the Jets, and was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week multiple times during his New England tenure.
Folk’s most memorable stretch with the Patriots came in 2021, when he set a franchise record with 36 consecutive field goals made and tied with Daniel Carlson for the most points scored in the NFL that season. He re-signed with New England on a two-year, $5 million deal in 2022 and set an NFL record for most consecutive field goals under 50 yards, hitting 57 straight before the streak ended at 64. However, struggles handling kickoffs led the Patriots to draft a replacement kicker in 2023.
Tennessee Titans Era (2023–2024)
On August 29, 2023, Folk was traded from the Patriots to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a 2025 seventh-round draft pick. He immediately made an impact, going 5 for 5 in the Titans’ season opener against the New Orleans Saints, accounting for all of Tennessee’s points. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Week in Week 2 after a game-winning 41-yard field goal in overtime against the Los Angeles Chargers. He finished the 2023 season going 29 of 30 on field goals, breaking the Titans’ single-season record for highest field goal percentage.
Folk re-signed with the Titans on March 20, 2024, and posted one of his strongest years despite turning 40 during the season. He converted 21 of 22 field goal attempts, including a career-high 6 for 6 from 50-plus yards, and made all 25 extra point attempts. He led the league in field goal percentage at 95.5 percent for the second consecutive year, though he missed the final three games due to injuries.
Return to the New York Jets (2025–Present)
On July 29, 2025, Folk signed a contract to return to the New York Jets, rejoining the franchise where he had built his legacy. On September 29, 2025, he kicked a career-long 58-yard field goal, surpassing his previous best. In Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, Folk made a 56-yard game-winning field goal, giving the Jets a 27–24 victory and marking the 20th game-winning field goal of his career.
Driving Style and Strengths
Folk is widely regarded as one of the most accurate and clutch kickers of his era, particularly from distances under 50 yards. His career field goal percentage ranks among the highest in NFL history, and he has demonstrated remarkable longevity by performing at an elite level into his 40s. His mental toughness is evident in his 20 career game-winning field goals, and his consistency under pressure has made him a trusted option for teams in critical moments.
Notable Events and Milestones
Folk’s most memorable career moments include his 2008 Pro Bowl selection as a rookie, his franchise-record 23 consecutive field goals made with the Jets, his NFL record of 64 consecutive field goals under 50 yards with the Patriots, and his career-long 58-yard field goal in 2025. He also set the Titans’ single-season field goal percentage record in 2023 and led the league in field goal percentage in both 2023 and 2024.
Nick Folk Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Folk was born to Anton and Kathryn Folk in Hollywood, California. His father, an accountant, was born in Austria to Donauschwaben parents, giving the family strong German-American ties. Folk and his brothers, Erik and Gregory, hold dual citizenship in the United States and Germany. Both brothers pursued athletic careers, with Erik playing football at the University of Washington and Gregory playing soccer at UCLA and for the Los Angeles Galaxy.
Personal Life
Folk is married to his wife, Julianne, and together they have four children, including twin boys, a daughter, and a younger son. He majored in marketing at the University of Arizona and is an avid soccer fan who attends New York Red Bulls games when in the area. He is also a member of the Viking Army Supporters Club.
2025 Season Performance
Folk’s return to the New York Jets in 2025 has been marked by immediate impact. After signing on July 29, 2025, he wasted no time demonstrating his continued ability, kicking a career-long 58-yard field goal on September 29, 2025. His performance has reinforced his reputation as one of the most reliable kickers in the league, even at age 40.
In Week 13 against the Atlanta Falcons, Folk delivered another clutch moment, making a 56-yard game-winning field goal to give the Jets a 27–24 victory. That kick marked the 20th game-winning field goal of his career, further cementing his legacy as one of the most dependable closers in NFL history.
Looking ahead, Folk’s veteran presence and proven accuracy make him a valuable asset for the Jets as they navigate the remainder of the 2025 season and beyond. His continued success at an advanced age has made him a respected figure among teammates and opponents alike.