Joey Slye

Joey Slye's Biography

Joseph David Slye, a New Mexico native born on April 10th, 1996, is an established American professional football placekicker currently associated with the New England Patriots in the National Football League (NFL). His sporting journey started in Stafford, Virginia, where he attended North Stafford High School, excelling as a linebacker and kicker on the football team.

Slye’s collegiate career began at Virginia Tech, where he deservingly earned a walk-on opportunity after turning down a scholarship offer from James Madison. With a successful field goal record of 72.2% (78 out of 108 attempts) and a commendable 98.3% (169 out of 172 attempts) accuracy in extra points, Slye had shown potential from the start. However, despite this impressive performance, the 2018 NFL draft didn’t yield a placement for him.

Following his college career, he acquired interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Cleveland Browns after he wasn’t selected in the NFL draft. While he was not signed, his career took an uphill turn when he was signed by the New York Giants in May 2019 as an undrafted free agent. His stint with the Giants was brief, being released and re-signed again before finally being waived.

In August 2019, Slye received an offer from the Carolina Panthers which provided him ample opportunity to showcase his capabilities. He made his NFL debut in September 2019, managing to hit two field goal tries after missing his first career attempt. This was a turning point in Slye’s career; in his rookie season, he scored a total of 25 field goals out of 32 attempts (78.1% success) and landed 31 of 35 extra point attempts.

Following his impressive debut year, the Panthers extended Slye’s contract for another year in Feb 2020. His successful run continued when he made all five field goal attempts in a match against the Los Angeles Chargers in September of that year, marking a career-high.

Slye also demonstrated his exceptional skills when he attempted an NFL record 65-yard field goal in October 2020; although he missed narrowly, his efforts did not go unrecognised. Unfortunately, during this time, Slye had to be placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list but was back on the side within two days. The Panthers rewarded his efforts with a one-year contract extension in January 2021, but eventually released him later that year, in August.

Slye then had brief tenures with several other NFL teams including San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, and Washington Commanders. His time with the Washington Commanders was notable as he set a franchise record for the team with a 61-yard field goal. This achievement was highlighted in November 2022 when Slye received the NFC Special Teams Player of the Month award.

In 2024, he inked a deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but his stay was brief and ended when he was released in April of the same year. Shortly thereafter, Slye joined the New England Patriots, setting another record through his longest field goal of 63 yards for the team.

From humble beginnings in Stafford, Virginia to an illustrious professional career marked by brief stints with numerous teams, Slye has made his mark in the American football sphere. As a dependable placekicker, he has shown resilience and a constant drive for improvement. Joseph David Slye continues to shine in the National Football League as a committed athlete, and he remains a crucial asset for the New England Patriots.