Taylor Bertolet

Taylor Bertolet's Biography

Taylor Bertolet, an American football placekicker, was born on October 24, 1992. He has established a prominent career within the sport with several notable records. He is currently a free agent, his last contract being with the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad in 2022.

Bertolet’s journey into professional football began at Texas A&M, where he showcased his talents as a placekicker during his college years. His most impressive record from college was his single-season record for the most extra points. The year was 2012, a noteworthy year for Bertolet and his then-quarterback Johnny Manziel. Together, they became the first freshmen duo in the history of Texas A&M to amass over 100 points in one season. This impressive milestone included a personal career-high of 106 points by Bertolet, consisting of 13 field goals and a school record of 67 extra points. In addition, he also managed to kick a season-long 54-yard field goal against Louisiana Tech.

From 2013 to 2014, Bertolet served mainly as the Aggies’ kickoff specialist, after losing his placekicking position to Josh Lambo. Bertolet bounced back in 2015 with another personal best year that showcased 22 field goals on 31 attempts, reflecting a career-high 71% success rate. That same year, he kicked a career-long 55-yard field goal against Mississippi State and tied both Southeastern Conference and school records by making six field goals in a single game against Vanderbilt.

Despite a successful college football career, Bertolet went undrafted in the 2016 NFL Draft. However, his talents were eventually recognized and he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams on May 4, 2016. Bertolet’s initial foray into professional football had its share of disappointments, one being his release from the Rams on August 30, 2016. Following this setback, he eventually signed up with the Denver Broncos on March 21, 2018, only to be waived a month later.

Bertolet’s career took a favorable turn on May 7, 2018, when the New York Jets signed him up. Despite the promising turn of events, he was waived off by the Jets on September 1, 2018, after losing the starting kicking job to Jason Myers.

Before the 2019 season, Bertolet found a new home with the Salt Lake Stallions of the Alliance of American Football, but this was short-lived as the AAF filed for bankruptcy. After a brief stint with the Denver Broncos, Bertolet again signed with the New York Jets when Chandler Catanzaro retired during the preseason, only to be waived once more by them. He then moved to the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad, and although he was released and re-signed multiple times during his tenure here, he managed to persevere and continue his professional career.

On October 24, 2020, he signed with the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad but was released after his contract expired on January 11, 2021. Continuing his professional journey, Bertolet signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on June 29, 2021, however, was released on November 15, 2021.

Despite these hurdles, Bertolet’s career remained dynamic. In May 2022, he signed with the New Orleans Breakers of the United States Football League. Following this, he returned briefly to the Carolina Panthers’ practice squad in September 2022 but was released shortly after.

With his resilience and commitment to the sport, Bertolet has had a robust journey within professional football. From making his debut by successfully scoring his first 3 NFL field goals while playing for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2022, the young player’s career has continually traversed new avenues. After more than half a decade in the sport, Bertolet’s story showcases not just his talent and skill, but also his resilience and determination that spurs his journey through professional football. Despite the turbulent course, Taylor Bertolet remains a notable figure within the world of American football.