Ka'imi Fairbairn

Career StatsB-

Year	Team	GP	FG%
Career		92	87.6%
2025		15	91.7%
2024		17	85.7%
2023		12	96.4%
2022		17	93.5%
2021

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

Ka'imi Fairbairn drew a B on the Contract Value Index — a calibrated read on Houston's cap allocation at kicker. At $6.5M AAV over two years, Fairbairn secured the most lucrative kicker contract in NFL history, a distinction that reflects the Texans' organizational confidence in his reliability rather than a departure from positional economics — kickers typically command far more modest deals, making this extension a notable premium bet on tenure and clutch performance. His 2025 season production (1 tackle across 15 games) aligns with standard special teams participation and doesn't reveal the on-field excellence that would fully justify the financial outlay, though his AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor and recent tie of an NFL record suggest reliability in high-leverage moments that the organization values enough to lock him in long-term. At 32 with nine seasons logged, Fairbairn is an established veteran at a stage where durability and institutional knowledge carry measurable weight — this deal reflects confidence in his remaining shelf life rather than upside, and the Texans' recent signings at wide receiver, linebacker, and offensive tackle signal a veteran-core championship construct where kicker consistency becomes a hidden asset in close games. The CVI grade of B acknowledges the premium relative to positional peers, offset by Fairbairn's genuine track record as a proven performer in a pass-heavy system where field position and clutch conversion matter. The two-year window mitigates long-term cap risk, allowing Houston flexibility if age or performance decline accelerates — this deal is a calculated bet on the present, not a long-term albatross.

Contracts in the Same Value Band

Other same-position deals the Contract Value Index also places in the B band — a quick read on where Ka'imi's contract sits relative to comparable money.

Performance Analysis

Ka'imi Fairbairn grades a B- performance mark, with his Pro Bowl-caliber stretches anchoring the read. At 32 years old, Fairbairn remains an established veteran in his ninth season, and the 2025 season data shows he appeared in all 15 games—a durability marker that underscores his reliability in a high-pressure role. While his tackle total of 1 is nominal (as expected for a kicker), the real measure of his performance lies in his consistency and clutch execution, qualities that earned him AFC Special Teams Player of the Week recognition and prompted Houston to invest $13 million over two years to secure him long-term. The gap between his B- performance grade and his A- sentiment reflects a common dynamic in football: Fairbairn's on-field accuracy and decision-making have clearly impressed the organization and media enough to justify record-setting kicker compensation, yet the grading itself suggests marginal variance from an elite tier—likely room for improvement in either accuracy percentage or situational consistency that keeps him just outside the top echelon. His current contract status as the league's highest-paid kicker signals the Texans view him as a cornerstone piece of a 12-5 AFC South team riding a nine-game winning streak, but sustainable performance at that compensation level will demand he maintain both his durability and his clutch gene through the regular season.

How Ka'imi Compares at the Position

Ka'imi Fairbairn ranks 3rd of 39 graded pks by performance. That slots Ka'imi between Nick Folk (B+) just ahead and Eddy Pineiro (B-) just behind.

Current Sentiment

Around Houston, the narrative on Ka'imi Fairbairn reads as an A- sentiment grade — measured by recent headlines and fan reactions. The Texans' decision to extend him with the most lucrative kicker contract in NFL history has positioned him as the league's gold standard at the position, a distinction that has energized media coverage and fantasy analysts alike; his recent AFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor and his tie of an NFL record have only reinforced the perception that he's operating at elite reliability in a high-pressure market. Yet there's a modest disconnect between the celebrated narrative and his on-field production this year — his performance grade sits at B-, suggesting his play, while solid and durable (1 tackle across 15 games in the 2025 season), doesn't fully justify the historic financial commitment the organization just handed him. The team's recent roster moves—signings at wide receiver, linebacker, and offensive tackle, alongside a defensive backfield cut—signal Houston is building around a veteran core with championship ambitions, which only amplifies the expectation that Fairbairn will deliver clutch moments in high-leverage spots. The bottom line: Fairbairn is experiencing a career-high moment of organizational validation and media respect, but that goodwill is built on reputation and longevity rather than eye-popping 2025 tape, making this an A- that reflects confidence in his past rather than dominance in the present.