Editing Nate Kaeding (section)

===San Diego Chargers===
During the [[2004 San Diego Chargers season|2004 season]], Kaeding attempted to become the first rookie since the 1970 season to attempt a game-winning [[Field goal (football)|field goal]] in the [[NFL playoffs, 2004-05#AFC: New York Jets 20, San Diego Chargers 17 (OT)|playoffs]] in the final two minutes of the fourth quarter or in overtime.{{#tag:ref|[[Jim O'Brien (American football)|Jim O'Brien]] won [[Super Bowl V]] for the [[Baltimore Colts (1953–1983)|Baltimore Colts]] on a 32-yard field goal with five seconds left in the fourth quarter.<ref>{{cite news|title=N.Y. Jets 20, San Diego 17|date=January 8, 2005|newspaper=USA today|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores105/105008/20050108NFL--SANDIEGO--0.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407151648/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/scores105/105008/20050108NFL--SANDIEGO--0.htm|archive-date=April 7, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}} His 40-yard field goal attempt on a wet field missed, and the Chargers lost in the [[NFL Wild card|wild card]] round to the [[New York Jets]], who won the game on a [[Doug Brien]] field goal.<ref name=ap_10302012/>

Kaeding's postseason struggles continued in the [[NFL playoffs, 2006-07|2006 NFL Playoffs]], when he missed a potential game tying 54-yard field goal attempt against the [[New England Patriots]]. He had not missed a field goal at home in the previous two years prior to that 54-yard attempt. He was selected to his first [[Pro Bowl]] that season, where he kicked the game-winning 21-yard field goal with four seconds left in [[2007 Pro Bowl|the game]].

Kaeding suffered a fractured [[fibula]] when he made a tackle on the opening kickoff against the Denver Broncos on December 24, 2007, and played the final 5 games of the season with the fractured fibula.<ref>{{cite web |last=Acee |first=Kevin |url=http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20080126-9999-1s26chargers.html |title=San Diego Chargers - Kaeding played on fractured left leg |publisher=SignOnSanDiego.com |date=January 26, 2008 |access-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604004515/http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/chargers/20080126-9999-1s26chargers.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011 }}</ref>

[[File:Nate Kaeding.jpg |thumb|upright|left|Kaeding in 2008]]
In the 2007 playoffs, Kaeding missed a field goal each in the Wild Card weekend game against Tennessee (which San Diego won) and against the Indianapolis Colts (which San Diego also won). His streak of consecutive playoff games with a missed field goal stood at 4 but was ended with a made field goal from 40 yards against New England.

In [[2009 San Diego Chargers season|2009]], Kaeding was tied for the NFL lead for most field goals made (32) and was one of only four to convert on over 90% of his attempts (91.4%).<ref name=howlett_07062016/> His season long of 54 yards came in a Week 15 victory over [[Cincinnati Bengals]]. However, in the [[2009-10 NFL playoffs#AFC: New York Jets 17, San Diego Chargers 14|AFC Divisional Round]] against the [[New York Jets]], Kaeding's postseason struggles continued as he missed all three of his attempted field goals, from 36, 57, and 40 yards; the Chargers lost the game 17–14.<ref name=ap_10302012/><ref>{{cite web|title=New York Jets at San Diego Chargers - January 17, 2010|work=pro-football-reference.com|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201001170sdg.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113163225/http://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/201001170sdg.htm|archive-date=November 13, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref> His three misses in the game were a career-high and matched his entire total from the regular season.<ref name=howlett_07062016>{{cite news|last=Howlett|first=Dylan|title=Pity The Kicker|date=July 7, 2016|website=SI.com|url=http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/07/06/nfl-kickers-nate-kaeding-san-diego-chargers|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170205193536/http://mmqb.si.com/mmqb/2016/07/06/nfl-kickers-nate-kaeding-san-diego-chargers|archive-date=February 5, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In his postseason career, Kaeding was 3-for-9 on field goal attempts at home and 8-for-15 (53.3%) overall in eight playoff games.<ref name=ap_10302012/><ref>{{cite web|title=Kaeding struggles in playoff loss|date=January 18, 2012|work=kffl.com|url=http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=623800|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120308221358/http://www.kffl.com/gnews.php?id=623800|archive-date=March 8, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

In [[2011 San Diego Chargers season|2011]], Kaeding was injured on the first play of the season when he tore his anterior cruciate ligament, causing him to miss the duration of the season and necessitated the signing of [[Nick Novak]]. Kaeding ended the 2011 season as the NFL's most accurate kicker of all time, converting 86.5% of his field goals attempts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Chargers K Kaeding out for season after hurting left knee on opening kickoff |date=September 12, 2011 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |work=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/chargers-k-kaeding-out-for-season-after-hurting-left-knee-on-opening-kickoff/2011/09/12/gIQAAYBTNK_story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230025917/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/chargers-k-kaeding-out-for-season-after-hurting-left-knee-on-opening-kickoff/2011/09/12/gIQAAYBTNK_story.html |archive-date=December 30, 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Acee |first=Kevin |title=Kaeding ahead of schedule, looks forward to resuming role |date=January 17, 2012 |newspaper=The San Diego Union-Tribune |url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/17/kaeding-ahead-schedule-looks-forward-resuming-role/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120203104952/https://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/jan/17/kaeding-ahead-schedule-looks-forward-resuming-role/ |archive-date=February 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He competed for his job in [[2012 San Diego Chargers season|2012]] and beat out Novak, who also had a strong showing.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gehlken|first=Michael|title=VETERANS CESAIRE, HESTER AMONG CHARGERS' 22 CUTS|date=September 1, 2012|newspaper=U-T San Diego|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/01/tp-veterans-cesaire-hester-among-chargers-22-cuts/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927212155/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/01/tp-veterans-cesaire-hester-among-chargers-22-cuts/|archive-date=September 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Kaeding suffered a right groin injury and was replaced by Novak in the week 4 game against [[Kansas City Chiefs|Kansas City]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Gehlken|first=Michael|title=Chargers going with 3 corners against Chiefs|date=September 29, 2012|newspaper=U-T San Diego|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/29/chargers-go-3-corners-against-chiefs/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927212151/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/sep/29/chargers-go-3-corners-against-chiefs/|archive-date=September 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref> After missing three games, Kaeding was placed on [[injured reserve]] with a minor injury designation that required the Chargers to release him after he recovered.<ref name=gehlken_10302012>{{cite news|last=Gehlken|first=Michael|title=Nate Kaeding passes physical, no longer a Charger|date=October 30, 2012|newspaper=U-T San Diego|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/30/nate-kaeding-passes-physical-be-waived/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130927212153/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/30/nate-kaeding-passes-physical-be-waived/|archive-date=September 27, 2013|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/bears-defeat-lions-to-maintain-nfc-north-lead-1.4142679 |title=Bears defeat Lions to maintain NFC North lead |publisher=[[Newsday]] |quote=The Chargers placed kicker Nate Kaeding on injured reserve and plan to release him after he recovers from a groin injury . . . |access-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928112716/http://www.newsday.com/sports/football/bears-defeat-lions-to-maintain-nfc-north-lead-1.4142679 |archive-date=September 28, 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Gehlken|first1=Michael|last2=Acee|first2=Kevin|title=KAEDING'S DAYS AS CHARGERS KICKER ARE OVER|date=October 23, 2012|newspaper=U-T San Diego|url=http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/23/tp-kaedings-days-as-chargers-kicker-are-over/?print&page=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929165223/http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2012/oct/23/tp-kaedings-days-as-chargers-kicker-are-over/?print&page=all|archive-date=September 29, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> On October 30, Kaeding  became an [[unrestricted free agent]] after he was released by the Chargers upon a physical; he collected over $1 million in termination pay. Kaeding made all seven of his field goal attempts with the Chargers in 2012, and left the team as the most accurate kicker in NFL history at 87% (180-of-207).<ref name=ap_10302012>{{cite news|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/nate-kaeding-waived-by-san-diego-chargers-after-injury-0ap1000000088111|agency=Associated Press|title=Nate Kaeding waived by San Diego Chargers after injury|work=NFL.com|date=October 30, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121101163050/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000088111/article/nate-kaeding-waived-by-san-diego-chargers-after-injury|archive-date=November 1, 2012|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=gehlken_10302012/>