.png) Ammendola with the New York Jets in 2021 | |||||||||
| San Antonio Brahmas | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Kicker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | December 11, 1996 Lansdale, Pennsylvania, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 195 lb (88 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | North Penn (Towamencin Township, Pennsylvania) | ||||||||
| College: | Oklahoma State | ||||||||
| Undrafted: | 2020 | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career NFL statistics as of Week 14, 2023 | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Player stats at NFL.com · PFR | |||||||||
Matt Ammendola (born December 11, 1996) is an American football placekicker for the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Oklahoma State. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL Draft, he has played for the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Arizona Cardinals, Green Bay Packers, and Houston Texans.
Ammendola was born in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, and attended North Penn High School. He kicked a school-record 56-yard kick. The previous school-record longest field goal was held by Jacksonville Jaguars placekicker Brandon McManus. He made 9 field goals in 2015, which is a school-record. He made 7 field goals the year before. Ammendola had 41 kickoffs into the end zone in 2015.[1]
Ammendola averaged 65.1 yards and kicked off 88 times for 51 touchbacks in his freshman year. Oklahoma State led the nation in opponent starting field position thanks to Ammendola's kickoffs. He made his only attempt of his freshman year, which was a 53-yard field goal against Central Michigan.[2]
Ammendola made 23 field goals in his sophomore year, which is the third-highest single season total in Oklahoma State history. Ammendola led the conference and ranked fifth in the FBS with 23 field goals. His 23 made field goals, including his 70 made extra point attempts, also ranked as the seventh-best single-season total for an Oklahoma State player. He also made a career-high three field goals at South Alabama. He also made three field goals against Kansas and Virginia Tech during the Camping World Bowl. He recorded 65 touchbacks on 104 kickoffs and averaging 65.1 yards per kick.[2]
Ammendola ranked fourth in the Big 12, scoring 109 points in his junior year. He made twelve of his first thirteen field goals to start his junior year. He was struggling when he missed five for six field goals, but he overcame his struggle when he made three field goals to finish the season off. He served as a game captain against Texas Tech.[2]
Ammendola tied for third in the Big 12 and tied for first among kickers with 108 points scored in his senior year. Ammendola converted 20 of 26 field goals. His longest field goal was a 49-yard field goal against Iowa State.[3] He made 13 field goals to start the season, and he made his last 5 field goals to end the season. He served as a game captain against TCU.[2]
| Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 9+3⁄4 in (1.77 m) |
189 lb (86 kg) |
29+7⁄8 in (0.76 m) |
8+3⁄4 in (0.22 m) |
29.5 in (0.75 m) |
8 ft 7 in (2.62 m) |
10 reps | ||||||
| All values from Pro Day[4] | ||||||||||||
On March 24, 2021, Ammendola signed with the Carolina Panthers.[5] He was released on May 16, 2021.[6]
On July 31, 2021, Ammendola signed with the New York Jets.[7] On December 4, 2021, Ammendola was released after going 13-for-19 on field goals through 11 games.[8] On December 7, 2021, Ammendola was signed to the practice squad.[9] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Jets on January 10, 2022.[10] He was released on March 29, 2022.[11]
On August 25, 2022, Ammendola signed with the Houston Texans.[12] He was waived two days later.[13]
Ammendola was signed to the Kansas City Chiefs practice squad on September 13, 2022.[14] He was then elevated via a standard elevation on September 15, 2022. He reverted to the practice squad after the game. He was elevated to the active roster for the Chiefs' Week 3 game against the Indianapolis Colts due to an injury to starting kicker Harrison Butker. During the game Ammendola missed a field goal and an extra point. On September 26, 2022, he was released by the team.[15]
On October 4, 2022, the Arizona Cardinals signed Ammendola to their practice squad.[16] On October 8, 2022, Ammendola was activated from the practice squad after an injury to starting kicker Matt Prater.[17] Ammendola started the following day against the Philadelphia Eagles, going 1–2 on field goal attempts, but missed the game-tying field goal at the end of regulation.[18] He was signed to the active roster on October 12.[19] He was released by the team on October 17.[20]
On January 3, 2023, Ammendola signed with the Green Bay Packers' practice squad following an injury to Ramiz Ahmed.[21]
The Houston Roughnecks acquired Ammendola's XFL playing rights on August 6, 2023.[22]
On November 7, 2023, Ammendola was signed to the Houston Texans practice squad following an injury to starting kicker Ka'imi Fairbairn.[23] He was promoted to the active roster on November 11. He kicked the game-winning field goal at the end of regulation against the Cincinnati Bengals on November 12, 2023.[24] He was released by the Texans on November 27, 2023, after missing the game-tying 57-yard FG at the end of regulation the day prior at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.[25][26] He was promoted to the active roster on December 2.[27] He was released on December 12.[28]
On January 19, 2024, Ammendola signed with the San Antonio Brahmas of the United Football League (UFL).[29]