Blair Walsh
An NFL kicker whose career is defined by a single, infamous missed playoff field goal that overshadowed his earlier Pro Bowl precision.
Born 1990 (age 36)·American football player·Birthday: January 8·Millennials
Biography
Blair Walsh's professional story is one of dramatic peaks and valleys, a narrative forever colored by one moment in the freezing Minnesota winter. Drafted by the Vikings, he exploded onto the scene as a rookie in 2012, setting a record for touchbacks and earning a Pro Bowl nod with his powerful, accurate leg. For several seasons, he was a model of consistency in a volatile specialty. However, the 2015 NFC Wild Card game altered everything. With seconds left and the Vikings poised to advance, Walsh shanked a 27-yard field goal attempt, a stunning miss that handed victory to the Seattle Seahawks. He never fully recovered his confidence in Minnesota, bouncing to a few other teams before leaving the league, his career a stark study in the psychological demands of his position.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Blair was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Blair Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Blair's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected to the Pro Bowl and named a First-Team All-Pro as a rookie in 2012.
- Set an NFL rookie record with 10 field goals of 50 or more yards in the 2012 season.
- Scored 100+ points in four of his first five NFL seasons.
Did You Know?
In college at Georgia, he majored in Consumer Economics.
The infamous missed 27-yard field goal in the 2015 playoffs occurred in temperatures of -6°F (-21°C).
He made a 55-yard field goal in the final seconds to send a 2014 game against the Buffalo Bills to overtime, which the Vikings won.
“You have to block out the noise and focus on the next kick.”
