Titans sign Gostkowski, waive kicker Joseph
As the Titans look to bring some stability to their kicking situation, they'll look to a veteran — and one of the best in league history.
The team on Thursday announced they agreed to terms with Stephen Gostkowski, the former Patriots kicker and a four-time Pro Bowler (2008, 2013, 2014, 2015). Also on Thursday, the team waived kicker Greg Joseph, who didn't do a ton in training camp to inspire confidence.
At least not in the way Gostkowski has in his career.
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound kicker, who played at Memphis, is the fifth-most accurate kicker in NFL history at 87.4%. He's 15th all-time in field goals made with 374. The 14-year NFL veteran is a three-time Super Bowl champion with the Patriots (2014, 2016, 2018). And he ranks ranks second in NFL history for postseason points with 205.
"I don't think it was anything that Greg (Joseph) did or didn't do," Titans coach Mike Vrabel said. "We had an opportunity to sign a player that we thought would help the team after watching the workout."
Early in his career, Gostkowski overlapped in New England for several years with Vrabel, then a linebacker for the Patriots. He also overlapped there with Titans general manager Jon Robinson, who began as an area scout for the Patriots in 2002 before ascending to director of college scouting, a role he held until 2013.
"I think that a lot is going to be made about our history with Stephen," Vrabel said. "But in the end, that doesn't really mean anything. It's a decision that we thought as a team would help solidify the position."
Last year, the 36-year-old Gostkowski was limited to four games before being placed on injured reserve and having hip surgery. Before hitting IR, he converted 7 of 8 field goals but only 11 of 15 extra points.
In October, Gostkowski had hip surgery, a decision he shed light on earlier this year.
“If I kept playing on it and I kept doing more and more damage on it, I was looking at being 40 and having hip replacement," Gostkowski said on "The Pat Mcafee Show" in April, according to masslive.com. "Getting it taken care of sooner rather than later helped prolong my active lifestyle and possibly to continue playing.”
During Gostkowski's tryout with the Titans, Vrabel said his field goal attempts "went in, and (it) looked like the kickoffs were deep and in the position that (special teams coach Craig Aukerman) wanted them.
The Titans were desperate for stability at kicker after last year's nightmare at the position, which included a league-worst eight field goals and 44% conversion rate (8-for-18).
"Made a bunch of kicks and his longevity, his success," Vrabel said of Gostkowski's track record. "But this isn't a lifetime achievement award. This is about everybody's ability with what we're going to do this year. "
Gostkowski, who recently bought a home in the Nashville area, was a fourth-round pick by the Patriots in 2006 after his college career with the Tigers. He ranks second all-time on Memphis' field goals made list with 70, behind only Jake Elliott's 81.
Reach Erik Bacharach at ebacharach@tennessean.com and on Twitter @Erikbacharach.