Indianapolis, Indiana - The most prolific scorer in NFL history is walking away from the game of football, after kicking his way into the record books for more than two decades.

Legendary placekicker Adam Vinatieri (48), announced his retirement on Wednesday, after a stellar 24-year career. He leaves the game behind as the NFL's all-time leading scorer.

Vinatieri made the announcement while appearing on the Pat McAfee Show. McAfee, a former teammate of Vinatieri when they were both Indianapolis Colts, set the stage for his old friend to make sure that football fans "heard it here first."

Vinatieri entered the league in 1996 as an undrafted free agent with the New England Patriots. His rookie season included his first trip to the Super Bowl (XXXI), but the Patriots fell short to the Packers 35-21.

The legend of his career didn't "kick-off" until five years later when the Patriots made it back to the Super Bowl, upsetting the St. Louis Rams with a game-winning field goal in Super Bowl XXXVI. He kicked another game-winner in Super Bowl XXXVIII, and earned a third ring the very next season as the Patriots won a second-straight championship in Super Bowl XXXIX.

Vinatieri played his tenth and last season in New England in 2005.

After becoming a free agent, Vinatieri joined the Indianapolis Colts in 2006, where he would eventually finish out his career. He got his fourth Super Bowl ring that year as Colts beat the Chicago Bears in Super Bowl XLI.

By the end of the 2007 season, Vinatieri would be the NFL career leader in field goals (41), attempts (50), points (172), and consecutive games scoring (22). In 2014, he became the first player in NFL history to score 50 postseason field goals.

In 2018, Vinatieri became the all-time leader in field goals made, as well as the all-time leader in points scored. And in the next season, he became the all-time career leader in field goal attempts.

He sat out the entire 2020 season and announced his retirement on May 26, 2021.

Adam Vinatieri will be eligible for induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2025.