Golden Leg: Stephen Gostkowski sets PAT record

Robert Alvarez

8 years ago at 1:34 pm ET

James Lang - USA TODAY Sports

When the Patriots drafted Stephen Gostkowski in the fourth round of the 2006 NFL Draft, he had huge shoes to fill that were left behind by a Super Bowl hero in Adam Vinatieri when he signed with the Indianapolis Colts.

Over the course of the next nine seasons, Gostkowski quietly came into his own as a consistent and prolific scorer, and making the pro bowl three times and leading the NFL in scoring four times. In 2014, Gostkowski set the Patriots record for points, surpassing his predecessor Vinatieri.

During Sunday afternoons win over the Jaguars Gostkowski again re-wrote the record books, this time the NFL All-Time record for most consecutive extra points (PAT) at 423 straight. He surpassed the previous record of 422 held by longtime placekicker Matt Stover.

It was a record Gostkowski himself didn’t even know he was chasing until he told the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin he discovered it by accident.

“Unfortunately, yeah, because they put it up on the Jumbotron before the game.’’

After the record was broken, the Patriots video board operators acknowledged his achievement with a description of the broken record, leading to a loud ovation from the Patriots faithful.

Stephen Gostkowski gets a large cheer as he sets an NFL record with 423 consecutive extra point attempts made. #Patriots

— Frank Pimentel (@FrankBostonTank) September 27, 2015

By the end of the game Gostkowski extended his mark to 425 consecutive made extra points. A record that appears to have no end in sight for the kicker, even with the new NFL rule changes that pushed the extra point kicks back from the 20 yard line to the 33.

Gostkowski is no longer in the shadow of Vinatieri, hes in a class of his own.

If Stephen Gostkowski goes on to lead NFL in scoring (as he does now) he'll tie Record for most times leading NFL in points (5) #Patriots

— Mike Loyko (@NEPD_Loyko) September 28, 2015