NFL CAREER – After signing as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame in 2023 and earning kicking duties, Grupe has proven to be a reliable option for New Orleans, blessed with a strong leg. In 34 games, Grupe has converted 57-of-68 field goal attempts (83.8 pct.) with 71 PATs for a total of 242 points. In 2024, he made 27-of-31 kicks (87.1 pct.) and 31 PATs for a club-best 112 points.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with New Orleans, 5/1/23.
HONORS – 2023: NFC Special Teams Player of the Week (Week Five).
2024 – In opening win vs. Carolina, Sept. 8, connected on all four field goal attempts, with a career-long of 57 yards and was a perfect five-of-five on PATs for career-high 17 points. Second career-contest where he made two 50-plus yard field goal attempts…Vs. Dallas, Sept. 15, connected on a 26-yard field goal and five-of-six PATs…Hit both field goal attempts vs. Philadelphia, Sept. 22…Registered only attempt for 43 yards, at Atlanta, Sept. 29…Connected on field goals of 42 and 29 yards vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 13…Connected on a 35-yard field goal attempt with his first special teams tackle, vs. Denver, Oct. 19…At L.A. Chargers, Oct. 27, Made two-of-three field goal attempts. Streak of consecutive field goal attempts ended at 19…Recorded three field goals, including a 51-yard kick at Carolina, Nov. 3…Finished two-of-two on field goal attempts, vs. Atlanta, Nov. 10…Made all five PAT attempts vs. Cleveland, Nov. 17…Finished two of three on field goal attempts and made two 54-yard attempts with one special teams tackle vs. L.A. Rams, Dec. 1. Kicked two 50+-yard field goals for the second time in 2024, third time in career and eighth occurrence in franchise history…Recorded sixth 50-plus yard field goal of season and also connected on 41-yard kick vs. Washington, Dec. 15…Converted from 34 yards vs. Las Vegas, Dec. 29…Went four-of-four on field goal attempts for the season time of the season in finale at Tampa Bay, 1/5/25. 2023 – Grupe went on to have a solid debut campaign for the Black and Gold, kicking in all 17 games and finishing 30-for-37 on field goals (81.1 percent) with a long of 55 yards. Also went a perfect 40-for-40 on PATs and had 67 kickoffs go for touchbacks, ranked third in the NFL. His 130 points led the team and he became the club's rookie recordholder in field goals made…In NFL debut vs. Tennessee, Sept. 10, finished a perfect three-for-three on field goal attempts, with a long of 52 yards. Became the first Saints rookie to kick three field goals in debut. Had all five kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks…at Carolina, Sept. 18, finished a two-for-two on field goal attempts and made both PATs. Had all five kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, made all three field goal attempts and had all four of his kickoffs sail through end zone for touchbacks…At New England, Oct. 8, finished two-for-two on field goal attempts and four-for-four on PATs. Also had five kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks. Grupe became the first Saint since John Carney (9/26/04 at St. Louis Rams) to kick two field goals of at least 50 yards in a contest, fifth Saint ever and sixth occurrence in franchise history. Selected as NFC Special Teams Player of the Week…Vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 19, finished three-for-four on field goal attempts and made lone PAT attempt. Had six kickoffs sail through end zone for touchbacks…At Indianapolis, Oct. 29, drilled lone 27-yard field goal attempt and made all five PATs. Had seven kickoffs sail through end zone for touchbacks…Vs. Chicago, Nov. 5, drilled a 55-yard field goal and all three PATs. Had five kickoffs sail through end zone for touchbacks…At Minnesota, Nov. 12, made 48-yard field goal…At Atlanta, Nov. 26, finished career-best five-of-six on field goal attempts with a long of 52 yards. Had four of his kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks. Five-field goal performance tied a club record, marking the ninth time in franchise history a kicker has made five field goals, the first time it's been done since John Carney made five at St. Louis (9/26/04). Became first Saints rookie to make five field goals…Vs. N.Y. Giants, Dec. 17, made lone 50-yard field goal attempt, three-for-three on PATs, and had five kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks. Joined former Saints kicker Wil Lutz to become only the second player in franchise history to score 100 points in rookie season…At Tampa Bay, Dec. 31, three-for-three on field goal attempts and two-for-two on PATs. Performance brought Grupe's field goals made to 28, tying the rookie record set by Lutz in 2016. Also had all six kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks…Vs. Atlanta, 1/7/24, finished two-for-two on field goal attempts and six-for-six on PATs, setting a new career-high in PAT makes and attempts. Had season-high nine kickoffs sail through end zone for touchbacks. Became club's rookie recordholder with a 24-yard field goal that put the Saints ahead 17-14 with 56 seconds left in the first half, surpassing the previous mark set by Lutz in 2016. Finished season with 30 field goals, leading the team with 130 points.
COLLEGE – Played five seasons at Arkansas State (2017-21) and spent one season as a graduate transfer at Notre Dame (2022)…He led Notre Dame in points scored during his lone season, scoring 91 points on 14-of-19 on field goals and a perfect 49-for-49 in PAT attempts…In 2021 at Arkansas State, connected on 20-of-25 field goals. His 20-field goals ranked second in single-season school history. Finished season with 91 points, tying for the sixth most points by kicking in school history. Climbed to the top of the A-State career record books, taking over first place for career points by kicking (354), field goals made (64), PATs (162) and scoring (354)…In 2020, ranked sixth in the SBC in field goals made (11) while posting the third-most extra points (43). Led the Red Wolves in scoring for the third consecutive season with 76 total points. His 43 extra points made tied the sixth most in school history for a single season…In 2019, his 110 points by kicking broke the single-season school record, were the second-most in the Sun Belt and 13th in the nation. Points total ranked as the second-most scored in school history by any player, regardless of position. Second in Sun Belt in points per game and his 8.5 average was the 26th highest in nation. Made 19-of-22 field goals (conference-best .864 pct., 16th in the FBS). 19 field goals made were second-most in school history for a single season and just two shy of the school record, also ranking second in the Sun Belt. Scored at least eight points in ten games and posted a double-figure total in six outings…In 2018, played in last 11 games of season after taking over placekicking duties in third game. Made 14-of-21 field goals (.667 pct.). Led team in scoring (77 points) and ranked fifth in the Sun Belt with 7.0 points per game…Earned his bachelor's degree in business administration in 2020.
PERSONAL – Prepped at Smith-Cotton (Sedalia, Mo.) HS…A nine-time varsity letterman in football, soccer and baseball…A 2016 Missouri All-State selection in both football and soccer…Held single-season and career school records for field goals…Rated as a 4.5-star kicker by Kohl's Kicking Academy…In 2023, he and several teammates joined Ochsner oncology patients and their supporters for a dinner at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center…During the 2023 bye week, returned to Sedalia to speak to students at the school he first attended as a youth, Horace Mann Elementary…Rode in the 2024 and 2025 Krewe of Tucks Mardi Gras parades and was the grand marshall of the 2025 Krewe of Kings parade…In 2024, visited Houma Junior High School for the grand opening of the school's new Fit Zone, donated by the team in partnership with United Healthcare…In 2024, spoke to middle school students at Trinity Episcopal School's end-of-year athletics banquet…Participated in the 2024 Zurich Classic Celebrity Shootout for charity…In 2024, prior to Halloween, uplifted spirits with several teammates, visiting with young patients and their families at the Pediatric Cancer Unit at Ochsner Medical Center…Participated in team's 2024 Thanksgiving turkey giveaway event at Dryades YMCA…Participated in NFL's My Cause, My Cleats initiative to promote the Dream Hunt foundation…In March, went undercover at a Rouses Market at the checkout counter, helping shoppers at the counter and surprising them with gift cards…Played in the 2025 Saints Hall of Fame Golf Tournament.
