Blake Grupe

NFL CAREER – After signing as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame in 2023, the rookie placekicker turned heads in training camp, earning the starting kicker job in his debut season. 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. Grupe 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.

NFL CAREER – After signing as an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame in 2023, the rookie placekicker turned heads in training camp, earning the starting kicker job in his debut season. 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. Grupe 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.

CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Agreed to terms with New Orleans, 5/1/23.

HONORS – 2023: NFC Offensive Player of the Week (Week Five).

2023 – In NFL debut vs. Tennessee, Sept. 10, finished a perfect three-for-three on FG attempts, with a long of 52 yards, and made lone PAT attempt. 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 perfect two-for-two on FG attempts and made both PAT attempts. Also had all five kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks…Vs. Tampa Bay, Oct. 1, finished three-of-three on FG attempts with a long of 44 yards. Had all four of his kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks…At New England, Oct. 8, finished two-for-two on FG attempts with a long of 54 yards, setting a new career-long, and went a perfect 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) to kick two field goals of at least 50 yards in a contests, fifth Saint over and sixth occurrence in franchise history. He was selected as NFC Special Teams Player of the Week…Vs. Jacksonville, Oct. 19, finished three-for-four on FG attempts with a long of 42 yards and made lone PAT attempt. Had six kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks…At Indianapolis, Oct. 29, drilled lone 27-yard FG attempt and made all five PATs. Had seven kickoffs sail through end zone for touchbacks…Vs. Chicago, Nov. 5, finished one-of-two on FG attempts with a career-long of 55 yards, and made all three PAT attemps. Had five kickoffs sail through end zone for touchbacks…At Minnesota, Nov. 12, made lone 48-yard FG attempt. Had all four kickoffs sail through the end zone for touchbacks…At Atlanta, Nov. 26, finished career-best five-of-six on FG 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 in a game, the first time it's been done since Carney made five at St. Louis (9/26/04). Became first Saints rookie to make five field goals…Vs. Detroit, Dec. 3, finished four-for-four on PATs and had two kickoffs go for touchbacks…Vs. N.Y. Giants, Dec. 17, made lone 50-yard FG 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 his rookie season…At L.A. Rams, Dec. 21, made both PAT attempts…at Tampa Bay, Dec. 31, finished three-for-three on FG 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 FG attempts and six-for-six on PATs, setting a new career-high in PAT makes and attempts. Had a season-high nine kickoffs sail through the 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 from 2017-21 and spent one season as a graduate transfer at Notre Dame in 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 A-State 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 among all players, and his 8.5 average was the 26th highest in nation. Made 19-of-22 field goals for an .864 percentage that led the conference and ranked 16th in the FBS. 19 field goals made were the second-most in school history for a single season and just two shy of the school record, while 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 the last 11 games of the season after taking over placekicking duties in the third game of  year. Made 14-of-21 field goals for a .667 percentage. Led team in scoring with 77 points, also ranking fifth in the Sun Belt with 7.0 points per game…Earned his bachelor's degree in business administration from Arkansas State in 2020.

PERSONAL – Prepped at Smith-Cotton (Sedalia, Mo.) HS, where he was a nine-time varsity letterman in football, soccer and baseball…2016 Missouri high school 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 October, he and several teammates joined Ochsner oncology patients and their supporters for a dinner at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center…In November during team's bye week, returned to Sedalia to speak to students at the school he first attended as a youth, Horace Mann Elementary School…In February, rode in the Tucks mardi gras parade…In March, joined teammates Lou Hedley and Nick Saldiveri at Houma Junior High School for the grand opening of the school's new Fit Zone, which was donated by the team in partnership with United Healthcare.