Catanzaro attended Clemson University from 2009 to 2013. After a freshman year, in which he only made 14 of 22 field goals, he finished with a field goal percentage of 81.7%, missing only one kick in each of his junior and senior years.[4] Catanzaro was the all-time leading scorer in Clemson history with 404 points until Travis Etienne broke the record in 2020.[5]
In May 2014, the Arizona Cardinals signed the undrafted Catanzaro to compete along with veterans Jay Feely and Danny Hrapmann.[6] On August 25, 2014, Feely was cut, giving the kicking job to Catanzaro.[7]
Catanzaro made his NFL debut on September 8, 2014, against the San Diego Chargers, kicking two field goals.[8]
On September 14, 2014, Catanzaro kicked four field goals against the New York Giants.[9] He became first Cardinals rookie kicker since Bill Gramatica (December 2, 2001, against the Oakland Raiders) with four field goals in a game.[10]
On September 21, 2014, Catanzaro kicked a season/career-long 51-yard field goal against the San Francisco 49ers, which represents the longest field goal by a rookie in Arizona Cardinals history.[11][12]
On October 26, 2014, he made his 16th consecutive field goal from the start of his career without a miss, setting an NFL rookie record.[13]
On November 9, 2014, he extended the streak to 17, but missed his second attempt.[14] This effort tied Kai Forbath for the record for most consecutive field goals to start a career.[15]
Catanzaro made all 27 extra point attempts and 29 of 33 field goal attempts in the 2014 season, which is the fourth-most in a single season in Arizona Cardinals history, behind Greg Davis (30), Jay Feely (30), and Neil Rackers (40).[16][17]
At the end of the 2014 season, Catanzaro established a new franchise rookie record with 114 points, shattering the previous mark of 73 set by placekickerBill Gramatica in 2001. Catanzaro's 114 points ranked as the second-highest total among NFL rookies behind only the Philadelphia Eagles’ Cody Parkey (150).
On October 4, 2015, Catanzaro kicked a career-high five field goals against the St. Louis Rams.[18] In the 2015 season, Catanzaro converted 53 of 58 extra point attempts and 28 of 31 field goal attempts.[19]
In Week 3 of the 2016 season, Catanzaro kicked a career-long 60-yard field goal against the Buffalo Bills in Buffalo.[20] At the time, it was only the 16th field goal of at least 60 yards in the history of the NFL.[21] His 60-yard field goal was the longest conversion of any kicker in the 2016 season.[22] In Week 7, Catanzaro missed the game-winning field goal in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks. The game eventually ended in a 6–6 tie.[23] He finished the 2016 season converting 43 of 47 extra point attempts and 21 of 28 field goal attempts.[24]
On September 10, 2017, in the season opening 21–12 loss to the Buffalo Bills, Catanzaro converted a 48-yard field goal and a 52-yard field goal in his Jets debut.[26] In Week 4, the Jets were playing at home against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The game went into overtime with a score of 20–20. Catanzaro had missed a 45-yard field goal earlier in the game. With only 32 seconds left in overtime, he drilled a 41-yard field goal to win the game.[27] In Week 5, Catanzaro kicked a 57-yard field goal, the longest in Jets franchise history.[28] In the 2017 season, Catanzaro converted all 29 extra point attempts and 25 of 30 field goal attempts in 16 games.[29]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
On March 16, 2018, Catanzaro signed a three-year contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[30][31] In the season opener against the New Orleans Saints, he tied his career-high with six extra points converted.[32] On October 21, 2018, in a Week 7 matchup against the Cleveland Browns, after having missed an extra point attempt and a 40-yard field goal attempt earlier in the game Catanzaro hit a game winning 59-yard field goal in overtime to end the game 26–23, in the process setting the record for the longest field goal made in overtime in NFL history.[33] On November 12, 2018, Catanzaro was released by the Buccaneers after missing two field goals in a 16–3 loss to the Washington Redskins.[34] He finished his time with the Buccaneers 11-for-15 on field goals and 23-for-27 on extra points in nine games.[35]
On March 15, 2019, Catanzaro signed with the Jets.[37] After announcing his retirement on August 11, 2019,[38][39] he was placed on the exempt/left squad list on August 11 and then placed on the reserve/left squad list on August 17.[40] He was released from the reserve/left squad list on July 23, 2020.[41]
New York Giants
Catanzaro signed with the New York Giants on August 1, 2020.[42] He was released on August 17, 2020.[43]
