Chicago Bears kicker Cairo Santos is sticking with his own approach to kicking in windy conditions, even after advice from seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady went viral last week.
Ahead of Sunday’s Divisional Round matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, Santos acknowledged Brady’s insights on throwing in the wind but said the quarterback’s perspective does not apply to field-goal kicking.
“I watched that video, and it was awesome to hear Tom’s perspective,” Santos said. “But as a specialist, it’s about what we do to help the ball fight windy conditions.”
“For field goals, I lean the ball forward toward the goal post so the trajectory is more of a piercing ball flight. That’s something I’ve done for years here,” Santos explained.
The advice from the GOAT that Santos ignored
Brady explained during FOX Sports’ Wild Card coverage that quarterbacks aim for a “neutral plane” when throwing into the wind to prevent the ball’s nose from being lifted off course. Santos, however, said kickers require a different solution.
The 34-year-old’s method has delivered results. Santos finished the regular season 25-of-30 on field goals, with two misses coming from beyond 50 yards. He was also perfect in Chicago’s Wild Card win over Green Bay, going 3-for-3 in difficult conditions.
Santos credited former Giants kicker Graham Gano for influencing his approach after observing him kick in windy conditions at Soldier Field in 2020.
Santos is a distance learning student of Graham Gano
“I watched him leaning the ball so far forward, and everything went through,” Santos said. “He confirmed that’s why he did it, and it’s helped me kick in this weather.”
Santos added that consistency in his routine – from pre-kick preparation to execution – remains critical, especially with a high-stakes matchup looming.
The Bears host a Rams team led by MVP favorite Matthew Stafford and standout receiver Puka Nacua, while rookie quarterback Caleb Williams continues to impress under head coach Ben Johnson.
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