Dan Bailey (American football)

Dan Bailey (born January 26, 1988) is an American football placekicker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. Bailey grew up in the Oklahoma City area and played college football at Oklahoma State University. Following the 2011 NFL Draft, Bailey signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent.

Early years
Born in Oklahoma City, Bailey grew up in Mustang, Oklahoma and attended Southwest Covenant School where he was an all-state and all-conference kicker and a first-team all-city punter (as selected by The Oklahoman). As a senior, Bailey had 51 touchbacks in 61 kickoffs. He holds high school's records for longest field goal (50 yards), most field goals in a season (seven) and career (14). He was also an individual state champion golfer. Bailey graduated from Southwest Covenant as valedictorian of the class of 2007.

College career
As a freshman in 2007, Bailey made 20 of 20 extra point kicks but only two of four field goals. Bailey made field goals from 27 and 28 yards and missed two attempts beyond 40 yards.

Until the 2008 Holiday Bowl, Bailey made 10 consecutive field goals in his sophomore year (2008). With a 78.9% field goal conversion rate (15 for 19) this season, Bailey was second in the Big 12 Conference in field goal percentage. Bailey made a career-long 45-yarder in the 2008 Holiday Bowl, a 42-31 loss to Oregon.

Bailey made 46 of 46 extra point attempts and 13 of 18 field goals in 2009 as a junior. In the October 17 game, a 33-17 win over Missouri, Bailey made 4 of 4 field goals, including a career-long 51-yarder.

In 2010, Bailey made 24 of 28 field goals and 65 of 66 extra points. He won the Lou Groza Award for the nation's top kicker following the season. He earned the Big 12 Conference Special Teams Player of the Year award. Oklahoma State won the December 2010 Alamo Bowl 36-10 over Arizona, and Bailey made three of three field goals in that game: from 40, 50, and 44 yards.

2011
Bailey was signed by the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent following the 2011 NFL Draft on July 25, 2011.

Against the San Francisco 49ers after missing a chip shot attempt earlier in the game, Bailey made a 48 yard field goal to send the game into overtime and the eventual game winner from 19 yards out.

In the Cowboys' Week 3 18–16 win over the Washington Redskins, he tied a rookie record by converting six field goals (accounting for all of Dallas' points). This was the first time since 2001 that the Cowboys won a game without scoring a touchdown and the sixth in club history. He became the third rookie in NFL history to make six field goals in a game. Garo Yepremian made six of eight Nov. 13, 1966, for the Detroit Lions, and Jeff Reed made all six Dec. 1, 2002, for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This performance earned him NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors.

Bailey would go on to complete one of the best kicking seasons in franchise and league history by a rookie, making 32-of-37 (86.5%) field goals, setting a Cowboys rookie record for most field goals made in a season (32) and in a game (6), tied Chris Boniol for the second-most consecutive field goals made (26) in club history and was named to the Pro Football Writers Association All-Rookie team.

On November 20 (Week 11), Bailey kicked his first game-winning field goal, a 39-yard kick in overtime to help the Cowboys beat the Redskins 27-24.

Bailey missed a potential game-winning 49-yard field goal on the December 4 (Week 13) game against the Arizona Cardinals. With the game tied at 13 and 6 seconds left in the fourth quarter, Cowboys coach Jason Garrett called a time-out before the snap, but Bailey's kick was good. Following the time-out, Bailey kicked the field goal short and to the left. In overtime, the Cardinals won 19-13 on a touchdown by LaRod Stephens-Howling.

On December 11 (Week 14), however, in a game against the New York Giants with the Cowboys trailing 37-34, Bailey's first attempt at a game-tying 47-yard field goal was interrupted when Giants coach Tom Coughlin called a time-out, effectively icing the kicker. Bailey's first kicked ball did go through the uprights. However, Giants defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul blocked Bailey's kick after the Giants timeout.

2012
Bailey converted three field goals with distances of 32, 26, and 22 yards in Week 3 (September 23), a 16-10 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His last field goal in the game put Dallas up 16-7, a two-possession lead with 2:47 left. Dallas lost the Week 6 (October 14) game 31-29 to the Baltimore Ravens after Bailey missed a last-second 51-yard field goal. With 32 seconds left, Tony Romo made a 4-yard touchdown pass to Dez Bryant, but because the following two-point conversion failed, Bailey had to make an onside kick. Dallas recovered the kick, but Bailey's 51-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right with six seconds remaining.

The following game (Week 7, October 21) against the Carolina Panthers, Bailey kicked 28- and 38-yard field goals within the final 4 minutes in Dallas' 19-14 victory. In the Week 11 (November 18) 23-20 overtime win over the Cleveland Browns, Bailey made the tying 32-yard field goal with 2 seconds left in regulation and the winning 38-yard field goal in overtime.

After trailing the Cincinnati Bengals 19-10 with 6:35 left, Dallas beat Cincinnati 20-19 in Week 14 (December 9). The fourth quarter comeback consisted of a touchdown pass from Tony Romo and a last-second 40-yard field goal by Bailey.

In the Week 15 game on December 16 against the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bailey hit a game-winning 21-yard field goal following a 36-yard interception return by Brandon Carr. In overtime, the Cowboys won 27-24. This win kept the Cowboys' postseason hopes alive.