1. Cairo Fernandes Santos is a Brazilian-American professional American football placekicker for the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.
38 Facts About Cairo Santos
1. 2.
Cairo Santos played college football for the Tulane Green Wave, and was signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as an undrafted free agent in 2014.
3.
Cairo Santos is the first Brazilian born player in NFL history.
4.
Originally, Cairo Santos planned to stay at St Joseph Academy for one year to learn English, but soon found that the kicking skills he had developed playing soccer in Brazil translated well to field goal kicking in American football.
5.
Cairo Santos received interest from Georgia Tech, Jacksonville, and Miami.
6.
Cairo Santos played in all 12 games his freshman year and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman Team and was honorable-mention All C-USA after leading the Green Wave in points scored while making 13 of his 16 field goal attempts, 32 of his 33 PATs, and handling kick off duties.
7.
Cairo Santos became only the second kicker to make at least 20 in a season without a miss.
8.
Cairo Santos went on to compete in the 2014 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl, where he connected on a 39-yard field goal.
9.
Cairo Santos was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Kansas City Chiefs on 19 May 2014.
10.
Cairo Santos was named the Chiefs kicker on 30 August 2014, beating veteran Ryan Succop for the position.
11.
Cairo Santos was the team leader whose 113 points were the most by a rookie player in Chiefs history.
12.
Cairo Santos made most field goals by a rookie kicker in Chiefs history.
13.
In Week 10, Cairo Santos made five field goals of six attempts against the Denver Broncos, the second game in the season with at least five field goals made.
14.
In Week 15, Cairo Santos kicked a 53-yard field goal against the Baltimore Ravens.
15.
Cairo Santos made three field goals and three extra point attempts.
16.
Cairo Santos kicked two 49-yard field goals, the longest field goals in the Chiefs postseason history.
17.
On 26 September 2017, the Chiefs placed Cairo Santos on injured reserve.
18.
On 30 September 2017, the Chiefs waived Cairo Santos from injured reserve.
19.
On 20 November 2017, Cairo Santos signed with the Chicago Bears.
20.
Cairo Santos missed his first field-goal attempt as a member of the Bears, a 54-yarder.
21.
Cairo Santos totaled five games in the 2017 season with two teams.
22.
Cairo Santos finished converting all 14 extra point attempts and four of five field goal attempts.
23.
On 15 March 2018, Cairo Santos signed a one-year contract with the New York Jets.
24.
On 2 October 2018, Cairo Santos signed with the Los Angeles Rams to serve as their starting kicker while Greg Zuerlein recovered from a groin injury.
25.
Cairo Santos was released on 16 October 2018 after two games once Zuerlein was deemed healthy.
26.
On 12 November 2018, Cairo Santos was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after Chandler Catanzaro was released.
27.
On 4 September 2019, Cairo Santos was signed by the Titans after Ryan Succop was placed on injured reserve.
28.
Cairo Santos was released by the Titans the next day.
29.
Cairo Santos appeared in five games in the 2019 season.
30.
Cairo Santos converted all 12 extra point attempts and four of nine field goal attempts.
31.
Cairo Santos was elevated to the active roster a day before the 2020 season opener against the Detroit Lions following starting kicker Eddy Pineiro's placement on injured reserve.
32.
Cairo Santos finished the 2020 season by making 36 of 37 extra point attempts and 30 of 32 field goal attempts.
33.
Cairo Santos kicked a franchise-high 27 consecutive successful field goals during the season.
34.
On 11 March 2021, Cairo Santos signed a three-year contract extension with the Bears worth $9 million.
35.
In 2021, Cairo Santos continued his success from the previous season, making his first 13 attempted field goals in the season and extending his streak of consecutive made field goals from the previous season to 40.
36.
Cairo Santos was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Month for November of the 2023 season.
37.
On 15 September 2013, Cairo Santos' father died in a plane crash in Brazil.
38.
Cairo Santos was my biggest fan, very supportive of my career, always wishing me to do well, no matter what.