Michael Badgley (born July 28, 1995) is an American football placekicker for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Miami and was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Indianapolis Colts in 2018. Badgley has also played for the Los Angeles Chargers, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, Tennessee Titans, and Detroit Lions. He is nicknamed the "Money Badger".
Early life and education
Badgley was born on July 28, 1995, in Summit, New Jersey. He attended Summit High School, where he played hockey, lacrosse, and football. Badgley won at least one state championship in every sport he played in high school including consecutive group NJSIAA state lacrosse championships in 2010-2011 and a NJSIAA state hockey championship at the Prudential Center in 2012. Badgley had planned to play collegiate lacrosse and follow his older brother's footsteps until a coach convinced him that he could play football at the Division I level. Michael's older brother, Peter Badgley, is a former Division I lacrosse goalie at Providence College competing in the Big East Conference where he was selected first-team and Big East Goalie of the year in 2015.
Summit High School
In addition to kicking for Summit, Michael started on both sides of the ball at DB and RB, he returned kicks, punts and filled in at QB due to injuries to starting QB and completed 18 of 33 passes with 7 TD passes for 448 yards. He set 12 Summit HS football records for the Summit Hilltoppers, including longest field goal of 49 yards, most kicking points in season with 84, most consecutive PATs with 67, most kicking points in career with 202. Scored in record 34 consecutive games for Summit with career total of 389 points, second to Willie Wilson’s (Kansas City Royals) 401 career all-time points scored for Summit, including record 181 total points scored in senior season. Career totals include: 3,198 total all-purpose yards, 1,320 rushing yards, 607 receiving yards, 1,271 return yards. Scored 31 TDs including 17 rushing, seven receiving, two by kickoff returns, four by punt returns and one pick-6. Varsity team captain, leading Summit to 12–0 season and N.J. State Football Championship at MetLife Stadium in 2012 playing for head coach John Liberato. Michael was selected as the Star-Ledger Player of the Year in Union County in 2012 and the Maxwell Football Club’s Top 50 players in NJ.
Fork Union Military Academy
After Summit he attended Fork Union Military Academy’s post-graduate program playing for head coach Col. John Shuman. At FUMA he was on the Dean's list and was No. 1 Ranked kicker in 247Sports Composite Rankings. His longest field goal at Fork Union Military Academy was 58 yards. Fork Union Military Academy School also produced former NFL players Vinny Testaverde and Eddie George.
College career
Badgley attended and played college football at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. Badgley is Miami's all-time leading scorer and was a 2017 all-ACC, first teamer. Badgley was named team captain, first-team All-ACC, Walter Kichefski Award recipient and U of Miami Special Teams MVP in 2017. Michael was the Miami Hurricanes starting kicker as a true freshman in 2014 through his senior season in 2017, leaving Miami with six school records including the all-time leading scorer at The U. After graduating, Michael was invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. Badgley left Miami holding career records in field goals (77) and point scored (403).
Professional career
Indianapolis Colts
After not being selected in the 2018 NFL Draft, Badgley signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent. Badgley worked with kicker Adam Vinatieri during the pre-season with the Colts. Vinateri said "He's a good kid, and he's a really good kicker as well, He's got a nice leg and he's doing a good job picking my brain. We joke around that he's always kind of in my back pocket all the time, and rightfully so." The Colts ended up releasing Badgley before the start of the regular season in favor of Adam Vinatieri, but not before he had connected on all 5 of his field goal attempts in the preseason, with a long of 51 yards. On September 1, 2018, Badgley was waived by the Colts as part of the final roster cuts.