Texans restructure kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn deal, lower salary cap figure to $3.953 million from $6.733 million

HOUSTON – The Texans restructured the contract of veteran kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn

His original $4.73 million base salary was converted into a $3.475 million signing bonus, lowering his 2025 salary to $1.25 million. His new salary-cap figure is $3.953 million, down from a previous $6.733 million.

Fairbairn makes the exact same amount of money ($4.9 million) in 2025 under this financial mechanism exercised by the Texans. The Texans previously restructured contracts for wide receivers Nico Collins and Christian Kirk, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, offensive tackle Tytus Howard and defensive end Denico Autry.

Fairbairn, one of the most accurate long-distance kickers and a Pro Bowl alternate last season, is under contract through the 2026 season with a $4.005 million salary that year and a $7.028 million salary-cap figure.

The Texans added voidable contract years from 2027 to 2029 for proration purposes with placeholders of $10 million salaries each of those years.

Fairbairn is coming off a tough playoff game, missing three of five total kicks with a blocked field goal, a missed field goal and a missed extra point against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium.

However, Fairbairn is a highly effective kicker overall.

He made 36 of 42 field goals last season, with a long field goal of 59 yards and 34 of 36 extra points.

He made 27 of 28 field goals in 2023 and 21 of 22 extra points.

In 2022, he made 29 of 31 field goals and all 24 of his extra points.

For his career, Fairbairn, a former Lou Groza award winner from UCLA as the nation’s top kicker, has made 211 of 243 kicks for an 86.8 percentage and 240 of 259 extra points for a 92.7 percent success rate.

Texans’ Kris Boyd apologizes for helmet toss, shoving Frank Ross: ‘I was too excited, something I shouldn’t have done’

• ‘True playmaker’ Nico Collins squares off against Colts after dominant performance in pivotal game last season
• Mindset of Texans’ Nico Collins, the NFL receiving yardage leader: ‘The guy in front of you can’t stop me’
• How ‘dynamic’ Texans RB Joe Mixon joined Arian Foster, Jim Brown, Emmitt Smith in statistical benchmarks in epic season
• Source: Texans signing guard Tremayne Anchrum Jr. to practice squad
• Texans designate corner Jeff Okudah, defensive end Jerry Hughes for return from injured reserve
• Source: Texans worked out linemen La’el Collins, Tremayne Anchrum Jr, Ike Boettger, Jerome Carvin, DB Jason Taylor
• Texans rookie Jamal Hill honored by official proclamation in Georgia hometown
• Texans’ Kenyon Green dislocated left shoulder, to be placed on IR, Kendrick Green steps in, Will Anderson Jr. ankle hurt
• ‘I know I have to step up, I know I have shoes to fill,’ Texans’ Tank Dell in spotlight after Stefon Diggs’ torn ACL
• Texans Pro Bowl defensive end Will Anderson Jr. is the AFC Defensive Player of the Month
• ‘I’m just trying to be that light as much as I can,’ Texans nickel Jalen Pitre nabs first interception since rookie year

Aaron Wilson is a Texans and NFL reporter for KPRC 2 and click2houston.com