Dan Bailey is returning to kick for the Minnesota Vikings.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports that Bailey has agreed to a one-year deal worth $1 million, with incentives that could bring the total value of the deal to $2 million.
Bailey struggled after signing with the Vikings three weeks into the season following the release of Daniel Carlson, the rookie kicker who missed three field goals in an overtime tie with the Packers at Lambeau Field.
Bailey entered his first year in Minnesota as one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history, but didn’t live up to the hype as he made 21-of-28 field goals for the second-worst accuracy rate (75 percent) in the NFL. Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell (65 percent) was the only kicker who made a lower percentage of his attempts.
He was 16-of-17 on field goals inside 39 yards, but just 4-of-9 on kicks from 40-49 yards and 1-of-2 from 50-plus.
Meanwhile, after a rough start with the Vikings, Carlson was picked up by the Raiders and made 16-of-17 field goals and was a perfect 18-of-18 on extra points.
The 2019 season will be the first in nearly a decade without Mike Priefer as special teams coordinator. Priefer left for a job with the Cleveland Browns and the Vikings replaced him with former Miami Dolphins assistant special teams coach Marwan Maalouf.
