John Carney is a 23-year NFL veteran, Super Bowl champion, and one of the most accomplished place-kickers in professional football history. Over the course of his career, he earned Pro Bowl honors, appeared in 302 NFL games after entering the league as an undrafted free agent, and ranked fifth all-time in points scored at the time of his retirement.
John is the founder of Carney Ventures, LLC and Carney Training Facility in Carlsbad, California. As an internationally respected coach and mentor, he trains and equips kickers and punters to perform with excellence at the high school, college, and professional levels. His leadership has helped shape the careers of hundreds of elite specialists while promoting character, discipline, and confidence.
Beyond football, John is an innovator and entrepreneur. He holds multiple patents and continues to develop tools and solutions that support athlete development, including portable football goalposts, golf training aids, and digital coaching platforms. John earned his degree in business from the University of Notre Dame, where he also played collegiate football. He remains connected to the Notre Dame community and to the broader world of athletics through speaking, mentoring, and faith-based outreach.
A committed Catholic, John lives by the priorities of faith, family, and service. He is active in parish life, supports several Catholic ministries, and speaks regularly at men’s conferences, schools, and church events. He and his wife, Holly, have three children—Luke, JD, and Keely—and live in California. As a speaker, John shares his deep faith, professional insight, and personal testimony with clarity and conviction. His message encourages audiences to trust God, lead with humility, and pursue greatness with integrity.
Additional Stats
2,062 Career Points, 5th in NFL History
82.4% Field Goal Accuracy
22/24 Clutch Kicking Success
23 Years NFL Experience
2X Pro Bowls 2 Time Pro Bowl Player
Super Bowl XXIX San Diego Chargers
Super Bowl XLIV New Orleans Saints Player/Coach
50 Greatest San Diego Chargers
Notre Dame Sports Illustrated All Time Team
4 Decades Of Active Play (1 of 3 Players in NFL History)
Age 44 Oldest Player Ever to play in a Pro Bowl (Feb 2009)
HOF New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame Florida High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame
Chargers NFL Man of the Year 5 times
Testimonials:
"John Carney is one of the most credible and authentic speakers we have brought into a High Impact Coaching event. He is not speaking from theory or motivational sound bites. He is speaking from decades of performing under pressure at the highest level, facing public failure, and continuing to show up and execute.
When John spoke to our community about beliefs, preparation, and pressure, it landed because it was real. He challenged people to take ownership of their mindset, their preparation, and their response to adversity. His framework of turning roadblocks into stepping stones is not motivational language. It is how he built and sustained an elite career.
On a personal level, I know John’s Catholic faith is a foundational part of who he is. I have had direct conversations with John about how his faith shaped his career, and it is clear it is not something he turns on for a stage. It is how he lives. You see it in how he approaches pressure, responsibility, family, and service to others. It shows up in his discipline, his humility, and his long-term view of success and failure.
John has a rare ability to connect performance, character, and personal responsibility in a way that challenges people without losing them. He is a compelling speaker who leaves audiences thinking differently about how they show up in the moments that matter most." - Zander Fryer, Founder - High Impact Coaching
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"There are very few people who embody excellence on and off the field the way John Carney does. A former Hall of Fame kicker at the University of Notre Dame and a legendary NFL veteran with the San Diego Chargers, New Orleans Saints, and Kansas City Chiefs, John’s career is marked by discipline, longevity, and grace under pressure. But what makes him truly extraordinary isn’t just his record-breaking consistency — it’s his unwavering faith and devotion to family.
John is a devout Catholic, a proud husband of nearly 30 years to Holly, and a deeply intentional father — Helping raise a future Dominican priest, John David Carney (now known as Brother John Gabriel), and celebrating the recent marriage of his daughter, Kiki. His life is a living testimony to what it means to lead with Faith, Family, and Football. He also holds a very personal place in our family’s heart. John is our son’s Confirmation sponsor — a spiritual mentor and steady example of integrity and servant leadership.
When I hosted our “Kimspirational” speaking event in February 2023 at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, featuring John and Holly, they shared so beautifully and authentically about how they balanced raising their family in faith, while navigating the high profile challenges of a professional NFL football lifestyle. Their message wasn’t polished — it was lived. And that is what makes John Carney so inspiring: he doesn’t just talk about values — he walks them every single day. I am honored to recommend John Carney as your next inspirational Keynote Speaker." - Kimberly King, Founder - Kimberly King Media and PR
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"We were grateful to host John Carney as a speaker for our Catholic Business Professionals of North County community. As fellow parishioners, we have long known John as a man of deep Catholic faith, integrity, and humility. Our family has a deep affection and respect for John and his family, and we have witnessed firsthand the way he lives his faith through his vocation, his leadership, and his commitment to serving others.
It was a gift to have him share with our professional community how faith is meant to shape not only what we believe, but how we live, lead, and serve others in our daily vocations. John speaks about leadership, perseverance, and personal responsibility through a clearly Catholic lens, rooted in faith, discipline, and trust in God’s providence. He challenges people to pursue excellence while remaining grounded in humility, service, and moral clarity. His message strongly reinforces the call each of us has to live our faith authentically in our families, workplaces, and communities.
Our members were deeply encouraged by John’s witness to the integration of faith and professional life. He communicates in a way that is accessible and practical, while still calling people to deeper spiritual formation and ongoing conversion. John is a compelling speaker who helps people recognize that true success is rooted in character, virtue, and a life ordered toward God. We strongly recommend him to any Catholic organization seeking a speaker who will both inspire and challenge their community to grow in faith and leadership." - John and Michelle O’Reilly, Founders - Catholic Business Professional of North County
