Pax Prater: Growing Up in a Famous Football Family Story

When you grow up with an NFL record-holder as your father, the football field is not just a game — it’s part of your DNA. Pax Prater, the young son of legendary kicker Matt Prater, is already making waves in the hearts of football fans across the country. 

Though still just a child, Pax has become a beloved name in the NFL community — thanks to his father’s incredible career and the heartwarming moments the two have shared in public. This article takes a deep look at Pax Prater’s life, background, and what growing up inside a professional football family truly means.

Quick Bio – Pax Prater

Detail	Information
Full Name	Pax Wallace Prater
Age	9 years old (as of 2025)
Father	Matt Prater (NFL Kicker)
Mother	Kati Prater
Siblings	Ava (19), Elle (7), Kit (3)
Nationality	American
Known For	Son of NFL kicker Matt Prater
Hobbies	Football, fishing

Early Life and Background

Pax Wallace Prater was born into a family where football is not just a passion — it’s a way of life. As of 2025, Pax is nine years old and already showing signs of following in his father’s footsteps. He is the second-youngest child among four siblings in the Prater household, sandwiched between his older sister Ava and younger sisters Elle and Kit.

Pax Wallace is the son of Matt Prater and Kati Prater, a couple whose story is equal parts heartwarming and inspiring. Growing up in a home shaped by professional sports, Pax has had access to experiences most children can only dream of — from watching NFL games from the sidelines to celebrating championship-level moments with his dad.

What sets Pax apart from many celebrity children is how naturally he has taken to the sporting lifestyle. Pax shares his father’s love for football and also enjoys fishing whenever he gets the chance — a quiet, grounding hobby that balances out the high-octane world of professional sports.

Growing Up in a Professional Sports Household

Life in the Prater home is anything but ordinary. Matt Prater has played for multiple NFL franchises throughout his career, which means the family has experienced the unique demands of a traveling, high-pressure professional sports lifestyle.

Pax was spotted on the field with Matt at an NFL game between the Detroit Lions and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Ford Field in November 2016 — a tender image that captured the public’s imagination and gave fans a glimpse into the bond between father and son. For Pax, watching his dad kick from the sidelines wasn’t a television moment; it was a real, tangible memory etched into his childhood.

Growing up in such an environment has several layers. On one hand, children of NFL players enjoy access to elite coaching, athletic networks, and a first-row seat to professional excellence. On the other hand, they also experience the upheaval of relocation, public scrutiny, and the emotional weight of a parent whose career is always just one injury or contract away from change.

What Life Looks Like for Pax Day to Day

• School and routine: Like any child his age, Pax attends elementary school and has a structured daily routine.
• Sports involvement: He actively plays football, channeling his father’s athletic instincts.
• Family time: Fishing trips and outdoor activities form a cornerstone of Pax’s leisure time.
• Public appearances: He occasionally appears at his father’s games, becoming a recognizable and adored presence among Bills and Cardinals fans.

Influence of Matt Prater’s Career

To understand Pax Prater’s world, you first have to understand who Matt Prater is in the NFL landscape.

Matt Prater is regarded as one of the best long-distance kickers in NFL history. He held the NFL record for the longest field goal (64 yards) from 2013 until 2021 and currently holds the NFL record for the most 50+ yard field goals in a career with 83.

That is an extraordinary legacy for a child to grow up with. When Matt Prater’s young son Pax would go through his father’s old game balls, he sometimes reminded his dad: “Dad, you used to play for the Broncos.” That small, telling anecdote reveals a child who is deeply aware of his father’s history — and proud of it.

Matt was first signed to the Detroit Lions in 2006, spent time with the Miami Dolphins and Atlanta Falcons in 2007, then moved to the Denver Broncos from 2008 to 2014, followed by the Detroit Lions from 2014 to 2021, then the Arizona Cardinals, and most recently joined the Buffalo Bills in 2025.

This kind of cross-franchise career means Pax has grown up witnessing resilience, adaptation, and excellence firsthand. These are lessons no classroom can fully teach.

Matt Prater’s Career Highlights at a Glance

Year	Milestone
2013	Set NFL record for longest field goal (64 yards)
2016–17	Named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week multiple times
2021	Set new NFL record for most career field goals of 50+ yards
2024	Recorded 81 field goals over 50 yards — an NFL record
2025	Signed with Buffalo Bills; kicked game-winning FG vs. Baltimore Ravens

Family Life Away From the Spotlight

While Matt’s career plays out on national television, the Prater family has been intentional about maintaining a degree of normalcy away from the NFL spotlight.

Matt is married to Kati Prater, whom he first met at an ugly sweater party and later reconnected with at a Dierks Bentley concert, where their bond grew. Their relationship is the emotional anchor of the entire family unit.

Kati is far more than a “football wife.” She co-owns The Lash Lounge in Michigan, a luxury eyelash extension salon she opened with Matt. She is a full-time entrepreneur and community advocate. Her independent professional identity gives the household a dual-role model dynamic — showing all four children, including Pax, that dedication and hard work extend beyond the football field.

When Matt kicked the game-winning field goal for the Buffalo Bills in their Week 1 win over the Baltimore Ravens in 2025, Kati was in the stands, and fans noted that the jumping and hug from Pax made the moment even more special. That single moment went viral and reminded the sports world that behind every great athlete is a family cheering just as hard.

The Prater children each have their own distinct personalities:

• Ava (19): College student and cheerleader
• Pax (9): Football enthusiast and fishing lover
• Elle (7): Pageant competitor and dancer
• Kit (3): The youngest, still exploring the world

The Culture of Legacy in Sports Families

The concept of athletic legacy is one of the most compelling threads in professional sports culture. When a parent reaches elite status in any sport, their children inherit both inspiration and expectation. For Pax Prater, the equation is unique.

Matt Prater did not come from a famous sports family himself — he worked his way up from an undrafted free agent to an NFL record-holder. That story of self-made excellence carries its own kind of weight. Pax grows up knowing not just that his father is great, but how he became great — through discipline, consistency, and the willingness to keep kicking even when the season is on the line.

Sports psychology research consistently shows that children raised in professional athlete households often develop superior time management skills, a higher tolerance for pressure, and a strong sense of team identity. For Pax, these traits are being shaped in real-time.

Public Curiosity and Limited Information

One of the most interesting aspects of Pax Prater’s profile is how much public interest exists despite the limited information available. Fans searching online for details about him are drawn by the warmth of his public appearances and the emotional resonance of his family’s story.

Kati Prater is active on social media and shares glimpses of family life, but both she and Matt are careful to protect their children’s privacy. This balance — between public persona and private childhood — is something many NFL families navigate carefully.

The image of young Pax hugging his father after the Bills’ dramatic comeback win in 2025 encapsulates everything that makes the Prater story compelling: it’s not just about records and statistics. It’s about family, legacy, and love.

Potential Future Paths

At just nine years old, it’s far too early to predict what Pax Prater’s future holds. But the signs are certainly interesting. He already plays football, has grown up studying the game from the best possible vantage point, and carries an athletic surname with serious NFL credibility.

Whether Pax eventually pursues football professionally, takes a different athletic route, or carves an entirely independent path, one thing is clear: he has the foundation, the environment, and the inspiration to achieve whatever he sets his mind to.

Many children of famous athletes choose to step away from the family sport entirely — and that, too, would be a valid and admirable choice. What matters most is that Pax grows up with the values his parents have clearly worked hard to instill: integrity, hard work, and the importance of showing up — on the field and in life.

Conclusion

Pax Prater may be just nine years old, but his story already resonates with football fans, parents, and anyone who believes that character is built at home long before it’s displayed on any field. 

Growing up as the son of an NFL record-holder, surrounded by a loving and grounded family, Pax has everything he needs to chart his own remarkable path. Whether he picks up a football or a fishing rod, the world will be watching — and rooting for him.

FAQs

Who is Pax Prater?

Pax Prater is the young son of NFL kicker Matt Prater and entrepreneur Kati Prater, known for appearing at his father’s games and sharing a love for football.

How old is Pax Prater?

Pax is nine years old as of 2025, making him one of the middle children in the Prater family of four kids.

Does Pax Prater play football?

Yes, Pax plays football just like his father and also enjoys fishing as a hobby outside of sports.

Who are Pax Prater’s siblings?

Pax has three siblings: older sister Ava (19), younger sister Elle (7), and the youngest sibling Kit (3).

What team does Matt Prater play for?

Matt Prater signed with the Buffalo Bills in 2025 and became a hero after kicking a game-winning field goal against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 1.

Who is Pax Prater’s mother?

His mother is Kati Prater, a successful entrepreneur who co-owns The Lash Lounge salon and is an advocate for anti-child-trafficking causes.

Was Pax Prater at Matt’s game-winning kick in 2025?

Yes — fans and media noted that Pax’s emotional reaction and hug after the Bills’ dramatic comeback win was one of the most touching moments of the game.

What is Matt Prater’s most famous NFL record?

Matt Prater holds the NFL record for the most career field goals of 50 yards or more, and previously held the record for the longest field goal at 64 yards (2013–2021).