Ka'imi Fairbairn was born on January 29, 1994, in Kailua, Hawaii. He grew up in a close-knit family with two siblings. From a young age, Fairbairn showed a passion for sports, particularly football.
Fairbairn attended the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where he played college football as a placekicker. In his senior year in 2015, he was awarded the prestigious Lou Groza Award, given to the best collegiate kicker in the nation. His success at UCLA caught the attention of NFL scouts, and Fairbairn began to pursue his dream of playing professionally.
In 2016, Fairbairn signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent. He made his official NFL debut in the 2017 season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Throughout his rookie season, Fairbairn displayed his kicking prowess by making 20 of 25 field goal attempts and converting 32 of 35 extra point attempts.
However, it was during the 2018 season that Fairbairn truly made a name for himself. He was named AFC Special Teams Player of the Month for December and led the NFL in scoring during the regular season. Fairbairn's consistent performance on the field earned him recognition as one of the league's top kickers.
Off the field, Fairbairn remains connected to his Hawaiian roots and values his family deeply. Despite his success in the NFL, he continues to stay true to his humble beginnings and credits his family for supporting him throughout his journey.
In the 2022-23 NFL season, Fairbairn had the opportunity to play alongside wide receiver Brandin Cooks as a member of the Texans. The duo formed a formidable partnership on the field, contributing to the team's success that season.