He played college football for the Sacramento State Hornets and was signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted free agent after the 2000 NFL draft.

At Centennial High School in Corona, California, Paxton was a three-year starter as a two-way lineman and long snapper.

He famously made a snow angel in the end zone after Vinatieri kicked a 23-yard field goal in overtime to give the Patriots a 16-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders which put them in the 2001 AFC championship game.

He repeated his victory snow angel on the Louisiana Superdome turf after Vinatieri's kick beat the St. Louis Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.

In 2003, Paxton established the Active Force Foundation, a non-profit organization that designs and donates special sports equipment to physically challenged athletes.